Derry ready for "dangerous" Monaghan semi-final says Chrissy McKaigue
Chrissy McKaigue says a Monaghan team with a point to prove will be a "dangerous" proposition for Derry as the Oak Leafers travel to the Athletic Grounds in search of a third Ulster Championship final appearance in five years (Saturday, 5pm).
Ciaran Meenagh's return as manager has coincided with plenty of optimism as Derry emerged from a difficult 18 months to show signs of getting back to their best. The resurgence wasn't quite enough to secure promotion back to the top flight and they will be joined in Division Two next season by a Monaghan side who came in for criticism after a poor league campaign that resulted in relegation.
The Farney's response though was an impressive opening round 0-27 to 2-14 championship victory over rivals Cavan and that, coupled with their experience from the top tier of the league, makes Gabriel Bannigan's team a formidable challenge according to McKaigue.
"The biggest thing is - and there's no point shying away from this - but Monaghan have a big advantage over Derry from the point of view that they have played seven games at Division One standard this year," explained the Derry coach.
"Okay, results didn't go their way, but the learning you take out of playing the best teams in the country week in, week out is massive.
"Unfortunately for Derry we've earned the right to be back in Division 2 next season, and whilst a lot of the games this year we've learned lots from, you still don't learn as much from Division 2 games as you do from Division One games, irrespective of the results.
"That's something that we're very much aware of. Monaghan come into this game with their preparation being very, very good. The Cavan match was a local derby too and they played a lot of very good football in that game.
"Monaghan are always a dangerous opponent, we're very much aware that and they will certainly be every bit as dangerous this weekend."
The provincial championships have already made a mockery of league form with both the Division One and Division Two champions falling at the first hurdle in Ulster and Leinster respectively. It's a lesson Derry are only too familiar with from recent seasons with McKaigue stressing focus will be crucial.
"We've seen already from Donegal winning Division 1 to now being out of the Ulster Championship; we've seen Meath, having won Division 2, are now out of the Leinster Championship; you just have to be always aware that when the Championship comes, it has a very different feel about it to league football, and I suppose Derry, sadly for myself, are very much aware of that too from recent years," added the Slaughtneil club man
"We went from the highs of beating Dublin in a Division One final to two weeks later getting dumped out of the Ulster Championship. You have to be aware of all those things but, look, it's a semi-final and we're expecting a packed house in Armagh. It's a privilege to be part of these games.
"It's the beauty of the Ulster Championship. It's not coincidental that when you look across the Ulster Championship the vast majority of teams - I think every team outside Antrim and Fermanagh - are all Division One or Division 2.
"That's testament to the health of Ulster football and, yep, there's been a few shocks to date but for us, we just feel we've a very special group of players. We've a group of players who have won two Ulster Championships, a group of players that have won a Division One National League title.
"They were really just devoid of a bit of confidence before this year started but slowly and surely you could feel that we're getting to grips again and getting into our best form again.
"But we’re under no illusions about the test that Monaghan presents because they seem to have a bit about them again after a disappointing league campaign. You could see that result against Cavan meant an awful lot of them and they're going to be a very dangerous opponent."
McKaigue admitted the learning from Derry's opening round victory over Antrim in Find Insurance Celtic Park was limited given the one sided nature of the contest but he stressed the value of a first Ulster victory since the final of 2023.
"The biggest thing for us was simply winning a game in the Ulster Championship again," he explained, "There's been a bit of scar tissue that needed to be rubbed out after the last two campaigns: that was important.
"When you're going on to a game that you're such heavy favourites it can be difficult but luckily, we went in against Antrim at half time in a good spot and then pushed on second half and won with a bit of comfort.
"It was nothing more than just getting a win again in the Ulster championship because it's been a while between drinks as they say and we're just delighted now to be in the semi-final because getting into the semi-final of the Ulster Championship builds an unbelievable excitement within the county
"I thought the Derry support throughout the league was fantastic. I thought the Derry support in the Antrim game was brilliant too and I'd be fully expecting a really healthy Derry support this Saturday in the Athletic Grounds. I still believe that Derry people see this as a group of players who can find their best form, and they've earned the right to say that when they do find their best form they are a top table team.
"But that's predicated on winning games and Monaghan presents a game that we have to go out and try our best to win and, with our best version, we'd be hopeful that we can do that."