Allianz National Football League Division One
Tyrone v Monaghan, Saturday, 7.00, Omagh
Monaghan are set to face Tyrone in the Allianz NFL Division One on Saturday evening.
Monaghan have notched five points via away wins in Mayo and Kerry, either side of a low-scoring draw with Cavan, while Tyrone are also unbeaten after a win over Roscommon and a draw against Dublin, before their clash with Cavan was postponed.
Monaghan won on their last trip to Omagh two years ago, but Tyrone are unbeaten in league football since 2015 after being promoted back up from Division Two last spring.
Malachy O’Rourke has named a Monaghan team with two changes from the trip to Killarney, with Neil McAdam and Ryan McAnespie in for James Mealiff and injured captain Colin Walshe. Owen Duffy is also on the injured list, while Dessie Ward and Micheál Bannigan have been named among the substitutes for the first time in this league campaign. The visitors will be looking for big performances from the likes of the Wylie and Hughes brothers, Conor McManus and Jack McCarron.
Mickey Harte has selected an unchanged Tyrone team, with experienced duo Seán Cavanagh and Matthew Donnelly named on the bench. Peter Harte, Niall Sludden, Ronan McNamee, Justin McMahon and Darren McCurry could be among the main men for the Red Hand County.
The Healy Park pitch is due to be subject to an inspection early on Saturday afternoon.
Tyrone: Mickey O’Neill; Pádraig Hampsey, Ronan McNamee, Cathal McCarron; Tiernan McCann, Justin McMahon, Aidan McCrory; Colm Cavanagh, Declan McClure; Conor Meyler, Niall Sludden, Peter Harte; Darren McCurry, Cathal McShane, Ronan O’Neill.
Subs: Niall Morgan, Rory Brennan, Frank Burns, Seán Cavanagh, Matthew Donnelly, Cónall McCann, Hugh Pat McGeary, Kieran McGeary, Ronan McHugh, Pádraig McNulty, Jonathan Monroe, Cahir McCullagh, Michael Cassidy, Harry Loughran.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Drew Wylie (Capt.), Ryan Wylie; Kieran Duffy, Neil McAdam, Ryan McAnespie; Darren Hughes, Kieran Hughes; Shane Carey, Dermot Malone, Gavin Doogan; Karl O’Connell, Jack McCarron, Conor McManus.
Subs: Conor Forde, Owen Coyle, Karl McQuaid, Niall McKeown, James Mealiff, Dessie Ward, Niall Kearns, Thomas Kerr, Conor McCarthy, Stephen Gollogly, Micheál Bannigan.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A
Monaghan v Louth, Sunday, 2.00, Inniskeen
The Allianz National Hurling League also continues on Sunday, with Monaghan bidding to stay top of Division 3A when they face Louth at Páirc Grattan.
Monaghan top the table at the half-way stage after wins over Tyrone, Donegal and this Sunday’s opponents, who have yet to claim their first points of the campaign, although they did give the visitors a scare with a second-half comeback at Darver last week.
Peter and Mark Treanor, Brian McGuigan and Fergal Rafter should be to the fore for Monaghan, who will hope to have Éanna Mac Suibhne and Dónal and Colm Meegan back, while Louth will be looking for big games from Diarmuid Murphy, Shane Callan, Gerard Smyth, Liam Dwan and Darren O’Hanrahan.
The Monaghan club fixtures for 2017 begin this Sunday in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Leagues.
Éire Óg host Monaghan Harps in Division 2B, while Clontibret travel to Corduff in Division Three. Inniskeen host Truagh under lights on Wednesday night in Division Three.
By cshalvey Sat 4th Mar
