Monaghan v Westmeath
Friday, 18 April 2008 10:43Few would have thought back in February that both sides would come into this game with a chance of finishing in the top two.
Monaghan have not surprised in this respect, and would have already been in the final were it not for their loss down in Cork.
Westmeath, however, have defied expectations, though they are full value for the eight points they have collected to date, with their only defeats being narrow ones to Cork and Dublin.
It may have been other results that put the Lakesmen in a position to claim promotion, but now that they have that chance they will be keen to take it.
Their recent revival owes much to the fine form of forwards Dessie Dolan and Denis Glennon, and the Midlanders will need the pair to terrorise a Monaghan rearguard that can be got at.
Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has praised Westmeath's use of the blanket defence, and it will be interesting to see if Monaghan's forwards can be more effective in Clones than they were by the banks of the Lee.
Paul Finlay was under the weather down in Páirc Uí Rinn, and the Farney faithful will hope that he is back to full health and firing on all cylinders.
The Ulster side have had an impressive campaign on the whole, and failure to earn a place in the top flight next season is simply not an option if they want to continue their current rate of development.
Verdict: Monaghan
