Monaghan face Donegal in Healy Park this Saturday will the final shake-up of group four to be decided.
Former Dublin legend Diarmuid Connolly believes the farney are in a great place for a championship shot.
“Monaghan are top of the group and you probably wouldn’t have said that at the start of the season” Connolly explained.
“They’re joint points with Derry on three and they have to face Donegal this weekend. Donegal have been a whip and by team over the last six to eight months or so”.
“Even in the league they never got anything going but I was impressed with them the last day. Paddy McBrearty, their captain, came back and he looks lively enough but Oisin Gallen was the stand-out in that last game as he kicked nine points. He was electric”.
“Any ball that he got he looked like he was going to do something and he was dangerous inside”.
Vinney Corey's side "are going to have their hands full with that guy, but for me I think this game is going to be very close. A draw would be a fair result but Karl O’Connor has been unbelievable”.
“Jack McCarron has been horses for courses in the last game but he came on and kicked nine points. He has a sweet left foot on him and even his passing range on his right foot was unbelievable”.
Monaghan defence
“I do still think Monaghan struggle on their scramble defence and this is going to be set up for Donegal".
“They are going to get a lot of bodies back behind the ball and run at this Monaghan side”.
“That is where Monaghan struggles. If Donegal get runners down the middle I think they could open this Monaghan side for goals”.
“There are goals in this Monaghan side also but I’m going for the draw here.”
Diarmuid Connolly was speaking to BoyleSports.
Monaghan versus Donegal is live on an extended Saturday Sport from 6pm.
