Brian Mallon’s versatility has helped to underline much of the progress that Armagh have made in the Ulster Championship over recent years.

And tonight when the Orchard County front up to Monaghan in the first round of the All Ireland football qualifiers at Clones (7.00pm), Mallon’s selfless running, creativity and potent finishing will be among the individual attributes that manager Peter McDonnell will lean on as his side bid to make it into the hat for the live televised second round draw tomorrow night.

In the more recent past, injury has blighted Mallon’s input into the Armagh side but now the Portadown flyer, himself among the more senior citizens in a line-up that has already surrendered their Ulster title — they were beaten by Tyrone on the first round — and are striving for redemption in the qualifiers.

Mallon, named at left-half-forward tonight, brings electrifying pace and cultured ball control to the table but is aware that Monaghan’s defensive strategy could impose restrictions on the orchard county forward division.

“Monaghan did a lot better against Derry than most people gave them credit for. Obviously we ourselves are well used to playing at Clones but this is a huge match for us. We know that we need a win, there is no safety net any more,” insists Mallon, whose family run a successful mid-Ulster butchery business.

Alongside him in the half-forward division tonight will be Martin O’Rourke and Paul Duffy, two players who have shown a healthy work-rate this year, particularly the former.

Indeed, O’Rourke has been

among Armagh’s most industrious players while Duffy, having now fully recovered from the catalogue of injuries he suffered of late, has been making a real impact up front. He played at wing-back in the past but has made a transition into the attack.

Monaghan’s new midfield pairing of John Paul Mone and Dick Clerkin will find Armagh’s Kieran Toner and James Lavery quite a handful and with Charlie Vernon starting on the bench, the orchard county have an interesting option here.

Paul McEvoy is relishing the opportunity to gain more regular recognition as first-choice goalkeeper now that he gets his chance in preference to Paul Hearty who looked uncertain against Tyrone.

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney admits that even though his side will be playing “in our own back yard”, they are very much up against it.

“Armagh are a serious team. They have plenty of experience in there and they have two of the best forwards in the country in Ronan Clarke and Steven McDonnell,” maintains McEnaney.

MONAGHAN: P McBennett; D Mone, V Corey, D McArdle; D Freeman, G McQuiad, D Hughes; J P Mone, D Clerkin; S Gollogly, P Finlay, C McManus; C Hanratty, R Ronaghan, R Woods.

ARMAGH: P McEvoy; 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.