Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup Section C

Monaghan v Donegal, Sunday, 2.00, Clones

Monaghan complete their Dr. McKenna Cup Section C group games with the rearranged clash with Donegal in Clones on Sunday.

Monaghan bounced back from their opening-round defeat against Fermanagh to get off the mark at the expense of Queen’s University, Belfast on Wednesday night. Donegal saw off Queen’s first up, before being edged out by Fermanagh. The winners could potentially advance to the semi-finals as the best group runner-up, depending on other results.

Donegal are in their third game of the second managerial term of Declan Bonner, who guided their minors and U-21s to Ulster success in recent years. Michael Langan has been hit with injury after impressing early on, but Donegal have welcomed back Odhrán Mac Niallais and they could also call on the likes of Marty O’Reilly, Hugh McFadden, Stephen McBrearty, Niall O’Donnell, Jamie Brennan, Eoghan Bán Gallagher and new recruit Nathan Mullins.

Malachy O’Rourke has made eleven changes to his team, with Páraic McGuirk, Barry Kerr; James Mealiff, Kieran Duffy, Darren Freeman, Conor McCarthy, Dessie Ward, Micheál Bannigan, James Wilson and first-time starters Frank Connolly and Damien McArdle coming in for Colm Lennon, Conor Boyle, Ryan Wylie, Karl O’Connell, Owen Coyle, Aaron Lynch, Niall Kearns, Thomas Kerr, Paudie McKenna, Dean Connolly and David Garland. Seven of the aforementioned players are among Sunday’s list of substitutes, which also features inter-county newcomer Brian McQuaid.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Damien McArdle, Páraic McGuirk, Barry Kerr; James Mealiff, Fintan Kelly, Frank Connolly; Darren Hughes, Kieran Duffy; Darren Freeman, Conor McCarthy, Dessie Ward; Micheál Bannigan, Jack McCarron, James Wilson.

Subs: Shane Garland, John McCarron, Colm Lennon, Ryan Wylie, Owen Coyle, Brian McQuaid, Stephen Finnegan, Aaron Lynch, Thomas Kerr, Dean Connolly, David Garland.