Armagh-Monaghan SFC Qualifier Match Pick...

There are eight Round One Qualifiers at various venues this Saturday, but Monaghan's meeting with neighbours Armagh in Clones much be the pick of the round.

Armagh manager Peter McDonnell has been boosted by the return of Charlie Vernon to full fitness ahead of Saturday's match. The midfielder has recovered from the broken jaw he sustained in a challenge match against Dublin nearly two months ago, but manager Peter McDonnell has decided to keep him on the bench for the start of the match.

Knee surgery rules forward Stephen Kernan out, but otherwise McDonnell will have a fully-fit squad. Aidan O'Rourke has been recalled to the Armagh team. The former All-Star missed the Ulster SFC quarter-final loss to Tyrone, but returns at right half back at the expense of Finian Moriarty. Philip McEvoy replaces the long-serving Paul Hearty in goal.

Armagh Team:
P McEvoy; A Mallon, B Donaghy, B Shannon; A O'Rourke, C McKeever (captain), A Kernan; K Toner, J Lavery; P Duffy, M O'Rourke, B Mallon; S McDonnell, R Clarke, K O'Rourke.

Ciaran Hanratty and John Paul Mone have been drafted into the Monaghan team. Hanratty has been named in the full forward line in place of Tommy Freeman, who could yet play if his appeal to the DRA tonight against an 8-week suspension is upheld. Mone, who missed the Ulster SFC quarter-final loss to Derry through injury, is named at midfield in place of Eoin Lennon, while Raymond Ronaghan, who was a late replacement for Mark Downey, is retained at full forward.

Monaghan Team:
P McBennett; D Mone (captain), V Corey, D McArdle; D Freeman, G McQuaid, D Hughes; JP Mone, D Clerkin; S Gollogly, P Finlay, C McManus; C Hanratty, R Ronaghan, R Woods.

Monaghan won the league clash between the sides back in March by two points, but that will have no bearing on this match. Armagh goes into this match as slight favorites; showing some great form in their 3-point defeat to reigning All-Ireland champions Tyrone. Many consider Monaghan to be a little one-dimensional and may affect their performance against a more dynamic Armagh team.

I think that Armagh's great championship experience over this decade will be enough to help them prevail on Saturday. In fact, I originally had the Orchard County to get an upset win over Tyrone in the first round of the Ulster SFC, but it didn't happen.

Winner: Armagh

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