Local journalist John Graham was asked by the Belfast based newspaper the ‘Irish News’ to select the six key players for Monaghan over the past 10 year. It will come as no surprise to locals that Paul Finlay made JP’s top six. Here is what the Killeevan man had to say about JAP – “When Paul Finlay called time on his 14 year inter-county career a couple of seasons ago, he left the big stage with his place among the all-time Monaghan greats safely secured.
One of the most prolific forwards of his generation, Finlay scored a whopping 5-544 in 168 appearances for his county. He first came to prominence as the top scorer on the Monaghan Vocational Schools team that garnered All-Ireland honours in 2001, and then won a Sigerson Cup medal with Sligo IT the following year.
The stylish Ballybay clubman played a starring role in Monaghan’s 2005 Allianz League Division Two triumph, which was the Farney county’s first national title in 20 years.
He had to wait until 2013 to emulate his late father Kieran by winning his first Ulster SFC medal and followed that up two years later as Monaghan defeated Donegal in the provincial final.
At club level, he led Ballybay to a Monaghan senior title in 2012, which completed a full collection of medals at junior, intermediate and senior level.
The other five key players named by JP are Conor Mc Manus, Darren Hughes, Owen Lennon, Rory Beggan and Vinny Corey.