By Michael McMullan

FORMER AFL player Karl Gallagher has been named in Monaghan’s team for this weekend’s Dr McKenna Cup opener against Cavan.

Gallagher helped Emyvale to junior glory and an Ulster final appearance and is listed alongside Gary Mohan in the Oriel engine room.

Manager Gabriel Bannigan has had to prepare without his Scotstown players who face St Brigid’s in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Kian Mulligan takes over in goals, Dessie Ward is listed in the centre of the defence while in attack Mícheál Bannigan, David Garland, Stephen Mooney and Andrew Woods are key men.

Fionan Carolan joins fellow Carrickmacross player Stephen O’Hanlon on the bench.

This weekend marks a new era for Monaghan with the recently retirement of Conor McManus, Darren Hughes, Kieran Duffy and Karl O’Connell.

TEAM
Kian Mulligan
Cameron Dowd
Darragh Treanor
Ronan Boyle
Ryan Duffy
Dessie Ward
Thomas Hughes
Karl Gallagher
Gary Mohan
Jason Irwin
Mícheál Bannigan
Oisin McGorman
David Garland
Andrew Woods
Stephen Mooney
SUBS
Jack Kiernan
Darragh McElearney
Ryan Mohan
Alistair Steward
Stephen O’Hanlon
Sean Callan
Oisin Monaghan
Fionn Carolan
Liam McDonald
Eddie Walsh
Shane Hanratty