The start of the 2012 Intermediate and Junior Football Championships dominate the weekend’s action in what is a busy seven days of club action.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Preliminary Round
Inniskeen v Toome, Saturday, 7.00, Drumhowan
Inniskeen and Toome get this year’s McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship when they go head-to-head at McKeown Park on Saturday evening.
Two divisions separated these teams last year, but right now, a mere two points keep them apart in the IFL table. Inniskeen, who dropped from the senior ranks, started their campaign with a win, but they then lost four in a row, although they have won their last two games to move out of the relegation zone. Toome were the surprise outfit of the first two rounds when they beat Donaghmoyne and Rockcorry, but five losses since then have seen them slip to ninth place.
Inniskeen should have enough quality in the likes of Paul and Ronan Meegan, Matthew McKenna and Michael Lennon to come through this one, although Gavin Flanagan, Gary Wilson, Stephen Lambe and Francis Quinn will carry the fight to them and Declan Loughman’s side won’t give up easily.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Preliminary Round
Clones v Oram, Saturday, 7.00, Gavan Duffy Park
Last year’s JFC runners-up Clones will attempt to set off on another championship run when they face Oram in Monaghan on Saturday.
Clones, who lost both league and championship finals to Cremartin last year, started this season with two defeats, but five consecutive wins have moved them to the top of the Junior Football League table. Oram, meanwhile, started promisingly by taking five points from their first three matches, but they have slid down the table after four straight defeats. Oram had a two-point win away to Clones in the first round of the JFL, but the St. Tiarnach’s have been building up nicely.
Fintan Kelly, David Freeman, Adrian Alford, Danny Rooney and veteran Martin Slowey could be key for Clones, while Oram will need Ryan McGuinness, Cathal Crowe and Pauric Graham on top of their game.
Clones look to have hit form at the right time for this one and they should book their place in the first round against the winners of next Friday’s match between Emyvale and Killeevan.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Preliminary Round
Doohamlet v Seán McDermotts, Sunday, 7.00, Clontibret
Doohamlet will be strongly fancied to advance from this IFC preliminary match against Seán McDermotts.
2010 IFC winners Doohamlet were relegated from the senior ranks last year, but they have been the form team in intermediate once again so far this season, in stark contrast to the Seáns, who are bottom of the league table. The Seáns have lost their last five league games, including a double-scores defeat at the hands of Doohamlet, who have lost just one of their seven matches. The Threemilehouse men have Noel Rice and Dáire Freeman out with long-term injuries and they are soon to lose Páraic McGuirk, David McEntee and Brian McQuaid to the USA for the summer.
Colin Walshe’s return from injury is a further boost to Doohamlet, who have also had Shane and Ciarán McManus, Paul McArdle (recently returned from Canada) and Ted Duffy in good form. The Seáns will need big performances from Damien Larkin, Derek McMahon, McGuirk, and Mark Keogh. Anything other than a Doohamlet win would be a major shock.
Inniskeen started the Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League with a win over Clontibret last Saturday, but the other four competing clubs start their campaigns on Thursday evening. Defending champions Castleblayney are at home to Monaghan Harps, while Truagh travel to Carrickmacross.
There is one rearranged game in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League on Friday, when Magheracloone host leaders Ballybay.
Cremartin will bid to continue their good form in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League when they take on Tyholland on Friday, while Donaghmoyne have home advantage against Rockcorry. Corduff, Inniskeen and Seán McDermotts are the hosts for Wednesday’s games against Toome, Doohamlet and Aughnamullen respectively.
The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship O’Duffy Cup semi-finals are down for decision over the weekend. Castleblayney will attempt to move within one win of a fourth title in a row when they play Scotstown in Toome on Friday, while Drumhowan will attempt to achieve the rare distinction of qualifying for the O’Duffy Cup Final from Division Two of the RFL when they go to Magheracloone.
Blayney’s third string are out in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three on Saturday away to Aughnamullen. There is another Division Three fixture on Wednesday between Oram and Scotstown, as well as a Division One match between Clontibret and Castleblayney.
In the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, there are games over the weekend in the Under-14 and Under-12 football leagues. The Under-14 Hurling League Final reaches its final round on Monday evening, while Divisions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six of the Under-14 Football Championship take centre stage on Tuesday evening.
By michael Thu 31st May
