Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI at Clones

The weather here in Clones as it stands is perfect for football. Currently the wind isn't blowing a gale like it did for yesterday's games across the country.

From the Gerry Arthur Stand, the pitch also looks to be in great shape. It's sure to be soft in certain areas, but that's to be expected after the amount of rain that has fallen over the past few days.

Monaghan were out very early for their warm-up taking to the field almost one hour before throw-in.

Monaghan make five changes from the side which lost the Dr McKenna Cup decider to Donegal last Saturday.

Cameron Dowd and Dessie come into the defence as Ryan Wylie and Ryan Duffy drop to the bench.

Gary Mohan starts at midfield as Alistair Stewart drops off the panel for today, Shane Hanratty and Liam McDonald also drop out as the experienced duo of Stephen O'Hanlon and Michael Bannigan come in from the start.

Gabriel Bannigan is also without most of the sizeable Scotstown contingent after their run to the All-Ireland club semi-final, but Ryan O'Toole does take his place on the bench.

Kieran McGeeney brings his side to Clones and is able to call on seven of the team that started the All-Ireland final in 2024, Oisin O'Neill starts at full-forward having come on as a sub in that decider.

There's also experience on the bench from that famous day in the form of Ethan Rafferty, Ross McQuillan and Jason Duffy.

Monaghan: Jack Kiernan; Cameron Dowd, Darragh Treanor, Dylan Byrne; Fionan Carolan, Dessie Ward, Thomas Hughes; Karl Gallagher, Gary Mohan; Jason Irwin, Michael Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon; David Garland, Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney.

Subs: Kian Mulligan, Ryan Wylie, Aaron Carey, Louis Kelly, Ryan Duffy, Liam McDonald, Darragh McElearney, Ronan Boyle, Oisin Monahan, Eddie Walsh, Ryan O'Toole.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Gareth Murphy, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane; Greg McCabe, Tiernan Kelly, Jarly Og Burns; Callum O'Neill, Andrew Murnin; Fergal O'Brien, Conor Turbitt, Joe McElroy; Oisin Conaty, Oisin O'Neill, Cian McConville.

Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Tomas McCormack, Ross McQuillan, Jason Duffy, Dan McCarthy, Ryan Duffy, Fionn Downey, Aaron O'Neill, Conor Magennis, Daniel Magee, Ruairi McDonald.

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)

Image source, BBC Sport

Armagh football manager Kieran McGeeney expects Sunday's Division One opener away to Monaghan [14:00 GMT, live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport NI website] to be a "tough one".

The Orchard County's top-flight status for 2026 came down to victory over Tyrone in their second game last year with both teams finishing on level points and the head-to-head tie-breaker came into effect.

In a tough division, such small margins can be be the difference between survival or even a place in the final, so going into the season opener against the Ulster neighbours, McGeeney is aware of the importance of each game.

Read more

Image source, Inpho

Gemma Begley, the head of equality and player relations at the Gaelic Players' Association, says she is "fully behind" the target of GAA integration by 2027.

In February 2024, the Gaelic Athletic Association [GAA], Ladies Gaelic Football Association [LGFA] and the Camogie Association announced an intention to merge into one body.

The Integration Steering Group for Gaelic Games is being led by Mary McAleese, the former Irish president, but in December the GAA's management committee said the deadline for full integration by 2027 was "unrealistic".

McAleese, who acknowledged there was "pockets of resistance" to the merger, felt the target was still achievable.

Bringing the three bodies together has overwhelming support from the grassroots and Begley, who was a three-time All-Star as a player with Tyrone, has urged all to "figure out a way forward" to ensure it takes place on time and said to "trust the process".

Read more here

Gemma Begley was speaking to BBC Sport NI's Faith Harper and Rubi McGarvey. You can watch the interview at half-time in today's live stream.

After a quarter of an hour in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork and Cavan are tied at 0-3 apiece.

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness feels his side's 1-20 to 0-20 win over Dublin at Croke Park will give him more "flexibility" for the remainder of their league campaign.

The Ulster champions enjoyed a good start to Division One with victory on the road and with two points on the board, McGuinness feels it eases a little bit of early pressure in a highly competitive division.

Read more

Image source, Inpho

Watch highlights as 14-man Kildare fight back for a dramatic draw against Tyrone at Healy Park in the opening round of the National League.

Read more.

A two-pointer on the stroke of half-time from Pairic Hughes sends Wexford in ahead at the break in this Division Three opener.

There were mixed fortunes for Ulster counties on the opening night of the Allianz Football League with wins for Donegal and Down, while Tyrone were forced to settle for a draw and Derry suffered defeat.

Read full report here

Image source, Inpho

Antrim and Down came up empty-handed in their National Hurling League Division 1B openers on the road.

Davy Fitzgerald's Saffrons seemed to be on course for victory at Wexford Park, but a last-gasp goal from Mark Fanning snatched a 1-13 to 1-12 win for Wexford.

In Carlow, Down fell to a 2-18 to 1-11 defeat after the hosts overturned a four-point deficit at the break to power on.

Read the full report on Saturday's hurling action here

Image source, Inpho

Today's league action is already under way.

Approaching half-time in the Division Three football clash in Enniskillen, Fermanagh and Wexford are currently level, 0-6 to 1-3, while Cavan have taken an early 0-2 to 0-0 lead against Cork in Division Two.

Welcome back!

It's another busy day of action in the National Leagues for Ulster counties.

Yesterday was a real mixed bag of results in football and hurling with impressive displays, thrilling finishes and some heartbreak thrown in for good measure.

Today promises plenty more drama and in football's Division One, we have an Ulster derby at Clones as Monaghan take on Armagh [14:00 GMT] - a game you can also watch live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport NI website.

In Division Two, Cavan are in action against Cork, while Fermanagh entertain Wexford in Division Three and in the basement division, Antrim host Carlow.

We'll bring you updates throughout the afternoon, so sit back and enjoy.

Image source, Inpho