McEneaney: Farney boys will come of age

MONAGHAN boss Eamonn McEneaney is looking forward to the All-Ireland Qualifiers with a confidence that his young side can develop and mature along the way, and possibly enjoy an extended run this summer.

The rebuilding process is in its early stages, but the signs are encouraging.

The Farney men were unfortunate to lose their NFL Division One status, and with a bit of luck could have salvaged a result from yesterday’s trip to Omagh.

“It’s difficult when you lose by two points, but I’d be very heartened by the boys’ performances. At one stage it looked bleak for us, playing with 14 men against the Ulster champions and the experience they had on the field, but I was very heartened by how we fought back in the second half, even up to the last whistle we were still in the game,” said McEneaney.

“The extra bit of craft that Tyrone had, you could see it in Stephen O’Neill and Owen Mulligan coming on, that’s the just the difference at the minute because of some of the men we don’t have now but I’d be delighted with the lads who are there.”

The loss of his skipper Dick Clerkin, who was sent off for a second bookable offence late in the first half, angered McEneaney.

“Dick didn’t do anything, he checked his (Cavanagh’s) run maybe, that was about the height of it. There was a lot made of it and I would feel it was a very harsh sending-off.

“I definitely saw what happened and Dick did not do anything exceptional but check his run. At the worst it was a caution.

“I wouldn’t like to make a comment on the referee, that’s not for me to do but I thought the conditions (weather) were very harsh and that maybe allowances could have been made.

“I think this thing of persistent fouling – our stats man had that Dermot Carlin had four fouls in-a-row on Conor McManus and didn’t see (any action). ”It’s very difficult on a day like today to referee, I understand that but I do feel that getting Dick sent off was a huge thing for us.”

Now it’s a waiting game, firstly for the draw and the identity of their next opponents, then for the game which could define Monaghan’s season.

But McEnaney is not fearful. He believes he has the talent within his squad to make a significant impact on the championship’s scenic route.

“You would have to take positives from it, there were six fellas starting the game and one or two more who it was only their second game so for us it’s about rebuilding from here and trying to keep them going again in the Qualifiers.

“We were hammered in last year’s Ulster final but we have improved and we’re getting closer to the thing and I think it’s only a matter of time before we do make the breakthrough against some of those bigger teams.”