McEnaney unveils Monaghan line-up

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has selected an experienced team for tomorrow's Ulster SFC quarter-final against Armagh at Casement Park (throw-in 2pm).

The sides contains two Championship debutants in corner back Colin Walshe and wing forward Kieran Hughes, with the likes of Owen Lennon and Rory Woods held in reserve.

McEnaney's hand is shortened with just 26 players named out of a possible 30, with Dermot Malone and Colm Greenan among the absentees due to injury.

The Under-21 duo were regulars for the Farney men during the National League and were primed to make their Championship bows in Belfast.

However, both players have been ruled out of contention with knee problems. Castleblayney native Malone is facing five to six weeks on the sidelines, after undergoing knee surgery in recent days.

The versatile John Paul Mone, often used in the full-back line, has been pencilled in at midfield, but could well switch to a defensive role if needs be.

Owen Lennon, who has been injured for some time, provides an option off the bench. He has featured in some recent challenge matches for Monaghan, including a loss to Louth last month.

McEnaney's men accounted for Armagh in last year's All-Ireland qualifiers, claiming a 0-13 to 0-12 extra-time victory in Clones with Conor McManus and Paul Finlay kicking some crucial points.

Monaghan have not won the Ulster Championship since 1988, so 'Banty' has his players primed for a renewed effort this summer - beginning with an 'upset' of Armagh.

"Sunday's match is a very important Championship match but then every Championship match is defining in some respects, and you prepare for each game in the Championship as if it is the defining match," said McEnaney.

"This is an important match for this group of players because they have been performing well and knocking on the door now for five years and have played a very positive part in Monaghan's Championship campaigns all through that five-year period and crucially they haven't gone away.

"This is as big a Championship match for Monaghan as any I've been involved in because let's face it, we are playing the kingpins of Ulster Championship football. Armagh have won seven of the last eleven Ulster Championship titles and they have been the big team in Ulster and probably should have won a couple more All-Irelands.

"They go into this match after a really impressive run of victories, they beat Down in the NFL Division 2 final and they beat Derry at Celtic Park - Derry's first defeat there since 1994 - so they will be on a high but we are travelling to Casement Park believing we can cause an upset."

McEnaney has an 'insider' of sorts in the camp in Monaghan coach Paul Grimley, who was a key selector for his native Armagh when they won the All-Ireland title in 2002.

Asked about the prospect of facing his native county, Grimley told the Irish News: "I have no difficulties with it - people moving counties, managing wise and coaching wise, it's the new 'normal.'

"People are assuming I have an advantage, but there is also an awful lot of the Armagh players that I didn't coach.

"The important thing and what I have concentrated on is how Armagh are going to put up one hell of a fight and will cause plenty of problems for Monaghan.

"We know it's going to take an almighty performance to win this game and the whole focus is on producing that performance. This is why you want to be involved in football because of days like this," added the Pearse Og clubman.

MONAGHAN (SFC v Armagh): S Duffy; D Mone, D Hughes, C Walshe; D Freeman, V Corey (capt), G McQuaid; D Clerkin, JP Mone; S Gollogly, P Finlay, K Hughes; C Hanratty, C McManus, T Freeman.