McEnaney’s Monaghan on twin track to success

Monaghan football is on a high but manager Seamus McEnaney’s feet remain firmly planted on the ground.

SEAMUS MCENANEY is playing it cool. The Monaghan manager has guided his side to five wins on the trot in the Allianz Football League, a feat matched only by Donegal. On a parallel track, his Under-21 side are turning heads and face an Ulster semi-final against Fermanagh this afternoon.

“We might have won the last five games but we have nothing to show for it,” he stressed of the senior side’s NFL 2A campaign.

“I am happy with the attitude of the players on the panel. Things are very, very competitive in training and fellas are making their way onto the team for those training sessions.”

There are two main factors fuelling competitiveness. Merging training of the senior and U-21 sides is one factor; the other is Martin McElkennon, physical trainer and coaching guru.

“Martin is vital,” McEnaney says. “I am only a manager. He is in charge of all the physical training and coaching. If Monaghan doesn’t win another game this year I can still say with hand on heart he is the best in the country. I’d go one better and say he is the best I have ever seen. He is innovative, the players have serious respect for him. He is just brilliant at what he does.”

Making their lives a lot easier is Monaghan’s new training grounds in Cloughan.

“The training grounds have been a huge plus. There are three full pitches, two of which are floodlit. In the depths of winter they are playable. Without doubt any county serious about its GAA should have these venues. It is a big change. Before we used to have go down to Louth, meet the Dublin lads half way and train on a club field which we were renting.”

This is a big and busy weekend for Monaghan football. This afternoon the U-21 side face Fermanagh in that Ulster semi-final. Tomorrow, Offaly, a side Monaghan have never beaten in 30 plus years of the league, come to Clones.

The U-21 game is a cause of pride for the manager. Prior to last week’s quarter-final win over Cavan, Monaghan had gone four years without a Championship win at minor or U-21 level. Whether a corner has been turned is too early to say, but things are going in the right direction.

McEnaney will not decide his starting 15 for the Faithful clash until this evening, with nine of the U-21 side also on the senior squad.

The Freemans remain the marquee names but McEnaney is unearthing a few gems. Shane Smith and Ciaran Hanratty are Sigerson Cup winners with DCU, while Darren Hughes is full back on both sides. He came on as a sub in the win over Roscommon and has remained anchored on the edge of the square since.

The talented Des and John Paul Mone are back in the panel following a split last year. The latter’s availability remains in doubt for tomorrow — he is still on honeymoon following his wedding to fellow panellist Dermot McArdle’s sister, earlier this month.

With player burnout the cause de jour in GAA circles, McEnaney has no worries about utilising so many U-21 players in his senior set up. Indeed he encourages it.

“None of them are training with their own clubs at the moment which is a positive. I also have a great relationship with DCU and Jordanstown where the majority of the U-21 team are going to college. Both teams have trained together since last November and that has been very good for both teams and for the games in training.”

Longford, Roscommon, Carlow, Clare and London have been all been accounted for this spring. Tomorrow though will be the toughest challenge.

“Offaly will be a real test of character. I rate them very highly. Our first priority is Division Two for 2008. When that is done we can look to other targets. This league campaign is very important for everyone this year with the promotion and relegation issues. I have no problem with that. We got plenty of notice and our delegates had a chance to opt for 2007 or 2008. There will be some strong teams in Division Three next year but it will take a few years for these things to be ironed out.

“I was one of the managers who was disappointed with the lack of communication by the GAA with regards to some sideline regulations. But there is no such excuse here. The GAA flagged it well in advance.”