O’Rourke turns focus to Donegal

After watching his team dismantle Armagh with a minimum of fuss, Malachy O’Rourke’s thoughts were already turning to Jim McGuinness and the revenge mission Donegal will have in store for his team on July 20.

“We wanted to put in a big performance and try to get back to an Ulster final,” said the Monaghan manager.

“The last day, Conor (McManus) was fairly well shut out and he was keen to make amends and when you can get quality ball in, he can make things happen.

“All it does is get us into the final and Donegal have had two good looks at us now.

“They have a lot of hurt from last year. I am sure they will be coming in and mad keen to get a big performance.”

McManus was a joy to watch, a superb sideline conversion and first-half goal among the highlights of his 1-7.

He admitted: “Individual performances last week, bar maybe our goalkeeper Rory Beggan, we weren’t up to scratch last week.

“We wanted to get a performance out of everybody and we’re delighted to be back in the final.”

Armagh decided to persist with their media ban after the game.

Paul Grimley had just five words for the journalists waiting to speak to him outside the Armagh changing-room, which were: “I have nothing to say.”

Sadly for Armagh, his team did not do the talking for him on the pitch either.