Monaghan boss Bannigan looking forwards to league final

Monaghan boss Gabriel Bannigan is pleased to have the opportunity to play in Croke Park after securing an immediate return to Division 1 ahead of the beginning of their Ulster Football Championship.

Having been relegated last campaign, the Farney men won five matches in the second tier to finish top of the division.

Sunday's clash with Down did not go to plan as a team battling for survival came away with the win.

Results elsewhere meant Monaghan’s loss and the Mourne County's victory was irrelevant in terms of promotion and relegation.

While counties in the top tier are unhappy with the impact a league final could have on their Ulster preparations in early April, Bannigan feels the game will stand to Monaghan ahead of a clash with the winner of Donegal v Derry given their match is a month away.

Bannigan said: "Division 2 is very competitive. We had seven tough games. You see Down there today fighting for their lives, they played some great football and gave us our fill of it.

"We were very flat in the first half, but that's credit to Down as well. Second half we got a good improvement, it could have gone either way in the end.

"I'm just happy to be in the final next week and Division 1 football next year.

"Mission completed, so I'm happy with that. I made absolutely no doubts whatsoever when I took the job about the belief I had in this group and there's a lot of talent there. Now, first half today, you wouldn't have indicated that, but every other performance so far this year has vindicated it.

"There's good players in there, with a good attitude. From my perspective, it was just an absolute honour to get the chance to manage my own county, to manage this group of lads. I have a lot of belief in them, and we're back in Division 1.

"We have a lot of improvement to do based on that performance today, but we'll go at it over the next few weeks and we'll try and get it right. Being in the league final is a bonus, but Championship is now around the corner. It's good to get a game in Croke Park three weeks before that.

"I'm looking forward to bringing them to Croke Park, and hopefully we'll get a performance there for the two halves rather than one."

For Down, midfielder Danny Magill was left ruing a drop back to Division 3 given they had positives to cling to from the Tailteann Cup success and promotion last year.

Finishing the league with two victories is a consolation as they look toward their own provincial challenge in the coming weeks with Fermanagh.

Magiill stated: "The overriding feeling is one of disappointment. I'm proud of the boys, it's probably our best performance all year.

"I feel like we can play in Division 2 and even higher in Division 1. You've seen today we've pipped the best team in the division as such.

"This Down team has a brilliant character, we know when we get our hands on balls how dangerous we can be.

"I thought in the first half we were absolutely brilliant.

"Clones was getting loud there when Monaghan were getting back in and the character we showed, I thought we were credit ourselves today, but ultimately we haven't done enough to say in Division 2 over the year and that's something we’re going to have to look at when we get back into training on Tuesday night.

"Fermanagh is now three or four weeks down the road so there's no point in feeling sorry for yourself."

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