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.”