Allianz National Football League Division 2 Round 3 – Match Preview
Roscommon v Monaghan, Sunday 16th February in King and Moffatt Dr Hyde Park at 2pm
The two teams who were relegated from division one in 2024 meet again on Sunday next in Dr Hyde Park in an eagerly awaited clash. In fact Roscommon’s only league victory in last years’ campaign came against the Farney County last February.
But as we all know now, the gaelic football landscape has changed utterly in 2025 with the new rules. Both teams go into this Sunday’s clash on the back of two wins so far and both sides have scored heavily with Roscommon scoring 4-38 and Monaghan notching up 4-51.
Speaking to Roscommon team manager Davy Burke this week he stresses that winning the home games is vital in terms of a promotion push. “So far so good with two wins, but we have only three home games this year and I have said it before, we have to win those games as part of the campaign and we will be targeting a win on Sunday.”
The manager says that the whole group has re-set for the rest of the campaign. “We gave the players a few days off after the Louth match. We played Mayo in a challenge last weekend using the players that have not featured so far and that went well, and we are all back training this week so there is a good buzz in the camp.”
Davy says that Monaghan will provide a tough test for his side. “Monaghan are going well after two wins and will travel down confident so we will have to be at our best and hopefully in the Hyde we will get the job done,” he concluded.
Rory Beggan and Conor McCarthy have led the way for Gabriel Bannigan’s Monaghan so far in 2025. The multi-talented Beggan has now an even bigger influence on his teams’ performances under the new rules and the Scotstown net minder has scored an impressive 0-10 in just two games so far in this campaign.
Conor McCarthy has been named in the half back line in both Monaghan games so far but his has been a revelation scoring a total of 1-11 which included 0-7 from play against Westmeath.
Killian Lavelle, Ryan Wylie, Ryan McAnespie, David Garland and Stephen Mooney have all been playing well and Monaghan will pose a serious threat to Roscommon if there is any hint of complacency in the home camp.
But Roscommon are motoring nicely now. Conor Carroll has been doing really well between the posts while new recruits Colm Neary and Pearse Frost have been impressive in defence. Niall Higgins, captain Brian Stack have also been doing well, and others like John McManus, Shane Cunnane, Senan Lambe, Ruaidhri Fallon and Tim Lambe will all be hoping to see some action on Sunday.
Keith Doyle had a fine match against Louth and he and Eddie Nolan will once again have vital roles to play in the engine room at midfield. But it is up front once again that Roscommon will hope to decide this clash. The Murtagh brothers, Enda Smith and Daire Cregg look nailed on starters. Davy Burke will then have to choose from Donie Smith, Conor Cox, Ben O’Carroll, Cian McKeon, Shane Killoran, Ultan Harney and James Fitzpatrick for the other starting places. It is a welcome selection headache for the manager and his selectors.
It looks very likely that this will be a high scoring clash. Monaghan seem to have coped well so far without Conor McManus but I think Roscommon will provide tougher opposition than Cavan or Westmeath whom they have met and beaten so far.
In common with both games since the introduction of the new rules, I am expecting that the Roscommon attack will prove the difference between the teams and I take the home side to win by four or five points.
Prediction: Roscommon.
Elsewhere in Division 2 this weekend
