Power NI Dr. McKenna Cup Semi-Final

Monaghan v Cavan, Sunday, 2.00, Enniskillen

Monaghan will attempt to qualify for the McKenna Cup Final for the second year in a row when they take on neighbours Cavan in Sunday’s semi-final at Brewster Park.

Monaghan lost their opening Section B match against Derry, but convincing wins over St. Mary’s and Fermanagh saw the Ulster champions end up as the best runners-up to claim the fourth semi-final place. Cavan beat Antrim and Down to top Section C, getting a walkover from UUJ in their final group game.

Monaghan lost heavily to Cavan in round two of the league last year, but they went on to avenge that defeat with a narrow win in an absorbing Ulster semi-final. Cavan are a team on the rise and they will be targeting a win here as another marker.

Jack McCarron, Ryan Wylie, Thomas Kerr, Shane Carey and Pádraic Keenan have shown well for Monaghan in the McKenna Cup as they bid for places, while 500-point man Paul Finlay, Dessie Mone, Gavin Doogan, Stephen Gollogly and Kieran Duffy have provided experience. Vincent Corey makes his first start of 2014 in one of six changes made by Malachy O’Rourke from Wednesday night’s win in Enniskillen, with Rory Beggan, Dessie Mone, Pádraig Donaghy, Jack McCarron and Christopher McGuinness also returning to the starting team in place of Damien Lavelle, Ryan Wylie, Karl O’Connell, Shane Carey, Shane Smyth and Thomas Kerr.

Cavan will be looking for big performances from the likes of David Givney, Eugene Keating, Niall McDermott, Rory Dunne, Alan Clarke, Cian Mackey, Under-21 graduate Turloch Mooney and the recalled Micheál Lyng.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Kieran Duffy, Conor Boyle; Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey, Conor Galligan; Gavin Doogan, Paul Finlay; Pádraig Donaghy, Stephen Gollogly, Dermot Malone; Jack McCarron, Christopher McGuinness, Pádraic Keenan.

Subs: Damien Lavelle, Ryan Wylie, Karl O’Connell, Martin McElroy, Colin Walshe, Drew Wylie, Dick Clerkin, Shane Carey, Shane Smyth, Thomas Kerr, Johnny McGuigan.