Ulster SFC: Kearns to make Monaghan debut with Cavanagh fit for Tyrone

Colm Cavanagh has been passed fit to start for Tyrone against Monaghan

Monaghan boss Malachy O'Rourke has handed a championship debut to midfielder Niall Kearns for Sunday's Ulster SFC game against Tyrone.

An otherwise experienced starting line-up includes Conor McManus, the Hughes brothers and Vinny Corey who will be playing his 54th championship game.

Colm Cavanagh was declared fit to start for Tyrone aon Thursday night.

The Moy man has recovered from a quad muscle injury, which has sidelined him since the win against Mayo in March.

Centre back Frank Burns and forward Lee Brennan will make their Championship debuts for Mickey Harte's side.

The winners in Omagh will advance to a semi-final match against Fermanagh or Armagh on 3 June.

Tiernan McCann has recovered from the knee injury which he picked up early in the league against Kildare and will start at right half-back.

Tyrone go into the game as marginal favourites against a Monaghan team that should be full of confidence after ending their League campaign with a victory over Dublin at Croke Park.

The Red Hands are aiming to secure a third straight Ulster title this year while Monaghan were the previous Ulster champions are beating Donegal in the 2015 decider.

As ever, Conor McManus' display is likely to be crucial to Monaghan's prospects although Conor McCarthy's emergence has helped to take some of the attacking load off the former All-Star.

However, if the Red Hands can subdue McManus then it is difficult to see Monaghan winning at Healy Park.

After Tyrone's counter-attacking game was found badly wanting against Dublin in last year's All-Ireland semi-final, there were much talk of Tyrone's needing to adopt a more pro-active game plan but it will be a surprise if the Red Hand tactics diverge dramatically from Mickey Harte's traditional approach.

If he is indeed fit, Cavanagh's availability will be a massive boost for the home side and with Lee Brennan and Cathal McShane adding scoring power to the Tyrone attack this season, the Red Hands should edge the verdict although it could be a tight, low-scoring contest.

Tyrone: N Morgan; P Hampsey, R McNamee, C McCarron; T McCann, F Burns, P Harte; C Cavanagh, M Donnelly; C McShane, N Sludden, C Meyler; L Brennan, C McAliskey, M Bradley. Subs: M O'Neill, R Brennan, R Donnelly, C McCann, D McClure, A McCrory, HP McGeary, K McGeary, M McKernan, P McNulty, R O'Neill.

Monaghan: R Beggan; C Walshe, D Wylie, R Wylie; K Duffy, V Corey, K O'Connell; N Kearns, D Hughes; F Kelly, J McCarron, D Ward; C McCarthy, K Hughes, C McManus. Subs: C Forde, C Boyle, B Kerry, D Mone, N McAdam, P McKenna, D Malone, O Duffy, R McAnespie, D Garland, S Carey.