Drew Wylie expecting a tough Cavan battle
Monaghan full back Drew Wylie has carried his excellent league form into the 2017 Ulster Senior Football Championship. In the first round game against neighbours Fermanagh he performed robustly to keep the shackles on the dangerous Sean Quigley and the Oriel County will be looking of more of the same as they head to Kingspan Breffni Park this Sunday to face An Cabhán.
Monaghan retained their top flight status in a highly competitive Division one earlier this year and Wylie believes that the experiences gained from this series of games will definitely stand to the squad as they try to progress further in this year’s provincial series.
”It was a good league for Monaghan this year. It’s where you want to be – Division 1. You want to be competing with all the top teams that are in there, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo, Tyrone & Donegal. A lot of young lads were used in different positions and picked up great experience and that can only be good for the future. It was great preparation for the Championship and our opening game against Fermanagh.
”Training has been going pretty well since that game. We had a bit of time back with the clubs, which was important but it’s been good to regroup and get the focus on for a different challenge that Cavan will bring the next day’’
Many pundits have put forward the name Monaghan when asked who they think will ultimately walk away with the Anglo Celt on 16th July in Clones but the Ballybay clubman is not looking beyond the challenge of Matt McGlennan’s men.
”The Ulster Championship is very important for Monaghan. We have won two in the last number of years and we would love to add to that but the team and panel have changed in the last couple of years so we have to prove ourselves all over.
”There have been three different winners in Ulster in the last three years so it’s definitely going to be another very competitive season with a lot of teams believing that they can win the title.
”We know that Cavan will be setting out with the aim of winning an Ulster title this year, after taking Tyrone to a replay in last year’s semi-final. We are expecting a really tough battle when we go to Kingspan Breffni Park on Sunday, that’s for sure”