DAUNTING TASK IN PROSPECT AS MONAGHAN TRAVEL TO THE KINGDOM

Monaghan face a daunting task in Sunday’s trip to Tralee to face All-Ireland champions Kerry in the penultimate round of the NFL Div 1. by COLM SHALVEY

Monaghan can be content with their league campaign so far, but the last two games provide arguably their toughest tests, with Sunday’s game coming a week before the previous All-Ireland winners, Dublin, come to Clones. Malachy O’Rourke’s side have put themselves in a good position to stay up, but they still need a big result against one of the big guns in the next ten days to ensure that they will take their place in the top flight for 2016.

Back-to-back wins over Donegal and Derry have moved Monaghan clear of the relegation battle for now and completed a hat-trick of victories over Ulster opposition, following an impressive first-round performance away to Tyrone. Those most recent results have seen Monaghan recover in fine fashion from a heavy defeat with 13 men at the hands of Mayo and a narrow loss against Cork in a game many supporters still reference wistfully as the one that got away.

Monaghan’s record against Sunday’s opponents …