McEnaney demands more from his men

The conflicting recent history of  Monaghan's championship dealings with Armagh is keeping manager Séamus McEnaney focused ahead of tomorrow's Ulster replay against the defending champions.

Having made one change - Hugh McElroy for James McIlroy - to the team that came back so impressively last week, McEnaney pointed out the  scale of the task facing his team.

"We've been trying to prepare as best we can, but Armagh are a tough nut to crack. They've been beaten twice in Ulster in seven years."

Point out to him that one of those defeats was against Monaghan three years ago and he counters flintily. "The last experience Monaghan have against Armagh is a 15-point beating they gave us in 2004."

Last weekend's draw was gratifying, as it was the team's first chance to field their strongest 15 after a league campaign troubled by injury .Although there was confidence in the county a week ago and a general belief that Armagh might be on a downward swing after dominating the province for so long, getting to grips with the champions was still easier said than done.

"We gave a credible performance," said McEneaney, "but we want to win games."

The weather in Clones last week was vile, with torrential rain making the ball nearly unmanageable and certainly hard to play into the team's blue-chip corner forward Tommy Freeman.

Perhaps given that Steven McDonnell is in the same position for Armagh, the Monaghan manager is reluctant to read too much into the slippery ball.

"Yeah, but conditions were the same for them. Blaming the weather is only making excuses."

As usual with replays, there will be a presumption that the underdog has had his chance, but addition to the experience of a championship match under their belt, Monaghan know they didn't leave it all behind last week.

"We have plenty of room for improvement. A few of our leading players need to step up to the mark," according to the manager.

"Monaghan have improved in the last 18 months, but the stats still say Armagh have been beaten only twice in Ulster in seven years."

Meanwhile Dublin's hurlers will have three championship debutants in their side for Sunday's Leinster SHC quarter-final with Westmeath in Portlaoise.

Manager Tommy Naughton has named Tomás Brady, John McCaffrey and Keith Dunne, all members of last year's Leinster minor winning side and regulars during the successful Division Two campaign, in the starting line-up.

There is a vacancy at left fullforward pending a fitness test on Alan McCrabbe, who is struggling with a knee injury. St Vincent's Tomás McGrane is the likely replacement should McCrabbe miss out.

Otherwise the side shows one change from that which defeated Kerry in the league final to secure promotion. Liam Ryan, who scored three points from play as a replacement, comes in for Eoin Moran in the half forwards.

Westmeath name an experienced line-up, but manager Séamus Qualter is still beset by injuries, and both goalkeeper Mark Briody and corner forward Barry Kennedy are still trying to shake off injuries.

MONAGHAN (SF v Armagh): S Duffy; D McArdle, J Coyle, C Flanagan; D Freeman, G McQuaid, V Corey; E Lennon, D Clerkin; P Finlay, S Gallogly, H McElroy; T Freeman, R Ronaghan, R Woods.

(SF v Armagh): S Duffy; D McArdle, J Coyle, C Flanagan; D Freeman, G McQuaid, V Corey; E Lennon, D Clerkin; P Finlay, S Gallogly, H McElroy; T Freeman, R Ronaghan, R Woods.

DUBLIN (SH v Westmeath): G Maguire; P Brennan, K Ryan, T Brady; M Carton, R Fallon, T Moore; D Sweeney, J McCaffrey; S McDonnell, L Ryan, D Curtin; K Dunne, K Flynn, AN Other.

(SH v Westmeath): G Maguire; P Brennan, K Ryan, T Brady; M Carton, R Fallon, T Moore; D Sweeney, J McCaffrey; S McDonnell, L Ryan, D Curtin; K Dunne, K Flynn, AN Other.

WESTMEATH: M Briody; C Jordan, C Murtagh, P Greville; J Shaw, D McCormack, N Gavin; B Connaughton, E Loughlin; G Gavin, B Murtagh, A Mitchell; B Kennedy, D McNicholas, J Clarke.

M Briody; C Jordan, C Murtagh, P Greville; J Shaw, D McCormack, N Gavin; B Connaughton, E Loughlin; G Gavin, B Murtagh, A Mitchell; B Kennedy, D McNicholas, J Clarke.