Speculation is growing that the outcome of the fourth round qualifier All-Ireland against Kildare's vastly improved side this year may well determine the future of manager Seamus McEnaney and also of Grimley and McElkennon. However for the moment the emphasis is totally on achieving a restoration of pride.

Banty McEnaney's statement after the Ulster Final that Monaghan's play on that day was 'totally unacceptable' has surely spurred our boys on. The bad news is that team Captain Vinny Corey and John Paul Mone are unlikely to make the starting line-up because of injuries, which will surely not help our defensive structure.
Assistant manager Paul Grimley said this week that his inside knowledge of Kildare (he was assistant to Kieran McGeeney last year) will help Monaghan's build-up for this crucial game. But he added that Monaghan never played to their capabilities in the final against Tyrone. Grimley also said that he viewed the Kildare game as a huge task so soon after the Ulster final defeat.
The Lily Whites have beaten Antrim (after a replay), Leitrim and Derry in the qualifiers so far but that resounding defeat of Derry in Celtic Park will surely have given them a lift. However Mc Geeney is a hard taskmaster and he will expect a big performance from Kildare and send them in against Monaghan in good heart.
So what's the good news...that's simple - we are Monaghan and despite one slip at the Ulster Final we do not lie down for anyone. We have quality players as good as any in the country. Our back line, mid field and forwards are all great players and the loss of one game will not ruin our summer. There is a lot of pride at stake in this match and this will manifest itself in our display, so that those who have written us off already will have to eat humble pie.
Remember between them John Doyle and Eamonn Callaghan scored 1-12 of Kildare's total of 2-17 against Derry and if can close them down we are surely in the running for a victory. Lennon and Clerkin are well capable of handling Dermot Earley and Darryl Flynn at midfield and Finlay, Freeman, McManus & Co will cause lots of problems for the Kildare defence.
Self belief is the key to winning on Saturday and to quote the most famous leader in the world during his election campaign our motto on Saturday should be 'YES WE CAN!'