So it turns out he is the real deal.
We’ve been hearing throughout this entire campaign of how Monaghan are no longer a solo threat. We’ve heard how Conor McManus is no longer alone and that teams could neglect the rest of the Farney forward line at their peril.
We’ve heard about Jack McCarron. We’ve seen his ridiculous scoring stats. We’ve seen his affect too but you always approach with caution in February.
Well, on the first week of April, in the last game of the league campaign with a place in the final up for grabs, and against the best side in the country – a team that currently hold the all-time record for games unbeaten – Jack McCarron showed all that he was about with a performance of complete and utter cut-throat savagery.
In the most graceful and elegant way possible, McCarron butchered the Dublin backline with no mercy and no relent but, such is the invincibility of the capital, that it still wasn’t enough.
Who is marking Jack McCarron???
Or does it matter?
What a performance— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) April 2, 2017
In the second period of what was definitely the game of the year in a year with some absolutely clinker ties already, Monaghan marched ahead of Dublin and looked to have exerted complete control over proceedings at Clones before the Dubs’ inevitable onslaught at the end of the game that once again clinched them the tie.
The hosts were helped on their way to a six-point second half lead when McCarron finished off a sweeping move with pure panache and pure and utter conviction.
At Stephen Cluxton’s near post, the Monaghan number 14 had the audacity and skill to squeeze the ball in by the best goalkeeper in Ireland.
He drops the shoulder and leaves the defender rocking on his ankles.
But he’s come to the wrong side. Right?
He’s not going for that. Is he?
Jesus, he is and all.
But there’s nowhere to put it…
Holy shit, what a finish.
Right across to the other side of the net.
Still, Dublin recovered and overturned the six-point deficit to win in the end by three. Whether Monaghan stalled, they didn’t go for the throat or they ran out of legs – or Dublin were just brilliant – one thing is for sure is that Jack McCarron did everything he could.
He finished the day with 1-9 of his team’s 1-15. But at the end of that day, it was Dublin who marched on to the final.
Same old story but far from the same old Monaghan. They’ve unearthed another gem.
