Power NI Dr. McKenna Cup Section A
Monaghan v Fermanagh, Wednesday, 8.00, Inniskeen
* Note change of throw-in time
Monaghan will be looking to book a place in the Dr. McKenna Cup semi-finals when they take on neighbours Fermanagh in a top-of-the-table clash on Wednesday night.
Both teams have won two out of two so far to move to within touching distance of a place in the closing stages of the pre-season competition. Monaghan started with a four-point victory at home to St. Mary’s, before comprehensively beating an understrength Donegal team in Ballybofey on Sunday, while Fermanagh followed up their eight-point defeat of the below-par All-Ireland champions with a comfortable dismissal of St. Mary’s. The losers of this one could still go through as best runners-up, barring a heavy defeat, but both will be seeking to maintain their winning start to the year.
New Monaghan manager, Fermanagh native Malachy O’Rourke, has been running the rule over as many of his players as possible this month and tomorrow’s game will be no different, with 11 changes made from the Donegal game. Midfielder Gerard McArdle makes his McKenna Cup debut on his home ground, while Shane McQuillan gets his first start at wing-forward and there is a first appearance of the season for his fellow Ballybay man Drew Wylie at full-back. Rory Beggan, Fintan Kelly, Neil McAdam, Dick Clerkin, Pádraig Donaghy, Stephen Smyth, Owen Duffy and Dermot Malone also return to the starting team, with Mark Keogh, Ronan McNally, Kieran Duffy, Dessie Mone, Owen Lennon, Darren Hughes, Paul McArdle, Thomas O’Neill, Keith McEnaney, Conor McManus and Donal Hahessy dropping out.
Paul Ward and Daryl Keenan have been in fine scoring form for Peter Canavan’s Fermanagh, who have also had Shane McCabe, Kane Connor, Tommy McElroy, Martin McGrath, Johnny Woods and Declan McCusker leading the way, although Séamus Quigley has been absent.
A good crowd is expected to make their way to Páirc Grattan for what should be a competitive local derby.
Monaghan (v Fermanagh): Rory Beggan; Owen Coyle, Drew Wylie, Conor Galligan; Fintan Kelly, Neil McAdam, David Hughes; Gerard McArdle, Dick Clerkin; Shane McQuillan, Pádraig Donaghy, Stephen Smyth; Owen Duffy, Kieran Hughes, Dermot Malone.
Subs: Mark Keogh, Kieran Duffy, Karl O’Connell, Ronan McNally, Martin McElroy, Owen Lennon, Darren Hughes, Conor McManus, Thomas O’Neill, Donal Hahessy, Paul Finlay.
By michael Tue 15th Jan
