McManus is the best, says Banty

Wexford football manager Seamus McEnaney says Monaghan’s Conor McManus is the best forward in the country.

Wexford take on the Farney County in Saturday's All-Ireland SFC Round B qualifier, and McEnaney says the Clontibret man, with 2-13 from his three games so far this summer, will be the danger man at Wexford Park.

"Banty" McEnaney managed Monagahan from 2004 to 2010 and gave McManus his inter-county debut in 2007.

Monaghan beat Fermanagh by nine points in the Ulster SFC preliminary round, and saw off Cavan 1-15 to 0-15 in the quarter-finals, but went down 1-14 to 0-15 to Down in the Ulster semi-final in Armagh on 24 June.

"The reality is Monaghan started very well against Down the last day, they just didn't execute all their opportunities, but that's still one of the best forward lines in the country with the best forward, Conor McManus. I would class him as the best forward in the country," said McEnaney.

"I've managed him, I've watched him, I know him well and over the period of the last three years he has been the best forward in the country."

Banty also insists he doesn't have great insider knowledge of the Monaghan team, having last managed them seven years ago.

"I probably have managed twelve of their panel from my time in Monaghan," the Corduff man continued.

"People say maybe I have a benefit, but the reality is I was never looking at those players wondering how another team would beat them, we were always concentrating on beating the opposition."

Images: Inpho/ Ryan Byrne

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