Stephen McGarry’s Red Hands face stern Sligo test in Christy Ring Cup clash

Aidy Kelly will be out to fire Tyrone to victory over Sligo

John Campbell

Stephen McGarry may still be finding his feet as the new Tyrone hurling manager but he will face a tough test when his side meet Sligo in the Christy Ring Cup at Markievicz Park on Saturday (3.00pm).

The Red Hands have certainly gained in momentum but home advantage could help Sligo. Tyrone, though, can look to players such as Aidy Kelly, Joe McToal, Sean Og Grugan and Bryan McGurk to help their cause.

Donegal and Monaghan will clash in the Nicky Rackard Cup at Letterkenny (3.00pm) where the home side will have former Armagh player Declan Coulter back to bolster their scoring acumen.

Cavan, meanwhile, will journey to Glenavy where they will meet Lancashire in the Lory Meager Cup (2.00pm). In the same competition on Sunday, Fermanagh will take on Warwickshire (1.00pm) and on current form should come out on top while in the Nicky Rackard Cup, Armagh will face a tough test against Roscommon at the Athletic Grounds (2.00pm).

Down, meanwhile, face the long haul to Tralee to meet Kerry in the Joe McDonagh Cup (1.00pm) where they will hope to unleash the fine form they showed in beating Meath last weekend.

In the Ulster Minor Football Championship on Saturday, Down will face a stiff test against Donegal at Pair Esler Newry (Noon). The Mourne outfit boast several talented players such as Liam Blaney, Lorcan Murray, Darragh Poland and Barra McEvoy but Donegal have made it clear through vice-captain Conor McCahill that they will be up for the task.

“We are well motivated going into this game, that’s for sure,” insists McCahill, “We know that Down will want to do well at home.”.

In Saturday’s other Ulster Minor Football Championship tie, Tyrone will take on Monaghan at Ardboe (noon). Red Hands boss Gerard Donnelly saw his side lose to Monaghan in the competition in a penalty shoot-out last year and is hoping that they can come good this time.

Monaghan for their part have a number of new players in their side but they might encounter difficulty against a Tyrone side that boasts a number of players who have been catching the eye lately.