McFadden return boosts Donegal

Colm McFadden has earned a recall to the Donegal team for tomorrow night's All-Ireland SFC third round qualifier against Monaghan (Healy Park, throw-in 7pm).

McFadden, who missed the recent win over Westmeath due to suspension, will make his return at right corner forward for the all-Ulster clash in Omagh.

That is the only change manager Brian McIver has made to the side that accounted for Westmeath in Mullingar two weeks ago.

Kevin McMenamin is the player to miss out, while Brian Roper and Michael Hegarty have been kept in reserve despite their recoveries from recent injuries.

Roper, who played a full 70 minutes for his club Aodh Ruadh last weekend, was also on the bench for the Westmeath game, while playmaker Hegarty trained successfully with McIver's panel on Tuesday.

Paddy McConigley has been ruled out of contention for tomorrow's game. The 26-year-old defender was hospitalised last weekend after receiving a facial injury during a team-bonding trip to a paint-balling facility in Milford.

His fellow wing back Barry Dunnion is continuing his recovery from groin surgery but is expected to be include amongst the Donegal substitutes.

Donegal have not tussled with Monaghan in the championship since an Ulster quarter-final in 1995 which the Farney county won by 1-14 to 0-8.

Indeed, Donegal have a poor championship record against Monaghan, having lost three of the sides' ten previous SFC clashes. Their last win over Monaghan was back in 1983 when they won an Ulster semi-final by 1-14 to 1-9.

DONEGAL (SFC v Monaghan) - P Durcan; M McGee, P Campbell, K Lacey; N McCready, B Monaghan, F McGlynn; K Cassidy, N Gallagher (capt); R Kavanagh, C Bonner, R Bradley; C McFadden, M Murphy, B Devenney.