Monaghan forward Conor McCarthy reflected on a special day in Clones as the Farney men saw off a spirited Westmeath side to take their place among the last eight standing in the All-Ireland football championship.
It’s been a rollercoaster campaign for Monaghan, an extra-time defeat of Derry in Ulster followed by an extra-time defeat to Armagh in the provincial showpiece.
Gabriel Bannigan’s side then enjoyed the home comforts of St Tiernach’s Park, bouncing back from defeat to Mayo to register wins over Conancht and Leinster provincial winners in Roscommon and Westmeath.
They now take their place in Monday morning’s All-Ireland quarter-final draw full of confidence as supporters plan their trip to Croke Park.
“It’s a great win today,” McCarthy told RTÉ Sport. “Another home game in front of our home fans and it’s great to give them days like this and all these young boys and girls, it’s great to give them a day out and just put smiles on faces again.
“Look we’re going to Croke Park next week and that was the aim today. We’re delighted to get there.
“It’s brilliant to have these days in Clones. What a place to have a game of championship football.
“It’s a brilliant venue and just to give our home fans what they want and the Westmeath crowd certainly added to the occasion as well, they travelled in numbers and it was a brilliant occasion.”
Level at the break, with Rory Beggan’s three long-range frees cancelling out Westmeath’s two first-half goals, they kicked on to end Westmeath resistance, with Jack McCarron raising a green flag for the hosts.
McCarthy says it was a better showing after the break.
“It was a good second-half performance,” he said. “We wouldn’t have been happy with the two goals in the first half but we had 15 points on the board in the first half so we were happy with that.”
“The goal comes at a big time for us with Jack.”
Westmeath manager Mark McHugh had no qualms with the result as his side appeared to run out of steam coming down the stretch.
After a season that yielded just a second ever Leinster title, the Donegal native says there will be positive reflections when the dust settles on 2026.
Adam Treanor and Charlie Drumm leave the pitch after Westmeath’s defeat to Monaghan in Clones
“We don’t like losing, but unfortunately someone has to lose,” he told RTÉ Sport.
“The better team won, there is no doubt about that. Once we settle down and reflect on the year, yes it will be an awesome year. What we have done for the young people of Westmeath, who will hopefully want to wear this jersey, that is what it’s all about.
“Our job as a management team is to improve standards and quality of football, and thankfully we did that this year. But it’s only the start.”
The day belonged to Monaghan however and they will now face one of Cork, Louth, Galway or Tyrone in Monday morning’s draw.
McCarthy is hopeful that the Monaghan public will travel in numbers to the capital for next weekend’s quarter-finals.
“We’re well used to these draws now so we’ll wake up bright and early tomorrow and see what the draw brings,” he said.
“I hope the crowd can come and support us now in Croke Park like they did today and we’ll give them another day out. We’ll be looking forward to that.
“We’ll make Croke Park our home next week now. I know these fans will travel, I know they will and I know they’ll bring the noise. We can’t wait for it.”