Profligate Monaghan and Kildare prepare for battle

By Shea Leonard

If missed chances cause sleepless nights then both Eamonn McEneaney and Kieran McGeeney may be forgiven if they arrive at Clones with bags under their eyes on Sunday.

Promotion would have been the target for these two sides before the league started, but whoever loses this weekend will have to switch their focus to avoiding the drop.

Monaghan fell to Seamus McEnaney’s Meath in Navan last Saturday, but their manager is hopeful that wasteful shooting will not become a feature of their play.

McEneaney will have been pleased with the number of chances his side created, and will hope that the familiar surrounds of St Tiarnach’s Park will also aid his charges in their bid to secure the two points.

There has been some turnover in the Farney County’s squad, but it is still the likes of Paul Finlay, Vinny Corey and Darren Hughes that the Ulster side look to for inspiration.

Dick Clerkin came off the bench against Meath and although the Currin clubman only recently returned from honeymoon, he may be called into action from the start to plug the hole in midfield left by Owen Lennon (work commitments).

While McEneaney may have cursed his side’s profligacy at Páirc Tailteann, he may spare a thought for Kieran McGeeney. The former Armagh captain has made Kildare one of the top forces in the country, but their failings in front of the posts have blighted his tenure and have certainly cost the Lilywhites silverware in recent years.

It certainly deprived them of a win against Tyrone at Croke Park last Saturday where they passed up a host of goal chances and made a of habit of the cardinal sin of dropping the ball short.

There are some who question the wisdom of the yet to be sanctioned transfer of Seanie Johnston from Cavan, but you can see why McGeeney would be keen to bring a poacher of the now St Kevin’s of Staplestown clubman’s quality into the set-up.

The only saving grace for Kildare is that they create so many opportunities that even their routinely poor conversion rate is enough to win most games.

Verdict: Kildare