Martin Dunne and Conor Gilsenan in Cavan team to face Armagh

Forward Martin Dunne and goalkeeper Conor Gilsenan will make their first Championship appearances for Cavan in Sunday's clash against Armagh.

Cavan Gaels marksman Dunne was the Breffni county's top scorer in the Football League this year with three goals and 19 points.

Gilsenan played in the Cavan side which recently clinched a third successive Ulster Under-21 Championship.

Cavan go in as underdogs in the Ulster Championship preliminary round game but newly installed captain Alan Clarke believes they are poised to capitalise on the success of their underage team.

"Now is the time to kick on," he said.

"We have a number of players kicking on the door of the senior panel and they have medals in their pocket.

"It would give us massive confidence to get this win.

"It is our own pitch, and we should put up a fighting performance regardless of who we are playing, whether it is the All-Ireland champions, Armagh or anyone else."

With home advantage, Cavan could well make life difficult for Armagh in the battle to see who will face Fermanagh in a 16 June quarter-final.

Cavan have not registered a win in the Ulster championship since 2009 when they beat Fermanagh in the first round before losing to Antrim in the semi-final.

Clarke accepts their poor record in the competition needs to be addressed.

"We need to get a run in Ulster, no doubt about it. We can't keep team building.

"The qualifiers suit the strong teams but we need to get wins in Ulster."

Armagh boss Paul Grimley has included four Championship debutants in his starting line-up.

They are 18-year-old half-forward Ciaron O'Hanlon, defenders Mark Shields and Paul McKeown and midfielder Stephen Harold.

Cavan: C Gilsenan; J McLoughlin, R Dunne, K Clarke; J McEnroe, A Clarke, R Flanagan; D O'Reilly, D Givney; C Mackey, J Brady, F Flanagan; N McDermott, M Dunne, E Keating.

Armagh: P McEvoy; P McKeown, D McKenna, M Shields; A Kernan, B Donaghy, C McKeever; J Lavery, S Harold; C Rafferty, C O'Hanlon, K Dyas; T Kernan, J Clarke, S Forker.