Messages

This is the starting 15 Monaghan has submitted to the media for the replay. I wonder what the actual line up will be. I personally think Gollogly will start at CHF. McKenna may possibly start, though I think Jap should start. The defensive match ups will change from the first game.

Rory Beggan
Kieran Duffy
Drew Wylie
Colin Walshe
Dessie Mone
Vinny Corey
Fintan Kelly
Dick Clerkin
Darren Hughes
Ryan Wylie
Chris Mc Guinness
Paudie Mc Kenna
Dermot Malone
Kieran Hughes
Conor McManus

I was worried monaghan might be flat after the euphoria of beating tyrone and so that panned out that way. Armagh were the better team on the day. The suspensions they had created a siege mentality of them against us and they were fired up for it. From a Monaghan perspective, it's a mediocre performance and they are still in the ulster championship. It's a necessary kick up the hole they needed. Armagh will believe with the suspended players back they will be capable of winning, but Monaghan should be able to raise their game to a higher level. O'Rourke should get his selection right this time. Gollogly should start. I can see Finlay starting as the foot passing to the inside forwards was very poor. Donaghy is a scavenger but offers very little scoring threat. McCarron is super talented player but he's lost in the half forward line - I seen him play there during the league and games passed him by there. He's much more effective inside. Lennon is a miss as his physical presence was sorely lacking in midfield.

Any word on Lennon and Doogan? How come Finlay isn't starting at the minute? Good to have the likes of him and Gollogly to call on during the game, but I'm not sure McGuinness deserves to start ahead of them, based on the last day's performance.

The biggest surprise will be if they actually line out like that. Normally O'Rourke makes 2 to 3 changes to the team sent to the media.

I think the doom and gloom of the Armagh supports is largely ignoring that they are all forgetting Monaghan are capable of some indifferent performances. I don't have rose coloured glasses on when it comes to Monaghan's performances - they has been some great play over the past few months but some sloppy patchy play too.  Monaghan's league games against Laois and Galway showed Monaghan can be disjointed (though in mitigation Monaghan were more or less secure of a league final place by that stage so motivation may not have been as strong as normal).

The league game between the teams is a point in case. Monaghan raced ahead, before Armagh woke up and reined them in. A missed J Clarke penalty and a sending off gave Monaghan the scare they needed to run out comfortable winners. Armagh will be fired up for sure and if Monaghan are in any way complacent we'll be beaten.  I see no more than a point or two in this game. It will be closer to  Monaghan's displays against Cavan and Antrim in last year's Ulster championship.

Tactically O'Rourke may change is game plan for the Armagh game - horses for courses and all that. Will Armagh adopt the same tactics as against Cavan?

Definitely a few changes anyway. Hopefully Lennon regains fitness although Dick deserves to keep his place.  A couple of changes from the starting half-forward line aswell I'd imagine.

I agree, Dick has played his way back into the starting 15. He's a different type of midfielder to Lennon though. So does Doogan lose out? Where's Darren Hughes? Move him back, bring Kelly into CHB?

Among the forwards there's room for improvement, which we should get. What's the story with Owen Duffy, Latton? Is he fit again? I'd hope McCarron gets a run too.

Eoin Duffy is fit to play , that's for sure. However I seen Duffy play in the senior club championship over a month ago and to be honest he wasn't that impressive. He wasn't at the level that made him an automatic starter (when fit)  for the county last year.

Would Armagh fans expect changes to their line up irrespective if no players were facing suspensions? e.g. would Harold / E. Rafferty be expected in midfield over Toner / Findon?

From a Monaghan perspective O'Rourke has proven he picks a team based on a specific gameplan so Monaghan can expect to see two to three changes from the team that started against Tyrone. I

All week, I was wondering what selection surprise O'Rourke would have in store. I had hoped that Ryan Wylie would start in place of Kieran Duffy, but I never expected both to play, with Duffy as a sweeper. McManus starting wasn't really that much of a surprise. O'Rourke has, during his tenure as manager, got the vast majority of his tactical decisions right and he got this match ups and selections right for the most part. I wasn't sure if Dick would hold his discipline for the whole match, but credit to him, he did and the team benefited hugely from it. Holding Lennon in reserve was the right decision, though I think the Armagh game will be tailor made to start Lennon rather than Clerkin. Handing three lads (McKenna, R Wylie and Boyle) their championship debuts against Tyrone, of all teams, was risky but O'Rourke has shown he's not afraid to make the big calls.

A great result, if not a great performance It was good in some aspects, but lacking in others. Monaghan will need to improve on lots of areas of their play ahead of the Armagh game. I'm well sure O'Rourke will be aware of their failings and will be drilling the squad in addressing them

Monaghan team named:

1.Rory Beggan
2.Colin Walshe
3.Drew Wylie
4.Fintan Kelly
5.Dessie Mone
6.Vinny Corey
7.Kieran Duffy
8.Dick Clerkin
9.Darren Hughes
10.Paul Finlay
11.Pauric Donaghy
12.Paudie McKenna
13.Dermot Malone
14.Kieran Hughes
15.Jack McCarron

McManus and Lennon on the bench. You'd imagine there'll be one or two changes before it starts.

Strong team, plenty of runners and dirty ball winners... What about the remainder of the bench: C McGuinness, R Wylie, Eoin Duffy, T Kerr, Gavin Doogan?

I'd be genuinely surprised if Monaghan line out like that. O'Rourke is notorious for making 1 to 2 changes from the line -up provided to the media. Any idea what it will actually be?

Monaghan lost by a point to Cork in Kildare last week, 2-15 to 2-16. Third hand info to me said Cork had their championship line out or very close to it. Think a late goal for Cork clinched it. Gavin Doogan is back playing for Monaghan after breaking a bone in his foot before the Div 2 league final.

I think Malachy O'Rourke will have a surprise or two in his team line up for this game. Not many would have predicted that Pauric Donaghy would have started last years ulster final and that Paudie McKenna would have started the Div 2 League final (after not playing a single minute during the regular league fixtures).

From the outside, Givney has always been highly regarded as one of Cavan's best players. Granted I wouldn't be aware of his form this year for Cavan. But surely Cavan should persist with him? He's got huge talent and after watching Cavan in the Div 3 league final they need a wrecking ball of a full forward. Keating doesn't have the peripheral vision or decsion making to be the target man and would surely perform better if he would somone like Givney or big Argue to play off.

O'Rourke is notorious for making changes to the team that was sent to the media. Can you see Monaghan lining out like this? Walshe is defintely out. He injured his hamstring against Magheracloone in a club game after 10 mins.
I'm slightly surprised Ryan Wylie didn't get the nod ahead of Kieran Duffy. Karl O'Connell better give a big performance as Paudie McKenna is on the bench and O'Rourke is a fan of McKenna (though club and U-21 commitments kept McKenna unavailable for all the league games).

Kieran Duffy has essentially lost his place in the team, but back for the Armagh game as Monaghan have left out all their U-21's for this game. Ryan Wylie, Pauric Keenan, Thomas Kerr, Conor Boyle sit it out.

I'm not so sure. I reckon Duffy would still be pushing Ryan Wylie for a corner back spot. As stated above, it could a championship dress rehearsal. I take your point re the U21's but I think Duffy is there or there about.

How's the bench gonna look on Sat with the U21's absent from it, that's a concern surely?

Kieran Duffy will be very lucky if he keeps his place come championship time. Ryan Wylie looks a dead cert for corner back this year. Fintan Kelly has improved from last year and is arguably higher up the pecking order than Kieran Duffy. Remember O'Rourke also huge time for Truagh's Paudie McKenna (though he's been unavailable due to Truagh's involvment in club competitions). I expect the likes of McKenna and Cremartin's Johnny McGuigan will get some NFL game time after the end of Monaghan's involvement in U-21 championship. Monaghan have plenty of options in attack and defence. It's in midfield we are short of viable alternatives. Also great to see Eoin Duffy back on the match day squad. He was such a key player last year during the NFL and unlucky to miss the entire championship run with that ankle injury.

Kieran Duffy has essentially lost his place in the team, but back for the Armagh game as Monaghan have left out all their U-21's for this game. Ryan Wylie, Pauric Keenan, Thomas Kerr, Conor Boyle sit it out.

Monaghan were deservedly beaten by a better Cavan team. In the end Monaghan looked tired in the second half which was no surprise given the midweek game against Fermanagh. Cavan's phsyicality in build also paid off. Monaghan's small forward line just couldn't make in roads.

Overall the McKenna cup showed up some promising players for Monaghan in the NFL campaign. Ryan Wylie looks set for a corner back slot after impressing in each of the games he played. Jack McCarron will make a few starts too. A pity that Paudie McKenna couldn't have been involved more due to Truagh preparing for the All Ireland intermediate club football semi final. He looked the part against Derry. Defensively Monaghan looks to have a good few new options in attack in defence.

Stength in depth at midfield is the biggest worry for Monaghan. Without Lennon or Darren Hughes, Monaghan look very vunerable. Dick is in his last season and can only be expected for the odd perfomance of the bench. Gavin Doogan just isn't up to the standard of this level as a midfielder. Neil McAdam who is a viable option at midfield is in Oz. It's not looking good.

I expect Cavan to beat Tyrone as I feel Cavan want will want it badly.