Allianz National Hurling League Division 3B
Monaghan v Donegal, Sunday, 2.30, Clones
Monaghan will be hoping to get their first points of the 2011 NHL when they host Donegal at Clones on Sunday.
Monaghan have suffered two heavy defeats so far against Fingal and Louth, so they need to get off the mark this time. Donegal’s only game to date was a two-point defeat to Roscommon, where a late burst was not enough after they fell 10 points down with eight minutes left. The most recent meetings of the teams were in 2008, when Monaghan defeated their north-western opponents by a single point in both the Ulster SHC and the Nicky Rackard Cup.
Monaghan will be hoping that Stephen Lambe, Trevor Hilliard and Gary Boyd can continue their good form and they will be looking for more from the likes of Mickey McHugh, Éanna Mac Suibhne and Ronan Meegan. Frank Brady will also hope to have a few more players available to him, including Michael Lennon. Niall Campbell, Lee Henderson, Enda McDermott and Ciarán Matthewson are among the main men for Donegal.
This Sunday also sees the Senior and Junior Football Leagues get underway. In the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League, county champions Clontibret are away to Monaghan Harps, while league winners Latton make the short trip to Ballybay. Scotstown host Magheracloone in a repeat of last year’s SFC semi-final, while Truagh have home advantage against Castleblayney.
In the Gerry’s Takeaway, Ballybay Junior Football League, Killeevan and Killanny go head-to-head. The games involving clubs with county senior hurling panellists have been deferred until March 20.
By michael Fri 4th Mar
