Hats off to Cork manager John Cleary, who became only the second manager to get the better of Jim McGuinness twice in championship football and the first to do it with the same county.Malachy O’Rourke guided Monaghan to an Ulster final win over McGuinness’s Donegal in 2013 and repeated the feat with Tyrone last year in the All-Ireland. Cleary, though, has managed it twice with the Rebels, having been at the helm when they took down McGuinness’s men in 2024 as well.Interestingly, when Cork beat Donegal in that match two years ago, they hit the net three times. McGuinness’s sides have always prided themselves on not leaking majors, as his record shows. Saturday marked the Glenties man’s 45th championship outing as manager and in that time, they have kept an impressive 30 clean sheets.The theory was that goals were essential in taking down a McGuinness-managed side – as was the case when Mayo hit four in the 2013 quarter-final, Cork’s three in 2024 and Down’s three in Ulster this year.Remarkably, on just three occasions under McGuinness have Donegal kept a clean sheet and still lost. This happened in the infamous 2011 All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin, the aforementioned 2013 Ulster final against Monaghan and on Saturday versus Cork – which makes Cork’s achievement even more impressive.Monaghan's Rory Beggan signs autographs after his team's victory against Roscommon in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship round 2B match at St Tiernach's Park, Monaghan. Photograph: Tom O’Hanlon/Inpho All indicators pointed to a Monaghan winIt’s not easy being a pundit, making predictions only for some wise-after-the-fact smartass to come along with an enlightened take. But that’s the game, so here goes.“In a word, Monaghan or Roscommon?” asked Gráinne McElwain on GAA+ just before throw-in on Saturday.Both Paddy McBrearty and Paddy Andrews opted for the Rossies without hesitation, as did Michael Meehan on co-commentary, although he did clarify that it was “by no means a dead cert”.In hindsight, home advantage was always likely to be huge for Monaghan and so it proved. Discounting the 2025 match between the sides at a neutral venue, they have met seven times since 2017 at home and away venues and the home team has won all seven. The neutral-venue meeting – the 2025 Division Two final at Croke Park – went to Monaghan.Offaly's Marcas Dalton is challenged by Dylan Furlong of Wexford during Saturday's Tailteann Cup quarter-final at O'Connor Park, Offaly.