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16 FEATURE August 3, 2007 | Gaelic Life Dual role no problem Full-back or full-forward, the only thing that matters is winning for Monaghan utility player BY ALAN RODGERS a.rodgers@gaeliclife.com MATCH-WINNING switches in the rest of the championship will do well to compare with the one which has seen Vinny Corey move from full-back to full-forward in recent games. It has been among the talking points in a season which has captured the imagination of a county enjoying the feelgood factor of footballing success. And, the performance of the Clontibret man when moved to opposite ends of the field against both Tyrone and Donegal has given Monaghan an exciting extra dimension. Last Saturday the men from the north west were the latest to fall in the face of Seamus McEneaney’s resurgent troops. A 2-12 to 1-7 final scoreline highlights their dominance before almost 20,000 at Omagh. Eye-catching performances throughout the field indicated Anyone who looks at the team at the moment will see that there’s a lot of competition for places. There’s been a few changes and everyone knows what is required BIG IMPACT... Vincent Corey’s switch to full-forward has revitalised the Monaghan attack their supremacy. Dessie Mone and Gary McQuaid lauded proceedings in defence, Rory Woods excelled and Tommy Freeman ran riot. Not surprisingly, too, Vinny Corey’s efforts made a huge impact. A roving role, some great catches and the grand total of 1-1 gives some indication of the problems caused by him. Nevertheless, the man himself is just delighted to be relishing the prospect of lining out in an All- Ireland Quarter Final. “It was hard to know what to expect against Donegal after los-
Gaelic Life | August 3, 2007 for Vincent Corey ing the Ulster Final. But I was delighted that we won reasonably comfortably,” he said after enjoying the exhilaration of seeing thousands of Monaghan fans invade the Healy Park pitch. “We knew that winning or losing was going to be down to the attitude of the players. Losing the Ulster Final was a big disappointment, so there was a big incentive for us to put things right. “Our display showed that we learned the lessons from the Tyrone game well and hopefully we can keep that momentum going now for the quarter final. “We came out fairly confident from the Ulster Final and the one thing we knew was that we were going to have passion. We got together in training in the last week or two and decided as a team that we were going to throw everything into the Donegal game. “To be honest, I don’t really mind moving from full-back to full-forward. The real aim is to get playing and stay on the team, and where you line out isn’t really an issue. “I have had experience of playing at full forward before. I’ve played there with the club, so it’s not as big a transition as you might think once you see a fullforward going up there. “Anyone who looks at the team at the moment will see that there’s a lot of competition for places. There’s been a few changes and everyone knows what’s required from them,” he added. Playing big games in August is very definitely a new experience for Seamus McEneaney, the Monaghan players and, of course, their rapidly growing support. The county is quite literally buzzing, with flags galore flying from vantage points from Emyvale to Carrickmacross. All-Ireland champions Kerry provide the opposition in the last eight when the form of the two men on the edge of the square could well have a telling impact. In 2006 the move of Kieran Donaghy from midfield to the number 14 changed the championship. Now twelve months on and the rejuvenation of the position as a pivotal placing continues with Corey making his mark for the defeated Ulster finalists. Of course, it’s a role which he has been accustomed to on numerous occasions with his native Clontibret O’Neills. They won the county title in 2002 and last year and remain one of the main contenders for the top honours on the domestic scene. So, there is a precedent for the move from Seamus McEneaney which is being hailed throughout Ulster. And, he is in no doubt about the value of repeating the method previously tried and tested by the Clontibret manager, Mick O’Dowd. “There will be a lot of questions about Vincent Corey playing at full-forward, but we decided during the week to persist with that,” said the manager after the win over Donegal. “But he is a very good player, you can play him anywhere. In today’s game you have to be able to play anywhere.” Now the prospect of having to mark Kieran Donaghy or being followed by Tom O’Sullivan at Croke Park is the one facing the 24 year old teacher. He is one of four Clontibret players in the squad which has progressed the furthest in the race for the Sam Maguire since 1988. “Each of the games that we’ve played so far have been a real benefit. Losing the Ulster Final was disappointing, but we learned a few things which thankfully were put into practice against Donegal,” added Corey. “We tried to learn from whatever mistakes were made against Tyrone and bring them into the game. I suppose there’s good confidence in the squad at the moment and you would have to be happy with how things are progressing That’s the way things have to be done and we’re obviously happy that they worked out. “I suppose there’s a good confidence in the squad at the moment and you would have to be happy with how things are progressing. There’s a great buzz in the county at the moment and it’s a case of trying to keep that going. “But at the end of the day we’re only in the quarter final and there hasn’t been anything won yet. There’s a lot of good teams left in the championship and we’re under no illusions about the challenge facing us. “Obviously we’re going to have to step things up another two or three notches in order to compete. It’s new ground for us and we’re looking forward to the challenge because Croke Park is where you want to be in August. “It doesn’t matter who you get in the quarter final as a result. We’ll just try and keep working and enjoy the experience of playing in the championship again at Croke Park.” Next Sunday’s clash against the Kingdom is certain to be one of the biggest occasions for years in the history of Monaghan football. It will be their fourth championship meeting following in the footsteps of the previous ones in 1930, 1979 and the famous 1985 draw and replay. To date Monaghan have yet to defeat their more illustrious neighbours, although this is unlikely to caution DECISIVE CLASH... will Corey line up against Kerry’s Tom Sullivan the optimism of the huge travelling support on Sunday week. Recent history suggests that they should not and will hardly be overawed by the challenge facing them. Their performance against Tyrone and the experience of playing in Division One in 2006 should stand to both the management and players as they prepare this make or break clash. And, one of the biggest decisions facing the management team will be on where to lineout the man who has highlighted his versatility in the past few weeks. But the certainties are clear no matter what area of the field he eventually attempts to make an impact. Whether it’s marking Kerry’s 2006 sensation, Kieran Donaghy, or trying to emulate him at the other end, there will be no shortage of endeavour from Vinny Corey or the rest of the Monaghan players on their big day. Few will bet against him proving his worth in the full-forward berth against Kerry, just as he has done in the matches with Tyrone and Donegal. The type of bustling play produced by him will be exactly what’s needed to upset the form of the Sam Maguire Cup holders. His goal last Saturday night set Monaghan on the road to a victory enjoyed by their large travelling support. All of them, as well as the team, will make the trip to Croke Park hoping to see more of the same as the All-Ireland Championship reaches its real business end in the next couple of weekends. FEATURE 17 FanSpake Gavin Dixon St Joseph’s Craigbane Get physical to stop Donaghy What would be your GAA dream Two things, first to see my own club Craigbane claim a Derry Senior Football Championship title, and secondly being the youngest referee in Derry I wouldn’t mind a crack at a Senior Championship final at Celtic Park somewhere down the line. That is my goal. What would be your GAA nightmare To witness Plunket Donaghy catching flys against us in the National League final in 1992 was definitely sweet, but to ever think a Derry man would do it against Tyrone in an All-Ireland final, would be a hard, bitter pill to swallow. Worst venue With the up-most respect to Owen Roes Coleraine, it has to be their old pitch out at the main road. On a rain swept, windy day you would be blown off your feet. And with a big dip in the pitch, it doesn’t help matters. Best GAA pub If you were in Dublin, it would be hard to pass Quinn’s, but our own wee local called Farah’s in Craigbane is hard to beat too especially when a few Clann na nGael men come in after a Tyrone win. But all you have to do is mention to them about the day the Rangers men began playing cricket on their pitch one All-Ireland Final day, they don’t be long scattering then! Kerry or Dublin Kerry’s not out of second gear yet and I fancy them highly to retain their title once again. But if you’re looking for colour and atmosphere around Croke Park, the Dubs have what it takes to provide great advertisement for Gaelic games. The Dubs will make it to the semi's but unfortuately and its hurting me to say this... don’t rule out Tyrone. How can you handle Kieran Donaghy The only way to handle Kieran Donaghy is to give him a few ribticklers to let him know you’re there and I can guarantee he won’t want to know (that’s if you can get away with it). I wouldn’t mind seeing Darren Fay of Meath have a go at him plus I couldn’t forget our own man Kevin Mc Cloy who I rate very highly. »HEAD TO HEAD - MONAGHAN V KERRY 1930 - A good start saw Monaghan trail by 0-4 to 0-2 early on. However, Kerry were highly rated and in the middle of a four in a row they emerged comfortably winners by 3-11 to 0-2. One Monaghan official described the game as a ‘bullfight’ after four of their players retired injured. 1979 - Under the management of Sean McCague, Monaghan were celebrating a first Ulster title since 1938. They were no match for Kerry’s team of all talents, despite the best efforts of Paddy Linden, Jap Finlay and Eugene Hughes. 1985 - When Ulster football needed a lift, Monaghan provided it with a sterling performance. Eoin Liston was sent off and a brilliant equalising point from Eamon McEneaney gave Monaghan a second chance. He fired over from nearly sixty yards just under the Hogan Stand. REPLAY - Hopes were high that Monaghan could sustain their level of performance from the drawn game and for long periods they once again matched the champions. However, two goals made a decisive difference in seeing Kerry safely through. HIGHLY RATED: Kevin McCloy
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