Monaghan are favourites to claim Cavan’s scalp in Saturday’s eagerly anticipated Ulster SFC derby but Malachy O’Rourke is ignoring that type of talk.

Instead, the Farney County manager is concentrating on putting the final touches to his team's preparations to give it the best chance of performing to a high standard at Kingspan Breffni Park.

“You just have to pass no remarks on that,” he said in an interview in today’s Irish News. “We've gone into games as underdogs or as favourites and in both cases we have won and we've lost.

“It doesn't really matter – it's about getting the performance on the day and getting fellas' minds set right, that they're aware of the effort and level of intensity expected to win a Championship match.

“Then using their experience and using their heads, playing right to the end.”

Local bragging rights will be up for grabs and O’Rourke added: “That rivalry is there in every county. Our players are no different, they always want to go out and beat their neighbours.

“But if you go too much down that path it can be dangerous too and you can lose sight of the important things that you need to get right.”

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