Power NI Dr. McKenna Cup Section B

Monaghan v St. Mary’s University, Sunday, 2.00, Clones

Monaghan play their first competitive fixture of 2012 against St. Mary’s University, Belfast in Clones on Sunday.

After a year to forget in 2011, Monaghan kicked the new season off with a comfortable win over Fermanagh in a challenge match on Monday and they will be hoping to hit the ground running in the McKenna Cup. Monaghan lost to St. Mary’s on their most recent meeting in 2009 – having beaten the Belfast teacher-training college comfortably two years earlier – but the Ranch team is unrecognisable from then.

Monaghan should be able to field a stronger team than this time last year, with the likes of Vincent Corey, Stephen Gollogly and Darren Hughes (who has been named as captain) available. Monaghan are without established starters Owen Lennon, Dick Clerkin and Conor McManus for this one, while Dessie Mone, Neil McAdam, Kieran Hughes, Daniel McKenna, Colin Walshe, David Hughes, Paul McGuigan, Pete Dooney and Jack McCarron are all involved with college teams in the McKenna and O’Byrne Cups. The universities are supposed to have first option on players for the pre-season competitions, but Mickey Harte has named Peter Harte and Seán O’Neill in the Tyrone panel, so their likely absence will significantly weaken the St. Mary’s team. St. Mary’s, who are managed by experienced duo Paddy Tally and Brian McIver, will need big performances from the likes of Ronan Sexton, Niall Sludden and Niall Donnelly.

The Monaghan panel for the Dr. McKenna Cup includes newcomers Thomas O’Neill, Ciarán Daly, Ronan McNally, Karl O’Connell, James Bellew and David Millar, as well as Scotstown goalkeeper Rory Beggan, who has yet to make his senior inter-county debut despite being called into the panel last year. Many of these players can expect to be given a chance to impress on Sunday. Monaghan manager Eamon McEneaney has targeted a win and a good performance and his charges should be able to deliver in this one.

Monaghan Dr. McKenna Cup Panel 2012: Paul Finlay, Christopher McGuinness, Thomas O’Neill, Drew Wylie (Ballybay); Kieran Duffy, Owen Duffy, Owen Lennon, Bernard O’Brien (Latton); Darren Hughes (Capt.), Rory Beggan, Donal Morgan, James Turley (Scotstown); Mark Downey, Stephen Gollogly (Carrickmacross); Ciarán Hanratty, Dermot Malone (Castleblayney); Conor Galligan, Shane Smyth (Monaghan Harps); Ronan McNally, Karl O’Connell (Tyholland); Vincent Corey (Clontibret); Ciarán Daly (Donaghmoyne); David Millar (Drumhowan); James Bellew (Emyvale); Matthew McKenna (Inniskeen); Mark Keogh (Seán McDermotts).

* Updates from Sunday’s game will be posted on the official Monaghan GAA twitter page from 2pm.

Monaghan’s senior ladies footballers also begin their 2012 competitive action this Sunday when they start the defence of the O’Dowd Cup against Fermanagh.