Monaghan unchanged for Cavan clash

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has kept faith with a winning line-up for tomorrow's crunch NFL Division 2 tie against Cavan at the Kingspan Breffni Park, throw-in 7pm.

Monaghan had ten points to spare over Roscommon in their league opener and McEnaney has predictably given a vote of confidence to the team that started that game.

That means in-form pair Eoin Lennon and Tommy Freeman will look to play central roles once again, while the Farney men can call on an impressive-looking half-forward line of Paul Finlay, Vincent Corey and Conor McManus.

Freeman's brother, Damien, the team captain, could also be drafted into the visitors' starting line-up before throw-in. The Magheracloone clubman has been named on the bench having recently returned home after his honeymoon.

This is the first National League game between the Ulster neighbours since 1998. Cavan were 0-15 to 1-9 winners when the sides met in the Dr. McKenna Cup at the same venue on January 6 - although Monaghan fielded a weakened team for that game.

Cavan manager Donal Keogan is yet to confirm his starting side but one man who will not be featuring tomorrow night is experienced forward Larry Reilly.

Keogan is giving youth its chance in this season's league, explaining: "Larry is concentrating on club football (with Knockbride). We didn't take him into the panel yet, we didn't consider him.

"Sure we have to get a few new players. What we had last year wasn't good enough, as was seen."

MONAGHAN (NFL v Cavan): P McBennett; D Mone, JP Mone, C Flanagan; D McArdle, G McQuaid, P McGuigan; D Clerkin, E Lennon; P Finlay, V Corey, C McManus; R Woods, R Ronaghan, T Freeman.