While Monaghan have enjoyed a torrid year so far on the back of relegation to Division 2 and championship defeats against Cavan and Kerry, Enda McGinley sees their All-Ireland round-robin clash with Louth as an opportunity for them to get back a "semblance of respect".
Of course in recent seasons, the Farney have more often than not proven the doubters wrong, with last-day survival in the league's top flight ands reaching the latter stages of the Sam Maguire, testament to their powers of recovery.
In 2024, however, Vinny Corey's outfit were doomed in advance of the concluding round in Division 1 and the manner of their losses in the championship, particularly the reverse against the Kingdom a fortnight ago, raises concerns about their wellbeing facing a Louth outfit, who after pushing the Dubs hard in the Leinster final then made light work of Meath last weekend.
Speaking on the latest edition of the RTÉ GAA Podcast, former Tyrone star McGinley sees the clash with the Wee County on Sunday next as a shot at redemption, when saying: "It is set up for Monaghan being Monaghan".
The three-time All-Ireland winner isn't writing off the Farney just yet.
"Whenever they're being written off and their back is against the wall, they are a a serious, serious proposition," he added.
"We know they can get brilliant performances out of themselves and they'll not fear Louth, and Louth won't fear them either. Ger Brennan's work with Louth, the season they are putting together at the minute is really, really superb.
Monaghan are playing for 'respect' after the hurtful loss in Kerry, says Enda McGinley on the RTÉ GAA podcast
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"Monaghan will see it as a chance of getting some semblance of respect, that's what they are playing for after a really hurtful loss down in Kerry. It was the manner of the defeat, not so much losing heavily to Kerry, but as Vinny Corey alluded to afterwards they missed the core ingredients that you consistently expect from a Monaghan team.
"It's a case of coming out with that last stand, that demand for respect we expect from them."
McGinley, in giving more praise to what Louth have served up so far in the championship, said: "Louth are a serious team, full of confidence, and are scoring goals for fun. They really took Meath apart the last day out, a hugely creditable performance against Dublin in the Leinster final to cap off a no-drama Leinster campaign where they accounted for Kildare mid-route."
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