Farney aim for eighth quarter-final since 2013
GAA Preview
Colm Shalvey
A place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals is up for grabs in Clones on Sunday as Monaghan take on Westmeath. Both teams go into Round 3 relishing a chance to reach the last eight of the All-Ireland as they cross swords in the championship for the first time since 2003.
The counties have clashed just once since 2012: a second-round game in the 2025 league, where a high-scoring win sent Monaghan on their way to promotion from Division Two. Westmeath missed out on promotion from Division Three this year after a late goal by Wexford derailed their campaign, but they have regrouped to enjoy a hugely impressive championship to date.
Wins over Longford, Kildare, Meath and Dublin saw the Lake County win only their second-ever Leinster SFC title, while they went on to beat Cavan in their All-Ireland series opener. Their bid for a sixth consecutive win fell short last weekend, but they left Salthill with pride very much still intact after a strong finish gave Galway a scare.
Westmeath have shown real resilience to put their final-day disappointment in the league behind them and find form, even after the loss of star forward Luke Loughlin to a grade-4 hamstring tear. Mark McHugh’s side are among the most prolific scorers in the country of late, averaging 32 points per game in the championship. Brandon Kelly has had a breakout season in attack, while John Heslin’s return from retirement has added experience to their forward line.
The latter could have Killian Lavelle for company on Sunday. Like Monaghan, Westmeath have consistent scoring threats from deep, with Ronan Wallace and Sam McCartan among the country’s most potent half-backs and Brían Cooney and veteran Ray Connellan also capable of chipping in from midfield.
The Leinster champions have brought through several players from the team that won the 2025 All-Ireland U-20 ‘B’ title, beating Monaghan on penalties in the final. Tadhg Baker, Shane Corcoran, Jack Duncan and Keelan Connell have all featured at senior level this season.
Baker joins his older brother Senan in the Westmeath panel, with both (sons of Clare hurling legend Ollie) starting last weekend in Galway. McHugh – an All-Ireland winner with Donegal in 2012 – is only 35, but he has done the rounds on the coaching circuit, including a stint in Monaghan with Corduff.
Like Westmeath, Monaghan have been giving their supporters full value for money so far in the championship, going to extra-time twice along the way. Their bid for Ulster glory eventually faded away against Armagh, but after a second-half charge fell short against Mayo, Gabriel Bannigan’s side produced their most composed 70 minutes of the season last Saturday to knock out Connacht champions Roscommon.
It was a mature performance by Monaghan, who put their first-half yips in front of the posts behind them to up their conversion rate to 73% against the breeze (0-11 from 15 shots). They have mostly produced their best football when the games have become stretched and chaotic, but they showed a different side to their play against Roscommon, dictating the pace of play and starving the visitors of possession.
Rory Beggan wasn’t among Monaghan’s ten scorers last weekend, but his pin-point kicking contributed to Mícheál McCarville and Karl Gallagher giving their team a real platform in the middle third, with the superb Conor McCarthy also proving a great outlet from kick-outs.
McCarthy kicked seven points against Westmeath last year, so they will be well aware of the threat he poses going forward, with Dessie Ward also in double figures in the SFC from the half-back line.
Stephen O’Hanlon’s role will be interesting as he is best known for driving at opponents, as he did at times against the Rossies, but he played a big part defensively by shutting down goal threat Darragh Heneghan. Ryan Wylie’s return adds so much know-how to a defence where Dylan Byrne continues to develop game by game.
Having kept a first clean sheet in league or championship since the 2025 Ulster opener against Donegal, Monaghan will be aiming to repeat that trick and stop a Westmeath outfit who have hit the net 16 times in six matches. Monaghan will hope that Stephen Mooney is fit after a clash of heads cut his day short last week, while Ryan McAnespie could come into contention again after getting a run off the bench for his 50th inter-county SFC appearance.
With Westmeath having taken their supporters on the journey with them, a big crowd is expected in Clones on Sunday. Monaghan will have to be at their best, but if they can replicate the performance levels they managed last weekend, it might just be enough to eke out an eighth appearance in the last eight of the All-Ireland SFC since 2013.