All-Ireland quarter-final head-to-head: Donegal v Monaghan

Irish Examiner

3 hours ago

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Donegal (W7 L1).
Ulster SFC Preliminary Round: Donegal 1-25 Derry 1-15
Ulster SFC quarter-final: Donegal 0-23 Monaghan 0-21
Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal 1-19 Down 0-16
Ulster SFC final: Donegal 2-23 Armagh 0-28 (aet)
All-Ireland SFC group phase: Tyrone 2-17 Donegal 0-20
All-Ireland SFC group phase: Donegal 3-26 Cavan 1-13
All-Ireland SFC group phase: Donegal 0-19 Mayo 1-15
All-Ireland SFC prelim quarter-final: Donegal 2-22 Louth 0-12
Monaghan (W3 L1).
Ulster SFC quarter-final: Donegal 0-23 Monaghan 0-21
All-Ireland SFC group phase: Monaghan 1-23 Louth 4-8
All-Ireland SFC group phase: Monaghan 1-25 Clare 1-16
All-Ireland SFC group phase: Monaghan 2-27 Down 1-26
LAST FIVE
2025 Ulster SFC quarter-final: Donegal 0-23 Monaghan 0-21
2023 All-Ireland round robin: Donegal 0-19 Monaghan 0-17
2016 Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal 0-17 Monaghan 2-10 (replay)
2016 Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal 1-11 Monaghan 0-14 (draw)
2015 Ulster SFC final: Monaghan 0-11 Donegal 0-10.
DID YOU KNOW
*Donegal have played more championship games (eight) than any other county so far this season. Monaghan have played the fewest games (four) of the eight quarter-finalists.
*Monaghan are seeking their first championship win over Donegal since the 2015 Ulster Final. Since then, Donegal have beaten them four times.
*Goals have been in short supply in recent Donegal-Monaghan games, producing only four in their last six meetings.
*Donegal are attempting to reach the All-Ireland Semi-Final for a second successive year; Monaghan were last there in 2023.
MATCH PREVIEW
As Limerick's hurlers demonstrated this year, emotion as a motivation has its limits and Donegal would be wise not to draw too much from the well of indignation. Most certainly, they have reason to believe they have been treated differently because of the six-day turnaround. But then Cavan faced the same schedule the week before.
No, if they are going to contend with Monaghan's rested speedsters then it will be all about their own high fitness levels and the strength of the panel Jim McGuinness has curated over the past 18 months or so. Even the sky-high energy levels of Ciarán Moore and Peadar Mogan will be challenged.
Monaghan haven't yet shown the endurance Donegal have displayed these past couple of seasons but they have match-winners. Stephen O'Hanlon plays the game the way it is supposed to be played and Dessie Ward is in his element right now.
Monaghan may have reached a semi-final two years ago but their Croke Park championship record isn't great and they rely now more on exuberance than experience. That's not to say they can't win and Donegal are in for a game, but they have the know-how to stand longest.
Verdict: Donegal.