Monaghan’s senior and Under-21 footballers will both bid to return to winning ways in their McKenna and Hastings Cup fixtures this weekend.
Hastings Cup Group C
Monaghan v Westmeath, Saturday, 2.00, Inniskeen
Monaghan’s U-21s host Westmeath on Saturday afternoon.
Having beaten Wicklow in round one, Monaghan lost to Mayo last Saturday, leaving the Connacht side in control of the group and Finbarr Fitzpatrick’s side likely to be playing for a place in the shield semi-finals. Westmeath have lost to both Wicklow and Mayo and will be keen to get a positive result to their name.
Monaghan, who have used 28 players to date, had eight changes to their team last weekend and it remains to be seen how they line out for this one. Adam Kieran, Kevin Loughran, Fergal Malone, Shane Conlon, David Freeman, Dónal Meegan and Fearghal McMahon are the players who have been ever-present so far.
Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup Section A
Cavan v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Kingspan Breffni Park
Monaghan’s Dr. McKenna Cup campaign hinges on Sunday’s rescheduled local derby in Cavan.
Monaghan started 2015 with a convincing win over UUJ, but lost out to Down last Sunday, while Cavan’s campaign so far is a mirror image of that, as they defeated the Mourne County before losing to the students.
The Monaghan team named for Wednesday’s fixture, which was called off due to an unplayable pitch showed no less than ten changes from last weekend’s defeat, with John McCarron, Dessie Mone, Kieran Duffy, Fintan Kelly, Paul Finlay, Stephen Gollogly, Shane Carey, Christopher McKenna, Dick Clerkin and Brendan McElroy called in for Paddy McGuigan, Paddy Kieran, Martin McElroy, Karl O’Connell, Dermot Malone, Paul Meegan, Thomas Connolly, Brian Greenan, Daniel McKenna and Thomas Kerr. Martin Reilly, Gearóid McKiernan, Killian Clarke, Rory and Martin Dunne and Joshua Hayes are the experienced campaigners expected to feature for Cavan.
This game offers both counties a competitive outing a fortnight away from the start of the Allianz Football League. Down’s win over Jordanstown on Wednesday sees them top the group, with Cavan and Monaghan needing different margins of victory to catch them, although any win could potentially be enough to secure the best runners-up slot in the semi-finals.
Monaghan: Enda Duffy; John McCarron, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Dessie Mone, Kieran Duffy, Fintan Kelly; Paul Finlay, Neil McAdam; Darren Hughes, Stephen Gollogly, Shane Carey; Christopher McKenna, Dick Clerkin, Brendan McElroy.
Subs: Paddy McGuigan, Paddy Kieran, Martin McElroy, Karl O’Connell, Dermot Malone, Paul Meegan, Thomas Connolly, Brian Greenan, Ryan McAnespie, Owen Duffy, Daniel McKenna.
By cshalvey Fri 16th Jan
