The Conor McManus question.
It isn’t so much that as it is just the Monaghan conundrum.
One of the most impressive things Malachy O’Rourke has done with the Farney men is that he has played to their strengths. And, my, what strengths they have.
Yes, under his tenure, Conor McManus has propelled to become one of the finest full forwards in the country. Every team in the land could do with a player like McManus and only those who have an attacker of any sort of resemblance to the Monaghan skipper will do anything in the championship nowadays. But it isn’t just the number 15 that does the damage.
Take, for instance, their quarter final clash with Cavan.
The Clontibret man touched the ball just 12 times in that whole match but it was enough to drag his side through a 31-point game that was decided by the minimum.
Instead, rather than be naive and try to find McManus when he isn’t on, Monaghan wait. And their deadly forward waits, too.
Here’s how Fermanagh and Monaghan could shape up on Sunday for the Ulster semi final battle (throw-in: 4pm).
Monaghan will try to isolate McManus, of course they will and, if he gets any sort of space, he’ll destroy the Fermanagh defence.
That’s because O’Rourke uses him when he’s available. He uses him where he’ll make something of it. Look where he picked up the ball for example against Cavan.
Last weekend, Derry on the other hand were almost caught when they strayed from the method that was steam-rolling Down – the Eoin Bradley method.
They stopped looking for their main man in dangerous areas but Monaghan don’t fall into that trap. Look at how McManus came into possession against Cavan.
If he was getting the ball, he was getting it direct and he was getting it deep in opposition territory. Conor McManus is no use to anyone drifting around the field. Fermanagh will happily let him do that all day.
But it won’t happen and herein lies the problem for Pete McGrath.
They can try to outnumber the forward and stop the early ball into him.
That formation will take shape for a lot of Sunday in Breffni Park. But that’s okay, Monaghan won’t panic and McManus won’t wander.
It’s when the Farney men get players forward to occupy the other defenders can Conor McManus work more pockets. He can win ball and he can lay it off if a shot is not on – although, with that right boot of his, a shot is usually on from anywhere.
So Fermanagh might load up the backline, recruit help.
They do that at their peril though because, in their middle third, Monaghan have some of the most dangerous runners in the country that could rival even Donegal.
Any sort of space Karl O’Connell is given, he’ll raid the left flank like there’s no tomorrow. Vinny Corey and Dessie Mone will be marauding forward anyway with sheer power and purpose and Kieran and Darren Hughes will be popping up all over the forward line with their piercing drives.
So if Fermanagh are worried about Conor McManus, those lads will give them another headache.
If Fermanagh don’t worry about Conor McManus, the game will be over by half time.
They have their own scores at the other end. They have Sean Quigley, they have the running power of Ryan Jones but how do you stop a problem like Conor McManus? And Dessie Mone. And Darren Hughes. And Kieran Hughes.
I’m just glad I’m not Pete McGrath this weekend.
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