Power NI Dr. McKenna Cup Section A

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

Monaghan begin life under new manager Malachy O’Rourke when they take on St. Mary’s University in the opening round of the Power NI Dr. McKenna Cup at St. Tiernach’s Park on Sunday.

O’Rourke has gone for a mixture of youth and experience for the visit of the Belfast teacher-training college. Dessie Mone, Darren Hughes, Dick Clerkin and Conor McManus are the most established players named to start, while there are McKenna Cup debuts for Fintan Kelly, Stephen Smyth, Paul McArdle and Pádraig Donaghy, with another five ‘uncapped’ players on the bench.

St. Mary’s reached the Ryan Cup Final this year, where they only lost by a point after extra-time, so they are set to give Monaghan a tough test. Experienced Down forward Ronan Sexton, Derry Under-21 Benny Herron, Kilcoo’s Jerome Johnston (who kicked four points from play in their win over Ballybay), rising Derry star Emmet Bradley and a couple of players who starred in the Ulster club competitions, John Gilmore of Cookstown and Thomas Canavan of Errigal Ciarán, were all named in their panel, as were fellow Tyrone men Peter Harte, Niall Morgan, Conor Clarke and Niall Sludden. It remains to be seen how many of their county contingent they will be able to call on, though, due to the universities no longer having first call on players; a ruling which has definitely seen St. Mary’s top scorer Michael Stevenson included in the Armagh panel.

Monaghan defeated St. Mary’s in their first competitive fixture of 2012 and they should be able to repeat the trick on Sunday.

Monaghan team (v St. Mary’s): Rory Beggan; Dessie Mone, Fintan Kelly, Kieran Duffy; Martin McElroy, Darren Hughes, Karl O’Connell; Dick Clerkin, Neil McAdam; Stephen Smyth, Paul McArdle, Owen Duffy; Pádraig Donaghy, Conor McManus, Dermot Malone.

Subs: Mark Keogh, Ronan McNally, Owen Coyle, Conor Galligan, Owen Lennon, Gerard McArdle, Gavin Doogan, Shane McQuillan, Tommy O’Neill, Keith McEnaney, Donal Hahessy.