Free-scoring Farney entertaining the rule changes in a major way

Win tomorrow against Down and they're sitting pretty, straight into an All-Ireland quarter-final — and they'll have done it in style.

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So what has changed this season, bar the new rules?

"There are three things that stand out," says Finlay.

"The rules are helping everybody. The management, I think, are having to say, 'Look guys, the type of game we have to play is not containment that isn't going to win. It's that bit more progressive.

"I have to give credit to Gabriel Bannigan and his team. Obviously Andy Moran, you can pick him out, but I'd like to point out the others, Dermot McArdle, Damien Freeman, Dermot Malone.

"It's a good set-up. They are playing that wee bit more positive and trying to get ahead. Vinny was there before and like every manager, was a bit curtailed in what he could do.

"It was about trying to stay in matches and not let teams get a run on you. It led to that sort of dogged, let's wait to the last 10 minutes and see if we can see this through. It wasn't easy on the eye.

"So, what you are seeing now is led by the rules.

"The last thing is the type of player Monaghan have, and have developed over the last few years. You are looking at serious pace.

"That's an exciting thing for Monaghan at the moment, right from the half-back line in Conor McCarthy, right up to Micheal Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon, Stephen Mooney, Davy Garland and these guys.

"They are all really, really nimble and fast. Small in stature is one thing you could say, but definitely capable of getting after teams and creating exciting moments.

"They are putting up big scores. Kicking 20-plus points and getting a goal or two along the way, which is getting them a win a lot of days."