Monaghan plan no changes ahead of Derry duel

Monaghan will field the same team that defeated Armagh when they go into battle against Derry in tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier in Clones (throw-in 3pm).

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has decided to stick with the side that ended Armagh's Championship hopes with a 0-13 to 0-12 extra-time defeat.

Tomorrow's clash with Derry is Monaghan's second game against the Oak Leafers in the space of seven weeks.

Derry won a controversial and ill-tempered Ulster quarter-final by 1-10 to 0-10, from which Monaghan forward Tomas Freeman and Derry defender Kevin McGuckin picked up suspensions for clashing with each other during an unsavoury incident.

Newcomer Mark Downey replaced Freeman for the win over Armagh and McGuckin will also be sidelined tomorrow after the failure of his appeal against the four-week ban, which was heard by the GAA's Central Hearings Committee last night.

Delayed by the appeal hearing, Derry have yet to confirm their team and while McGuckin and the injured Niall McCusker (groin) will be notable absentees, Fergal Doherty is set to return from his recent suspension and James Kielt could also be involved after his recovery from a broken jaw.

MONAGHAN (SFC v Derry) - P McBennett; D Mone, V Corey (capt), D McArdle; D Freeman, G McQuaid, D Hughes; E Lennon, D Clerkin; S Gollogly, P Finlay, C McManus; M Downey, R Ronaghan, R Woods.