Bannigan happy with McKenna Cup as Armagh test awaits

GAA news

Colm Shalvey

Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan acknowledged that it had been an off night for his team as they lost to Donegal in Saturday’s McKenna Cup final.

“I’d take responsibility for the performance being a bit disjointed. We’ve had three games in ten days and we have a massive game coming up next week against Armagh, our first game back in Division 1 of the league,” Bannigan said.

“I had to manage the load, which is why I had to try to mix the team in terms of who started and who finished. I left a number of our experienced players off at the start, to target the second half.

“I thought at half-time we were well in the game, our first-half performance wasn’t bad although we left a few scores behind us.

“We never got that lift in the second half that I was hoping to get. We had some straightforward wides, which hasn’t been like our performances in the other three games where our efficiency was much better, so that was disappointing.

“We also had opportunities where we could have worked a goal, but we didn’t go for the jugular. Normally, we’re more ruthless when we get into those situations. We had a decent call for a penalty as well; it was one of those nights where it just didn’t go for us.”

“Reflecting on the McKenna Cup, where an experimental Monaghan panel managed to pick up three wins, the Aughnamullen man said: “The main objective was to give opportunities to boys who are new on the panel and boys who were there last year but maybe didn’t get much gametime. In general, I think we saw a lot of positives. The Donegal game was a big learning curve for the group in that there’s a gap there that we have to close during the year. We’re going to have a lot of difficult games in Division One and our job is to learn as we go, get results as well and hopefully be better come summer.

Looking ahead to this Sunday’s National League opener at home to Armagh, Bannigan noted that Monaghan are still going to be well short of having a full panel to pick from, with the county’s Scotstown contingent yet to return to training after their extended club season.

“We’re missing a lot of big players around the middle. Gary Mohan played a Sigerson game during the week and he has another one on Wednesday. These decisions are made in the best interests of the team going forward, not in terms of trying to throw everything at this game. I didn’t take that approach because I don’t think I could take that approach.

“Mícheál McCarville won’t be back for another couple of weeks, Gavin McPhillips has gone travelling,” Bannigan told the Anglo-Celt.

Noting that injuries to James Slevin, Robbie Hanratty and Bobby McCaul also limit Monaghan’s midfield options, Bannigan also said that Shane Hanratty is “a worry going into next week” after he had to go off during the first half in Omagh.

He said the Inniskeen defender was Monaghan’s only injury concern from the McKenna Cup: “Apart from that, I’m hoping we’ve got through without any other problems.”