Monaghan v Armagh

ALL-IRELAND QUALIFIERS, FIRST ROUND
Venue: St Tiernach's Park, Clones Date: Saturday, 4 July Throw-in: 1900 Coverage: Live: Radio Ulster MW and on the BBC Sport NI website

Thomas Freeman was handed the ban after the game against Derry on 24 May

Monaghan's Thomas Freeman will make a last-ditch appeal to the DRA after his latest plea to have his eight-week ban failed on Tuesday evening.

The Central Appeals Committee ruled Freeman's appeal to be "out of order".

Freeman is hoping to be cleared to play against Armagh on Saturday in the qualifiers and his DRA hearing will take place on Wednesday.

Monaghan have no other worries while Armagh will be without Stephen Kernan while Charlie Vernon is a substitute.

Midfielder Vernon has recovered from a broken jaw which caused him to miss the Ulster SFC defeat by Tyrone but is not listed to start against Monaghan.

However, Kernan will miss the game as he requires knee surgery.

Freeman was handed his two-month ban after he was adjudged to have attempted to "strike with the head" in the Ulster SFC defeat by Derry on 24 May.

Armagh boss Peter McDonnell has sportingly said that he is hoping Freeman will be cleared to play in Saturday's crunch clash.

"I would hope everything would work out well for him," added McDonnell.

"If he is not available for Monaghan, he obviously would be a huge loss because he's a tremendous player."

It's certainly going to be a huge, huge challenge for us but we need that challenge

Armagh manager Peter McDonnell

McDonnell insists that he was delighted when the draw pitted his side against Monaghan, in the tie of the round.

"As a group, we were sitting down and all hoping for the most difficult opponents, the most experienced team in the hat and we got that in Monaghan.

"It's certainly going to be a huge, huge challenge for us but we need that challenge.

"We need to know where we're at. We need to answer that question."

McDonnell added there is a "tremendous spirit" in his squad going into Saturday's game.

"They are a tremendous bunch of men to work with. We'll be keen to get stuck into this game."

The Armagh manager has also paid tribute to Antrim's achievement in reaching the Ulster final.

"Antrim have really ignited this championship campaign for Gaels all over the country. It has been wonderful and magnificent.

"I'd have to qualify that by saying that I have a lot of good friends in Tyrone but I would say to Antrim, 'Go for it. There's nothing to be afraid of. Embrace the challenge and you never know what might happen'."

Armagh: P Mc Evoy; A Mallon, B Donaghy, B Shannon; A O'Rourke, C McKeever, A Kernan; K Toner, J Lavery; P Duffy, M O'Rourke, B Mallon; S McDonnell, R Clarke, K O'Rourke.