Monaghan v Cavan: 'We can match anybody if we get all our men on the pitch' - Corey

Rory Beggan has not played for Monaghan since last July's All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Dublin

Monaghan boss Vinny Corey says Sunday's Ulster SFC opener against Cavan will be a "tough battle" but believes his side can regroup from league relegation to produce another championship run.

The Farney men stunned Dublin in their Division One opener but lost their remaining six games to suffer the drop.

"There's still a belief in the squad if we get all our men on the pitch, we're a match for anybody," said Corey.

Whether Rory Beggan is going to be on the pitch is the big talking point.

• All you need to know about the 2024 Ulster SFC

• No time to catch breath as Ulster SFC gets under way

Beggan recently returned home after spending over a month in the US attempting to earn a lucrative contract as an kicker through the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP).

Unlike Down keeper Charlie Smyth, Beggan, 31, has not so far been offered an NFL contract but while he is now back home, it's still possible that the Scotstown man's dream of forging a new football career could become a reality.

Beggan, whose last game for Monaghan was last July's All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Dublin, has been named on the bench for Sunday's contest after linking up again with the Farney squad at a pre-championship training camp a week ago.

Corey's selection has Darren McDonnell retaining the number one shirt after playing in all seven league games but it will be no surprise to see Beggan back between the Farney posts come 16:00 BST on Sunday.

Beggan missed in league campaign

Beggan was clearly missed during the league campaign with the Monaghan defence, noticeably struggling under the high ball in the 31-year-old's absence, particularly during the defeat by Galway.

McDonnell was among Monaghan's new blood as the shocked the All-Ireland champions in late January and Corey believes his side could have remained in Division One had they not suffered so many subsequent injuries.

"From the first team in the league, we had a good young team out," the Monaghan boss told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.

"We felt if we had have kept some of those players from the first day throughout the league, we would have had a lot better league but we lost a lot of those players through injury along with some who were missing.

"We've got some of those players back so it's been a choppy sort of league for us but there's still a belief in the squad."

Conor McManus' form as he returned to action in the Division One round-six game against Tyrone delighted Vinny Corey

While there may be an element of doubt about Beggan's prospects of featuring at Clones, Conor McManus looks certain to play a part in the contest as he begins what he admitted earlier this year, is likely to be his final championship campaign for Monaghan.

The Clontibret man missed the majority of the League campaign but started in the penultimate, round-six defeat by Tyrone where his form delighted Corey.

"Conor will take a lot of confidence from that game. It's his 18th season but he knows at the back of his head that he can still produce it. We know he can still produce it so he'll be looking forward to the championship.

"But derby games are always close games. The last few times we've played Cavan in championship, we've lost those games. We know it's going to be a very difficult day."

Cavan league campaign ended in whimper

Cavan's 2020 All-Star full-back Padraig Faulkner believes the ending of Monaghan's 10-year stay in Division One will only make them tougher opponents this weekend.

"There's never a handy game in Clones. [And] Monaghan obviously won't be happy with their league campaign so they will be coming all guns blazing," added the Kingscourt club-man.

With two rounds of the league to go, there was a possibility of Cavan being one of the two teams that would replace Monaghan in Division One.

However, a thumping by Armagh ended their hopes and their campaign closed in a whimper as they were defeated by relegated Fermanagh, although that was mathematically a dead rubber for the Breffnimen.

"We were disappointed with how the league ended," admitted Faulkner.

"We had a good start to it and we blooded a lot of players. I think we played over 30 players in the league campaign. It's good to get the fresh faces and new lads into the team.

"[But] It has to be said Monaghan were playing in Division One and any team in Division One could be classed as tougher opponents."

Padraig Faulkner says Raymond Galligan has moved seamlessly from captaining Cavan to his manager's role

Faulkner was joined by Cavan boss Raymond Galligan (and Thomas Galligan) in the 2020 All-Star team after the county's shock Ulster Championship triumph and the defender says the team's former goalkeeper has fitted seamlessly into his new managerial role following Mickey Graham's departure last July.

"He was so influential as captain anyway. He was always as vocal and as passionate when he was captain and he's brought that into his management."

Then keeper Galligan was Cavan's hero in their dramatic opening Ulster SFC win over Monaghan at Clones in October 2020 as his 55-metre free snatched the Breffnimen a 2-15 to 1-17 win.

A month later, Cavan were celebrating their first Ulster triumph in 23 years after further wins over Antrim, Down and Donegal.

Few are expecting a repeat this season but strange things do occasionally happen in the Ulster Championship.