MICHÉAL BANNIGAN insists Monaghan have the goods to land the big one. The Farney have never won Sam Maguire, but their skipper dreams of being the first man from the county to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand. Bannigan helped them reach their first All-Ireland semi-final in 30 years in 2018, but they lost to Tyrone by a point. They reached the last four again in 2023, and gave Dublin a huge run for their money until Dean Rock’s late goal pulled the Sky Blues through. But a disastrous 2024 saw them relegated from Division 1 of the NFL before Galway ended their campaign in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals. Vinny Corey walked as boss and was replaced by Bannigan’s uncle, Gabriel - as all-time great Conor McManus retired from inter-county football due to chronic hip problems. But they have started 2025 with a bang, and are top of Division 2 of the NFL on scoring difference. They are sitting on eight points after five rounds along with Roscommon and Meath, and can take a huge step towards promotion if they beat the Royals in Navan on Sunday. Armagh went all the way from the second tier of league football last summer, and so did Dublin in 2023. And the Aughnamullen man has full faith they can reach the business end once more - and the All-Ireland is a realistic target. He said: “Yeah, I do (think we can). It's knowing the confidence in the group, just knowing the players and the trust and faith I would have in my teammates. That's what I think about it. “Armagh and Dublin did it from Division 2 as well, I suppose. I don't think in them aspects, being in Division 2 is a negative. “I think ultimately it's going to come down to later on in the summer. Whenever we're playing in the group stages or later on in the summer, it doesn't really matter what division you're in, I don't think so. “I just think it depends on what you can get up to then.” Bannigan, 27, can feel the buzz in the camp despite some tough love from his uncle in charge. Mayo legend and former Leitrim boss Andy Moran has joined as a coach, and the 2017 Footballer of the Year has brought a new dynamic to training. He said: “Me and Gabriel would both be close anyway, he managed my club team as well a couple of years ago. Obviously he's from the same club, it's fine. It's grand. “He probably is harder on me than other managers I'd say. It's not a better thing that way! “Andy coaches us everything, he's the main coach. Obviously forward play is probably his main area but he's just a bundle of energy. The man is a lunatic, he has so much energy. “He is so enthusiastic and positive and has brought that to the group. He's been unbelievable to be honest. He loves it, just watches it and eats, sleeps and drinks it.” And with football’s new rules giving the game a new lease of life, their captain plays with a smile. He loves the speed of the game and the space the rules grant to forwards, and was starting to switch off before Jim Gavin’s FRC introduced the sweeping changes. He said: “I love the way the game is now. To play, it's far more enjoyable. To watch, as a neutral, it's far more entertaining. “Like, I love watching football, but the last couple of years if there was any other option I would have watched something else. “You'd flick it on and think, 'Oh, this might be a good game'. But it was hard to watch and the next thing you have your phone out. “I just think it's far more entertaining to watch now, you're not switching it off for anything else. It's far more enjoyable to play. “Yes, if I look at the rules, take one rule, like, you could nitpick and take one rule and tweak it here or there but I think never mind the rules, the game right now is a lot more enjoyable and entertaining.” MONAGHAN captain Michéal Bannigan was speaking at Bective Stud in Co. Meath ahead of their Allianz NFL Division 2 match against The Royals at Páirc Tailteann on Sunday at 2pm.