Trophy win at Croker means all to Mícheál

BANNIGAN: CLIMBING THE STEPS AT HEADQUARTERS TO LIFT SILVERWARE IS A MASSIVE DEAL FOR MONAGHAN

- KARL O'KANE

MONAGHAN skipper Mícheál Bannigan says lifting a first trophy at Croke Park in over a decade is massive for his side.

The Farney men landed the Division 2 title at Croke Park on Saturday night, defeating Roscommon to end a silverware drought at GAA HQ going back to the 2014 Division 2 victory over Donegal.

Monaghan's last major title success was the 2015 Ulster Championship under Malachy O'Rourke.

The significance of winning a trophy at Croke Park was not lost on captain Bannigan, who was appearing in just his second final in nine years in the Monaghan squad.

Bannigan was part of the side that lost the 2021 covid Ulster final to All-Ireland champions in waiting Tyrone - by just a single point.

On Saturday night he hit five points from play before going up to lift the Division 2 title.

"It's massive," he said. It's only my second final playing for Monaghan.