Monaghan's quality of play not matched by their belief

Monaghan need to make a statement win in Croke Park this weekend and prove they fully believe they are genuine All-Ireland contenders.

That's the view of former Tyrone player Enda McGinley, who isn't convinced the Farney men truly believe they will be part of the shake-up for Sam Maguire ahead of their quarter-final this weekend with Donegal.

The all-Ulster clash on Saturday afternoon will kick-start the series of last-eight encounters at GAA HQ, with Donegal dominating the headlines in the build-up.

The Ulster champions will be action for a third week on the trot with Jim McGuinness’ side set for a ninth championship outing in 13 weeks.

In a statement released on Monday, the county said that the welfare of their players has not be considered, with Saturday’s 4pm throw-in coming six days after the preliminary quarter-final defeat of Louth.

The Farney men have enjoyed a fine season under Gabriel Bannigan – promotion to Division 1 and having last weekend off courtesy of topping a round-robin group that didn’t contain any side from the top tier.

Micheál Bannigan and Stephen O'Hanlon have been causing havoc up front, but speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast, McGinley questions whether Monaghan, who put it up to the Tir Chonaill men in Ulster before falling short by two points, have the confidence required to take out a contender.

"Monaghan have to make that statement win," he said. "They have to show that they come to Croke Park as equals and are capable of winning the whole thing.

"Do Monaghan truly believe they are capable of winning the whole thing? I don’t know. I would genuinely would doubt that.

"That’s a critical weakness."

McGinley feels Donegal’s ceiling is higher, and has been surprised that with the personnel available to McGuinness, they remain so reliant on the evergreen Michael Murphy.

Murphy wins possession in the Ulster final defeat of Armagh

"Donegal have the tools to spread the big men right across (the pitch), yet when they need a kickout, there is only one man they continually and repeatedly go to, that’s Michael Murphy.

"Tyrone sort of cancelled that out (All-Ireland series) and that was the winning of the game for them.

"Monaghan, as an Ulster team, will know well how to target that. Donegal have to play better, but Monaghan have to have a belief, not just that they can win this game, but the whole thing.

"They have played some of the best football all year, probably more consistent than some of the other top teams.

"I’d imagine the messaging in the Monaghan camp is, 'we’ve been playing good stuff, primarily against tier two sides, but we now have to show up against the big boys and take down a Division 1 team. Are we ready for that or not?'"

Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals on Saturday on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

Watch two All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals, Meath v Galway and Armagh v Kerry, from 1.15pm on Sunday on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

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