Monaghan call on Finlay and Malone to freshen up attack

Paul Finlay and Dermot Malone have been added to the Monaghan attack for their Ulster SFC final showdown with defending champions Donegal in Clones on Sunday (throw-in 4pm).

Manager Malachy O'Rourke has opted to bring Finlay and Malone back into the half-forward line, with the former having scored two points as a substitute in the semi-final victory over Cavan.

The pair - replacing Gavin Doogan and Tommy Freeman - will link up with Stephen Gollogly on the forty as the Farney men chase their first Anglo-Celt Cup success since 1988.

Dick Clerkin, who was also used as a substitute against Cavan, will have to be content with a place on the bench again with team captain Owen Lennon and Darren Hughes pairing up in midfield.

O'Rourke has rejigged his defensive line-up too with Kieran Duffy shifting to right corner back and Dessie Mone now stationed at left half-back.

Centre-fielder Lennon is hugely motivated to led his county to an elusive Ulster title after being part of the teams that lost to Tyrone in the 2007 and 2010 provincial deciders.

"It's not a nice feeling, walking off in Clones having been beaten in an Ulster final," he told the Irish Sun, speaking ahead of this weekend's clash with the reigning All-Ireland champions.

"It would be horrible to go through that experience again. We played Tyrone in the two finals and they were one of the best teams in the country, but Donegal are double Ulster champions and All-Ireland champions, so it will be a very difficult task again.

"Being 32, there aren't too many years left and every player would like to win an Ulster Championship. We are definitely targeting that and giving it the best shot we can."

Lennon and his team-mates are currently priced at 11/2 to lift the Anglo-Celt Cup at St. Tiernach's Park. Bookmakers have installed Donegal as heavy odds-on favourites at 1/7.

MONAGHAN (SFC v Donegal): Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Drew Wylie, Colin Walshe; Vincent Corey, Neil McAdam, Dessie Mone; Owen Lennon (capt), Darren Hughes; Paul Finlay, Stephen Gollogly, Dermot Malone; Christopher McGuinness, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus.