Not even the incessant rain can dampen the enthusiasm of Cavan and Armagh supporters ahead of Sunday's Ulster SFC preliminary round at Kingspan Breffni Park.

The Ulster SFC gets underway this weekend and the mid-week team announcements have added to the sense of anticipation as championship fever grows.

Conor Gilsenan (goalkeeper) and Martin Dunne (full-forward) will make their championship debuts for the Breffni County.

Cavan supporters will look to the latter to keep the scoreboard ticking over. The Cavan Gaels clubman has accumulated 5-29 so far this season and Armagh will have to come up with a plan to curb his influence.

One way to do that is to keep the concession of frees to the bare minimum. Just over half of Dunne's total this year has come from placed balls.

Armagh's full-back line of Paul McKeown, Declan McKenna and Mark Shields will have their work cut out against Dunne and his full-forward line colleagues Niall McDermott and Eugene Keating.

At the other end of the field, the stylish and deadly accurate Jamie Clarke will pose plenty of headaches for the Cavan rearguard.

The home side's half-forward line will also have to be on high alert to halt the experienced pair of Aaron Kernan and captain Ciaran McKeever getting forward from the Armagh half-back line.

Paul Grimley has introduced a more attack-minded game plan to the Orchard County this year and the two wing-backs are vital components in that.

Gearoid McKiernan's loss to Cavan because of a cruciate ligament injury can't be overstated but Armagh also have injury problems with Kieran Toner, Charlie Vernon, James Morgan, Niall McConville, Sean Clarke, John Kingham and Aiden Forker all unavailable.

Armagh won't hold any fears for Cavan's young team but, on the other hand, Paul Grimley's side has a more experienced look about it and that may see them cross the line with their noses in front.

Verdict: Armagh

Cavan: C Gilsenan; J McLoughlin, R Dunne, K Clarke; J McEnroe, A Clarke, R Flanagan; D O'Reilly, D Givney; C Mackey, J Brady, F Flanagan; N McDermott, M Dunne, E Keating.

Armagh: P McEvoy; P McKeown, D McKenna, M Shields; A Kernan, B Donaghy, C McKeever; J Lavery, S Harold; C Rafferty, C O'Hanlon, K Dyas; T Kernan, J Clarke, S Forker.

Referee: M Deegan (Laois)

Odds: Cavan 7/4, Draw 15/2, Armagh 4/7

Match Details: Kingspan Breffni Park, 2pm, Sunday, May 19th Tweet

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