Inter-County Senior Football Challenge
Monaghan v Armagh, Sunday, 7.00, Oram
For the official opening of the new facilities in Oram, the mid-Monaghan club have managed to get an attractive local derby between Monaghan and Armagh’s senior teams
With this being one of (if not the) last challenge match for Monaghan between now and the first round of the Ulster Senior Football Championship against Armagh on May 27, Eamon McEneaney has confirmed he will field a full-strength team and he will be hoping to give some much-needed game-time to Conor McManus. With just over a month to go until Armagh’s championship opener against Tyrone, Paddy O’Rourke will also be expected to bring a strong panel. Captain of the Monaghan team on the night will be Oram goalkeeper Berat Turker, who was a member of the Monaghan county Under-21 panel this year. At half-time Oram Under-10s will play Doohamlet in an exhibition game.
As agreed with the clubs in advance of this year, there are no games in the Senior, Intermediate or Junior Football Leagues on the bank-holiday weekend, although there is one game to be played in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League on Wednesday, when Magheracloone have a home game against Clontibret.
The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championships dominate the club scene on Friday. Castleblayney start their bid for a fourth O’Duffy Cup in a row with an away game against Clontibret, while last year’s runners-up Truagh travel to Latton. Elsewhere, Magheracloone, Corduff, Doohamlet, Carrickmacross, Cremartin and Donaghmoyne have home advantage against Ballybay, Tyholland, Monaghan Harps, Scotstown, Drumhowan and Killeevan respectively.
Clones and Inniskeen make long journeys to play Killanny and Seán McDermotts respectively in the Crawley Cup, while Oram have a much shorter trip to Toome. Aughnamullen and Castleblayney go head-to-head on Wednesday.
There is also one game in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Four on Wednesday, when Killanny face the lengthy journey north to play Truagh.
Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League leaders Castleblayney have a bye on Thursday, but the battle for the other semi-final places is reaching a crucial stage. Monaghan Harps can secure their berth if they win in Carrickmacross, while Clontibret will be expected to inch towards qualifying when they host Knocks and the winners of the game between Truagh and Inniskeen will also be in pole position.
Monaghan’s Ulster Minor Shield-winning hurlers will be back in action with their clubs in the Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling League on Sunday, when Clontibret host Truagh Harps and Emmet Grattans take on Cootehill.
There is a rescheduled GRM Minor Football League Division Three game between Doohamlet and Inniskeen down for decision on Saturday.
The Minor Football Leagues continue on Tuesday evening. Scotstown will be aiming for a seventh straight win in Division One when they travel to Carrickmacross, while the battle for top-four places continues with games between Monaghan Harps and Castleblayney and Clontibret and Killanny.
Two of the three joint-leaders in the MFL Division Two square up when Latton play Donaghmoyne, while their nearest rivals Emyvale host Cremartin. Elsewhere, Truagh make the long trek south to Magheracloone and Seán McDermotts meet Rock Sarsfields.
Division Three table-toppers St. Patrick’s play Corduff as they bid for a fifth win from five. Nearest challengers Blackhill and Inniskeen have home advantage against Doohamlet and Cúchulain Sarsfields respectively, while Tyholland entertain St. Tiarnach’s.
As ever, the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile football and hurling competitions are very much on the agenda coming the week, including the first two finals of the year. Scotstown take on Emyvale on Sunday (4pm in Truagh) in the Under-14 Football Championship Division One Final, while Monaghan Harps defend their Under-14 Hurling Championship title against Inniskeen on Sunday in Blackhill at 12 noon. There are also games in the Under-16 Football Leagues, the Under-14 Football Leagues and the Under-14 Division One Football Championship between Thursday and Tuesday.
By michael Thu 3rd May
