Allianz National Football League Division One

Monaghan v Kerry, Sunday, 2.00, Inniskeen

 

Monaghan will bid to make it back-to-back wins in the Allianz NFL when they host Kerry in Inniskeen on Sunday.

Having been edged out at home to Mayo in round one, Monaghan got off the mark in another exciting finish last Sunday at the expense of Kildare. Kerry bring some impressive form into this game after their new-look side defeated Donegal and Mayo. Monaghan have managed to win in Kerry in 2014 and 2016, although they have fallen short of turning the Kingdom over on home soil since returning to the top flight.

Monaghan have an unchanged team named for this game, while Malachy O’Rourke has a list of experienced substitutes to call on, including Conor McManus (who made his first appearance of 2018 off the bench in Newbridge) and Ryan Wylie (who is available again after serving a one-match suspension). Injuries have ruled out Kerry trio Gavin Crowley, Seán O’Shea and David Clifford, with their places in the starting team going to Andrew Barry, Daithí Casey and Jack Savage.

Monaghan will need the likes of Karl O’Connell, Fintan Kelly, Conor McCarthy and Darren Hughes to lead the way, while Paul Geaney, Paul Murphy, Shane Enright and Stephen O’Brien are among the more established members of Éamonn Fitzmaurice’s starting XV.

 

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Conor Boyle, Barry Kerr; Neil McAdam, Páraic McGuirk, Karl O’Connell; Darren Hughes, Niall Kearns; Dessie Ward, Dermot Malone, Fintan Kelly; Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, David Garland.

Subs: Shane Garland, Ryan Wylie, Colin Walshe, Dessie Mone, Ryan McAnespie, Thomas Kerr, Owen Duffy, Paudie McKenna, Darren Freeman, Drew Wylie, Conor McManus.

 

Kerry: Shane Murphy; Shane Enright, Jason Foley, Ronan Shanahan; Paul Murphy, Andrew Barry, Brian Ó Beaglaíoch; Jack Barry, Barry O’Sullivan; Micheál Burns, Daithí Casey, Stephen O’Brien; Jack Savage, Paul Geaney, Barry John Keane.

Subs: Brian Kelly, Brendan O’Sullivan, Matthew Flaherty, Éanna Ó Conchúir, Cormac Coffey, Killian Spillane, Brian Ó Seanacháin, Peter Crowley, Mikey Geaney, Tom O’Sullivan, Adrian Spillane.

 

 

Lidl Ladies National Football League Division One

Monaghan v Kerry, Sunday, 12.00, Inniskeen

 

Sunday’s double-header at Páirc Grattan starts with Monaghan’s ladies’ footballers also taking on Kerry.

Monaghan are searching for their first points of the campaign after defeats against Galway and Cork, while Kerry bounced back from losing to their neighbours by beating Mayo last weekend.

Monaghan will need big performances from experienced players such as the McAnespies and the Courtneys, while Kerry can call on the likes of Sarah Houlihan, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Lorraine Scanlon, Aislinn Desmond and Aoife Geaney.

 

Monaghan: Linda Martin; Josie Fitzpatrick, Fiona Courtney, Aoife McAnespie; Shauna Coyle, Hazel Kingham, Hannah McSkeane; Sharon Courtney, Muireann Atkinson; Eimear McAnespie, Rachel McKenna, Rosemary Courtney; Katie Duffy, Cora Courtney, Ciara McAnespie.

 

Kerry: Laura Fitzgerald; Eilish Lynch, Aislinn Desmond, Aisling O’Connell; Deirdre Kearney, Ciara Murphy, Kate O’Sullivan; Lorraine Scanlon, Meabh Barry; Amy Foley, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Bríd Ryan; Sarah Houlihan (Capt.), Eilis O’Leary, Aoife Geaney.