Barrett Sports Lighting Dr. McKenna Cup Section B

Monaghan v Cavan, Wednesday, 7.30, Inniskeen

Monaghan continue their Dr. McKenna Cup campaign with a local derby against Cavan under the lights of Páirc Grattan, Inniskeen. Both teams lost their opening Section B games on Saturday, when Monaghan fell to a four-point defeat at home to Queen’s University, Belfast, while Cavan were edged out by Derry.

The QUB game was the first of Eamon McEneaney’s second term as Monaghan manager and he handed competitive debuts to seven players – Mark Keogh, Stephen Driver, Darren Duffy, James Turley, Keith Hill, James O’Hara and Colin Woods. Meanwhile, Dublin native Val Andrews has returned to Cavan, this time with the assistance of former Breffni Under-21 manager Terry Hyland.

Monaghan will again be expected to give a number of newcomers a chance, with changes likely to be made from the team that faced Queen’s. With a long list of absentees for a variety of reasons, including injuries, college commitments and holidays, Dick Clerkin and Paul Finlay are the only two of last year’s starting 15 from the Ulster final, so Monaghan will be looking to them to lead the way.

Seánie Johnston, Ronan Flanagan, James Reilly, Ger Pierson and Michael Brennan are among the more experienced members of the Cavan panel.