Beating Armagh ‘just a stepping stone’

AFTER five years toiling for the county cause, John Paul Mone began to be recognised around Monaghan town yesterday and was enjoying the pleasure of the experience.

The defender hadn’t been on a winning Ulster side before Sunday’s surprise result against the All-Ireland champions in Clones. Yesterday, as he made his way to work, he discovered the wonderful sensation of accepting the congratulations of complete strangers.

“It made for a bit of a change alright, but a nice change,” Mone says with a laugh. “The football team was all anyone was talking about and it has been a long time since that has been the case in Monaghan. Even after the game on Sunday, you had young lads coming up looking for your autograph, which can only augur well for the future of football in the county.”

It all makes a change from this time last summer, when Monaghan footballers were in the doldrums. The Farney county had just been annihilated by Fermanagh in the championship and people were wondering if the glory days of the eighties would ever return. They did, in part, on Sunday afternoon.

“Last year, the whole thing really fell into a hole,” Mone agrees. “It wasn’t through any one factor, there was just a number of factors. And it just fell asunder last year and many of us, myself included, were questioning ourselves. We didn’t want to believe that we were that bad, but the results just didn’t go our way.”

Mone could hear the critics around the county, questioning not just the ability of the players, but their passion. Anyone in Clones on Sunday would know that passion was never an issue. All they needed was a little bit of belief and confidence.

“To be honest, it was often asked what was wrong with Monaghan. What was the problem, because the talent is there. All we needed was a bit extra to bring us on. I’ve played with Monaghan for five years and to be honest, we felt a little down-trodden, particularly after last year.”

Colm Coyle, one of Sean Boylan’s most prized students, looked to be the answer. Those players left disillusioned by summer after summer of defeats were given a reason to give it one more shot. The result was plain for anyone to see last Sunday.

“I think things changed when Colm Coyle came in, given his background and the success he has had in the game. We needed that little bit of belief, and that is what Colm Coyle has given us. The preparation was fantastic and we just went out to play football. We really had nothing to lose.”

But what exactly did Coyle bring to the equation?

“He brought in a whole new system,” Mone says. “He made the players feels appreciated and made everyone think it was something special to wear the county jersey. Not that it wasn’t special before that, but for a few years, county players got a lot of stick in Monaghan, and nobody thought it was that special to be a county player. Because of Sunday, we can hold our heads that wee bit higher and put our chests out that little bit further.”

Monaghan don’t re-convene for training until tomorrow evening, but despite all the unusual attention of recent days, Mone knows that defeating the All-Ireland champions was only one small step on a long road. Joe Kernan told the Monaghan players as much when he came into their dressing-room after the game.

“We enjoyed the moment and enjoyed the night but we know one swallow doesn’t make a summer. Colm will bring us straight back to earth at training on Wednesday night, and even in the dressing room afterwards Joe Kernan pointed out that we had just won a match but we hadn’t won any silverware yet.

“This is just a stepping stone, Down is the next team on our minds.”