Monaghan: 1 – 11

Kildare: 1 - 15

The game is over, the post mortems have begun and already many pundits are speculating about the future of Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney as Monaghan senior football manager.

However, before we in monaghanlife are accused of joining those who are baying for his resignation or dismissal let us take a rational look at where the present team is at. This team has come on leaps and bounds in the six years he has been at the helm. Yes there have been dour defeats like Saturday last at headquarters, but are we forgetting our superb National League victory with that superb last minute goal? Remember too that this team are still in Division One of the National football  league and rightly so following some super victories last winter. Remember too that regardless of last Saturday’s failure and putting aside Paul Finlay’s three points their other nine scores came from nine different players. Surely this alone tells us that he has instilled a confidence that was lacking in many a past season where we relied on two or three individual players to create and take scores.

So lets not write off Banty so easily. After the game he said, "I have given six years to this job and I have been proud of the players who have taken Monaghan from a very low ebb to among the top eight counties in the country. Today is not the day for discussing such issues. I enjoyed my six years, they are a fantastic group of players and gave every ounce of energy in their bodies." He also added that the previous six days had been very difficult, coming as they did after the defeat in the Ulster final. He said, "A week in football is a long time. Monaghan was in a great place seven days ago. A disappointing week certainly, a frustrating week. We had injury problems, we missed John Paul Mone, Vinny Corey our Captain and Shane Duffy. But no excuses. We were in a good position after 15 minutes and came out fighting but there were two 10 minute periods where they (Kildare) completely controlled it, that crucified us."

He also spoke of the loyalty of the players and how the defeat to Tyrone in the Ulster Final and had played on all the panels mind. "The players have been very loyal to me, these fellas didn’t even go out of their houses last Sunday because of today’s game, that’s the kind of commitment you are talking about. Tyrone absolutely turned the screw on us and to be beaten by 10 points was a big disappointment. Only twice in the last six years ahs this team been beaten by more than four points, against Tyrone in 2005 and again last Sunday."

Maybe even after reading that there are still some who think he is not the right man for the job. Those of you who think that may well be proven right this week if he resigns or is pushed. Maybe fresh blood in the management team is what is needed but one thing is for sure ‘Banty’ gave his all and no one can deny that.

Your views and comments are always welcome - contact us at news@monaghanlife.ie.

Pictured is Dick Clerkin in action for Monaghan.