GAA: High flying Fin; PAUL INSISTS FARNEY MEN ARE GOING UP IN THE WORLD. (2024)

Byline: Orla BANNON

PAUL FINLAY believes Monaghan's promotion to Division Onefootball could be an omen signalling that good times are ahead.

The talented Ballybay forward's long-range equaliser againstLongford on Sunday was enough to catapult them back into the top flightfor the first time in 12 years and spark incredible scenes at StTiernach's Park in Clones.

However, Finlay said yesterday he had been gutted at the finalwhistle, not realising his superb score had been enough to squeeze pastLongford into the play-offs."Everyone was running onto the pitchand I was wondering what they were so excited about," he said.

"I thought a draw meant we'd have to play Longford againto see who got promoted, I didn't realise a draw was good enoughfor us.

"When I found out it was unbelievable and the supporters werefantastic - you wouldn't have had a better buzz at a championshipmatch."

Manager Seamus McEnaney claimed that if there was one man he wouldhave wanted to have the ball in injury-time with the whole county'sfootballing future in his hands, it was Paul Finlay.

The 22-year-old is the rising star of Monaghan football havingfirst shot to fame in 2003 when he almost single-handedly dumped thenAll-Ireland champions Armagh out of the Ulster championship.

His stock continues to rise and he was delighted to have the vitalpoint on Sunday, especially with his weaker right foot.

He said: "The boys were slagging me that my right foot wasonly for standing on but I think I got them back yesterday.

"I was about 45 metres out on the right hand side and becauseI had scored two with my right foot the previous week against Leitrim Ifelt confident enough.

"I just hit it and it kept curling and curling but thankfullyit sneaked just inside the left-hand post. God must have directed itover.

"Anyway it was an important one because it was a massiveresult for Monaghan football."

At the start of the Division 2A campaign, Monaghan weren'tamong the favourites for promotion, with Fermanagh, Longford andRoscommon all ahead of them.

But they have finally harnessed some of their undoubted potentialthis year and can look forward to joining top teams like Kerry, Tyrone,Dublin, Cork and Mayo in 2006.

Promotion has left them bubbling with confidence and Finlay thinksthey are on an upward curve.

"This has given us a serious lift," says Finlay, whosefather 'Jap' was the star of the Monaghan side which reignedUlster in 1979.

"Our number one aim at the start of the year was to getpromotion because it's only by playing the top teams week-inweek-out that you really improve.

"No disrespect to the likes of London but you can be beatingthese teams and still not know how good you are. It's very hard tojudge.

"But when you're at a higher level then the step-upisn't so great going into the championship."

Monaghan now must face Derry in the Division Two play-offs -although both teams would have preferred to miss each other as they alsoclash in the first round of the Ulster championship on June 5.

The Oak Leafers have blitzed all in front of them this season withPaddy Bradley in prolific form and Finlay insists Monaghan have nothingto lose claiming: "We can be relaxed and try to give our bestwithout being under any pressure."

However, sport doesn't work like that and now that the Farneymen have lifted their heads above the parapet they're curious tosee how far they can go.

"We've already got what we wanted from this year but tobe honest we don't want to leave it at that," said Finlay."Hopefully, we can keep it going and have a wee run in thechampionship."

With the Division One semi-finals certain to be fixed as a doubleheader at Croke Park, Breffni Park has emerged as a likely halfway house for the Division Two play-offs. Croke Park is the prize for the winners.

"I've never played there before and it's one of mymain goals to play there before I die," confessed Finlay.

"To get a day out in Croke Park would be a massive thing forus before we even think about the championship."

CAPTION(S):

OVER THE BAR: Paul Finlay was the hero for Monaghan at the weekend;PROLIFIC: Derry danger man Paddy Bradley