Monaghan star Darren Hughes has been named as captain of the Ulster team for the inter-provincial football championship semi-final against Connacht in Sligo this Sunday. Scotstown man Hughes, who has also been captaining his county team this year, is the only Monaghan man on the team, listed at centre half-back, but his brother Kieran has been included in the substitutes alongside Latton midfielder Owen Lennon, versatile Clontibret man Vincent Corey and Ballybay forward Paul Finlay.
Seven counties are represented on the team chosen by manager Joe Kernan, who described Darren Hughes as “an inspirational player” when selecting him as captain. Fermanagh players are unavailable due to their NFL game against London being rescheduled for Sunday, while no Cavan players made the 24-man panel. Ulster are the holders of what used to be known as the Railway Cup and they will play Connacht on Sunday at Markievicz Park at 2pm.
Ulster: Brendan McVeigh (Down); Brendan Donaghy (Armagh), Neil McGee (Donegal), Karl Lacey (Donegal); Ciarán McKeever (Armagh), Darren Hughes (Capt., Monaghan), James Loughery (Antrim); Dan Gordon (Down), Rory Kavanagh (Donegal); Daniel Hughes (Down), Mark Poland (Down), Peter Harte (Tyrone); Martin Penrose (Tyrone), Brendan Coulter (Down), Owen Mulligan (Tyrone).
Subs: John Devine (Tyrone), Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Cathal McCarron (Tyrone), Tomás McCann (Antrim), Vincent Corey (Monaghan), Owen Lennon (Monaghan), Paul Finlay (Monaghan), Conleith Gilligan (Derry), Kieran Hughes (Monaghan).
By michael Fri 17th Feb
