Hughes has done little training since the semi-final replay win over Armagh because of a lingering knee injury but is expected to be available.
In addition, fears that Malone sustained a wrist injury in the win over Armagh have proved unfounded.
However, Owen Lennon is unlikely to be involved on Sunday because of injury.
"Kieran [Hughes] hasn't been able to do much training in the two weeks [since the semi-final replay] but we'd be hoping he will come on in the next couple of days and he'll be in with a fighting chance," O'Rourke said at a pre-Ulster Final media briefing on Tuesday.
"Owen [Lennon] is struggling with his ankle. It's going to be touch and go whether he is involved in the panel or not.
"Dermot Malone injured his wrist the last day but he got the all-clear on that."
Continue reading the main storyMalachy O'Rourke Monaghan manager Donegal selector Damian Diver says that Jim McGuinness's side have a "clean bill of health" going into the Ulster decider.“We would feel in no way, shape or form would we be dirty or playing the edge or anything like that”
Karl Lacey and Rory Kavanagh did not start Donegal's eventual Ulster semi-final hammering of Antrim but Diver's comments indicate that both will be available for the provincial final.
The duo's absence saw youngsters Darach O'Connor and Odhran McNiallais being drafted into the Donegal line-up against Antrim and both went out to have impressive games for the 2012 All-Ireland Champions.
The expectation is that Lacey and Kavanagh will start on Sunday but McGuinness will have the option of keeping one or both in reserve on the bench.
At Tuesday's media briefing at Clones, Monaghan boss O'Rourke spoke of his belief that revenge will be very much on Donegal's minds after their surprise defeat by the Farney County in last year's Ulster Final - and indeed the Division 2 League decider in April.
However, Diver responded by insisting that the 'r word' hasn't come up at all in any discussions between the Donegal management and players in the build-up to Sunday's game.
"I never heard it mentioned yet anyway," said Diver.
"Our boys are really treating it like any game in Ulster. It is an Ulster Final but if they go out and perform like they have so far [in the championship], they have a chance.
"It's all about getting every player, young and old, to step up to the [necessary] level."
However, O'Rourke, not a man renowned for being overly expansive in interviews, made a couple of references to the "hurt" that, he believes, Donegal will still be facing from last year in particular.
"They want to redress the balance from last year so we know it is going to be a severe challenge for us.
"But we've prepared well and we hope we'll acquit ourselves well on the day."
Interestingly, O'Rourke also opted to wander into the territory of the controversy that followed allegations that his team had been over-physical in last year's decider.
The main manifestation of Donegal anger after last year's provincial final was the injury sustained by Mark McHugh after a robust challenge by Monaghan's Stephen Gollogly early in the game.
The Monaghan player was not penalised for the tackle which led to the Donegal forward having to be replaced but McGuinness made clear a week later that he had been very unhappy with Gollogly's challenge.
However, O'Rourke used Tuesday's opportunity to reject the suggestion that his players use an "over-physical approach".
"If you look at us, we're a fairly small team overall and we wouldn't bring a physical edge.
"We bring a high work-rate and intensity, and we'd like to bring a physical edge that way, but we would feel in no way, shape or form would we be dirty or playing the edge or anything like that.
"It's all about going out and getting that work-rate, that intensity again and being ready for a big challenge."
0 Response to "Farney forward pair set to be fit"
Post a Comment