MON THE WAY UP

McManus says Farney are reaping rewards of maintaining standards

- BY PAUL KEANE

CONOR McManus says any county can get relegated from Division One but the really strong ones bounce straight back up - like Monaghan.

The Farney will begin their latest top flight campaign on Sunday with a blockbuster tie against Armagh in Clones.

McManus was on the Monaghan team when they finally went down in 2024 after 10 seasons in the top flight.

The talisman attacker called it quits just months later and the fear was that there might be a period of transition.

But Monaghan topped Division Two in 2025, won the title outright and made an immediate return to the top flight.

Darren Hughes, Karl O'Connell and Kieran Duffy are the latest to call it quits so won't feature against Armagh.

And boss Gabriel Bannigan (inset) could be without as many as 14 of last year's Championship panel, for varying reasons.

McManus said he expects 'three or four' debutants but reckons the McKenna Cup finalists are in a good place and capable of surviving in Division One.

He said: "Over that 10-year period when Monaghan were in Division One, we saw Donegal get relegated once or twice, we saw Tyrone get relegated, Armagh get relegated, Mayo, Dublin, it happens to all the big teams.

"With that division being as competitive as it is, there's always a strong chance that you can get relegated if things don't go your way early doors. That's just the nature of it.