Monaghan get their 2007 season off the ground with an away game against Fermanagh in this year's Dr McKenna Cup on Sunday 7th January in Lisnaskea at 2.00pm. Monaghan reached the final of the Dr McKenna cup last year following victories over Derry, Armagh and St Mary's College only to lose out to Tyrone in the final in Casement Park. The McKenna Cup is enjoying a whole new lease of life and this year has attracted a sponsor for the first time with the new GAA newspaper Gaelic Life coming on board. The competition too enjoyed unprecedented attendances last year and there is no reason to believe that this year will be any different. Part of the new-found status of the competition can also be reflected in the fact that a number of matches will be televised live by TG4. Monaghan team manager Seamus McEneaney has named a panel of 25 players for this opening game on Sunday with a number of new faces being drafted in following a series of trial matches and training sessions. Among the new faces are goalkeeper, Padraig McBennett from Castleblaney, Carrickmacross centre back Gary McEneaney, Latton's Stephen Fitzpatrick, Inniskeen's Paul Meegan, Aghabog's Shane Mulligan, Rockcorry's Mark Daly and Inniskeen's Matthew McKenna while Mark Duffy who won a Dublin SFC medal with UCD last year and Jason Hughes are recalled to county duty. Bernard O'Brien is named on the Monaghan panel but he is also listed on the University of Ulster, Jordanstown panel and if representing the college will not be available for selection as the colleges have first call on the students. Monaghan actually have four players listed with that particular college, James Conlon, Carrickmacross, Darren Hughes Scotstown, Shea McAleer, Monaghan Harps and Bernard O'Brien, Latton. The Monaghan panel is: Padraig McBennett, Donal Morgan, James Coyle, Mark Duffy, Gary McEneaney, Jason Hughes, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Paul Finlay, Dick Clerkin, Dermot McArdle, Paul Meegan, Mark Daly, Eoin Duffy, Rory Woods, Stephen Gollogly, Shane Duffy, Shane Mulligan, Nicholas Corrigan, Vincent Corey, Ciaran Hughes, Brendan McKenna, Matthew McKenna, Bernard O'Brien, Damien Freeman, Tomas Freeman. Damien Freeman will again captain the team in 2007. Fermanagh for their part are relying on the tried and trusted with only minimal changes to the senior football squad that operated in 2006 although manager, Charlie Mulgrew has brought in a number of new faces and will also have to plan with out the services of Liam McBarron who is out with a long-term injury. He will also have to reckon without Ciaran O'Reilly and Ryan Keenan who will play with their respective universities in this competition. Tweet

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