Monaghan’s superior scoring power likely to be too much for disjointed Antrim to handle

Because of the lop-sided draw in all but one of the provinces this year, the likelihood of a trio of cakewalks when it comes to finals time is high. Yet for some of the more upwardly mobile sides in the country – your Louths, your Meaths, your Cavans – the prospect hasn’t done much to dampen their ardour.

Monaghan should fit comfortably enough into that category, Division Three winners after a couple of straight relegations. If they punch their exact weight, a third Ulster final appearance in six seasons should be on the cards.

They face an Antrim side that look chaotic to put it mildly. Like many who have gone before him, Frank Dawson has had to grin and bear the herding-cats element of trying to work the Antrim footballers into a coherent group.

The loss of Tony Scullion and the McCann brothers will be hard to overcome, especially with James Loughrey having transferred to Cork before the season began. Their emphasis on crowding the defence means that aside from Paddy Cunningham’s frees, it’s difficult to see where too many scores are going to come from.

They are likely to need a decent total as well, since the one thing Monaghan are not short of is scorers. While comparative lightness in defence – particularly in the full-back line – could be badly exposed at a later date, they possess ample long-range scoring power in Paul Finlay, Owen Duffy, Kieran Hughes and Conor McManus.

Darren Hughes will bomb on in search of shooting opportunities and Tommy Freeman will be waiting in the wings.

Malachy O’Rourke has lifted Monaghan’s chins up off their chests since taking over.

Though still partial to the occasional costly strop, they have become better at keeping 15 men on the field as well.

Do so again tomorrow and they ought to have a good bit in hand.