Monaghan need to increase their fire-power if they are to claim any honours this season, according to Graham Geraghty.
Malachy O’Rourke’s charges overcame stiff resistance from Cavan at Breffni Park on Sunday but, according to the former Meath forward and double All-Ireland winner, were over-reliant on Conor McManus, who provided seven of their 16 scores.
Five of those points came from frees, while Paul Finlay’s three points were all from placed balls.
Monaghan will be favourites to reach the Ulster final with Fermanagh or Antrim waiting in the semi-final as they bid to regain the title they last won in 2013.
But as they come up against stronger opposition, they will need contributions from other sources, says the former Ireland international.
“He’s a top-class forward and he’s proven that over the last couple of years," Geraghty told RTÉ Sport’s GAA Podcast
"If he gets injured or he doesn’t play well, where are the scores going to come from?
“He is isolated up there and we saw him late on that when he got a bit of space, knocking over a few scores from play.
“They do need someone up there with him, it’s a tough role to play when you’ve two or three lads sitting in front of you and you’re not getting the proper ball in.
“When he does get it he can score off both feet, he can field it in the air, he has the pace to take lads on.
"Monaghan do need somebody up there with him that they can get more scores from play.
“It is a problem for Monaghan that they are not getting enough from play or they are not getting enough from the rest of their forwards.”
