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Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan praised his side’s character and spirit during their narrow 1-24 to 2-20 All-Ireland SFC first round defeat to Mayo in Clones.
Mayo had an 11-point lead at the break after a brutal first-half performance that included six two-pointers.
However, Monaghan fought back after the restart and managed to close the gap to just one point, but could not find the crucial score before the final whistle.
“The character and the spirit in these guys, they’re just brilliant,” Bannigan said.
“Whatever is thrown at them, it’s fantastic, because we’ve lost a couple of big guys to injury. We lost Stephen O’Hanlon in training during the week and then we lost Bobby McCall to that nasty injury.
“So, for the guys to pull themselves together and make what they did in that second half, I’m very, very proud of them. They put everything on the line again.”
Bannigan made a double change at the break that included Bobby McCall, who returned from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that sidelined him for a year.
The teenager made an immediate impact and scored a goal and added a point to Monaghan’s tally as they aimed for a late comeback.
However, he was stretchered off later in the half and Bannigan added that the injury “doesn’t feel good”.
“I’m especially disappointed for young Bobby,” he continued.
“He came in with a bad knee injury, just coming back after more than 12 months out. It’s an emotional dressing room, mainly because of that. He was brilliant. He was causing havoc.
“Regardless of the game, it’s a shame to see a young guy like that go out with a bad injury for the second year in a row. It’s a big blow. But he’s made of good stuff and he’ll be back.”
