Monaghan v Armagh

ALL-IRELAND QUALIFIERS, FIRST ROUND
Venue: St Tiernach's Park, Clones Date: Saturday, 4 July Throw-in: 1900 BST 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

Thomas Freeman's hopes of playing for Monaghan in Saturday's All-Ireland Football qualifier against Armagh at Clones (1900 BST) have been dashed.

Freeman's final appeal to the Disputes Resolution Authority was turned down on Friday night so he must serve the remainder of his eight-week suspension.

Armagh boss Peter McDonnell has dropped goalkeeper Paul Hearty for the game with Philip McEvoy called up.

Veteran Aidan O'Rourke replaces Finnian Moriarty at right half-back.

Ciaran Hanratty takes over from Freeman in the Monaghan attack while fit-again John Paul Mone is preferred to Eoin Lennon at centrefield.

Armagh's Charlie Vernon has been named on the subs' bench after recovering from a broken jaw but there is speculation that he could be a late inclusion in the starting line-up.

Peter McDonnell's decision to drop Hearty is a big call, although the Crossmaglen goalkeeper did have a few nervous moments - particularly under the high ball - in the narrow Ulster SFC defeat by Tyrone.

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 McDonnell had sportingly said that he hoped Freeman would be cleared to play in Saturday's crunch clash.

"If he is not available for Monaghan, he obviously would be a huge loss because he is a tremendous player," said the Armagh manager.

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'."

Monaghan: P Bennett; D Mone, V Corey, D McArdle; D Freeman, G McQuaid, D Hughes; JP Mone, D Clerkin; S Gollogly, P Finlay, C McManus; C Hanratty, R Ronaghan, R Woods.

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.