Allianz National Football League Division Two
Down v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Newry
Monaghan begin their 2014 Allianz NFL campaign against Down at Páirc Esler on Sunday. The game was postponed on Saturday night, but will now go ahead after a pitch inspection this morning.
Two divisions separated these teams in last year’s league, but Down were relegated after spending four years in the top flight, while Monaghan won the Division Three title and they of course went on to win a first Ulster SFC in 25 years.
Monaghan recovered from losing to Derry to qualify from Section B of the Power NI Dr. McKenna Cup with comfortable wins over St. Mary’s and Fermanagh, but a strong Cavan team ended their run at the semi-final stage. Down made a winning start against UUJ, but defeats against Cavan and Antrim saw them finish third in Group C.
Monaghan lost in Newry in the 2011 league and also let a handsome lead slip against Down in the following year’s Ulster semi-final, although they did get one back against the Mourne men in last January’s McKenna Cup semi.
Malachy O’Rourke has made four changes from the Cavan game, with Drew and Ryan Wylie, Colin Walshe and Thomas Kerr coming in for Kieran Duffy, Vincent Corey, Conor Galligan and Pádraig Donaghy. The younger Wylie brother makes his league debut, as do Conor Boyle, Pádraic Keenan and his fellow Ballybay man Kerr, while Drew Wylie and Walshe make their first county starts of 201, while Drew Wylie and Walshe make their first county starts of 2014. Owen Lennon and Conor McManus are among the substitutes, but Dick Clerkin and Kieran Hughes are absent.
Down are able to call on experienced players like Daniel McCartan, Aidan Carr, Conor Garvey, Kalum King, Mark Poland, Dónal O’Hare and Conor Maginn, as well as newcomers including Darragh O’Hanlon and Niall Madine, although Kevin McKernan and Brendan McArdle are suspended.
Monaghan will attempt to replicate last year’s form by making a strong start to the league, but this is a game that is likely to go down to the wire.
Down: Shane Harrison; Daniel McCartan, Peter Turley, Darren O’Hagan; Ryan Boyle, Aidan Carr, Conor Garvey; Kalum King, Ryan Mallon; Darragh O’Hanlon, Mark Poland, Jerome Johnston; Dónal O’Hare, Niall Madine, Conor Maginn.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Colin Walshe, Dessie Mone, Conor Boyle; Gavin Doogan, Paul Finlay; Pádraic Keenan, Stephen Gollogly, Thomas Kerr; Jack McCarron, Christopher McGuinness, Dermot Malone.
Subs: Gerard McCaffrey, Kieran Duffy, Conor Galligan, Paudie McKenna, Karl O’Connell, Vincent Corey, Martin McElroy, Owen Lennon, Shane Carey, Pádraig Donaghy, Shane Smyth, Conor McManus.
Shamrock Cup Round One
Monaghan v Louth, Monday, 8.00, Cloghan
Monaghan’s Under-21 footballers begin their defence of the Shamrock Cup with a home game against Louth at Cloghan on Monday night.
Monaghan have had a couple of challenges in January against the likes of Louth and Derry, one of which saw Johnny McGuigan pick up an injury that forced him out of the McKenna Cup, although he is hopefully close to making a return. Fellow county seniors Pádraic Keenan, Ryan Wylie, Conor Boyle and Thomas Kerr are also eligible, but are likely to be rested for this one.
By cshalvey Sun 2nd Feb
