Monaghan’s senior and Under-21 footballers bid to build on winning starts in their McKenna and Hastings Cup fixtures this weekend.

Hastings Cup Group C

Mayo v Monaghan, Saturday, 2.00, Ballina

After holding off Wicklow in a keenly-contested Hastings Cup opener last Saturday, Monaghan travel to Mayo this weekend.

Monaghan were short several established players at this level, some of whom featured for the seniors later that afternoon, in their first-round defeat of Wicklow, but they were still able to call on the likes of Fergal Malone, Fearghal McMahon, Shane Conlon, Dónal Meegan, Fergal McGeough and Conor Lavelle. Mayo started their campaign with an emphatic win over Westmeath and they can call on members of their 2013 minor team that defeated Monaghan in the semi-final on the way to winning the All-Ireland.

Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup Section A

Monaghan v Down, Sunday, 2.00, Clones

Monaghan host Down this Sunday at St. Tiarnach’s Park in round two of the Dr. McKenna Cup.

Monaghan ran up an impressive score in their win over Ulster University last Saturday, which would have been more comfortable but for a late lapse that allowed the students to notch a couple of consolation goals. Meanwhile, Down fell to a five-point defeat at home to Cavan in their first game under Jim McCorry.

Malachy O’Rourke handed out eight competitive debuts last week – six from the start – and those players will all hope to be involved again in this one. Darren Hughes (whose captaincy last week was cut short by injury), Man of the Match Stephen Gollogly and Dick Clerkin, who began his 16^th county campaign with a cameo role off the bench, are the most experienced members of Monaghan’s panel. Down have also been introducing several new players, although the likes of Kevin McKernan, Dónal O’Hare, Conor Laverty and Conor Maginn are involved.