Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Preliminary Round
Emyvale v Killeevan, Friday, 8.00, Tyholland
Emyvale and Killeevan battle it out on Friday for the right to play Oram in the JFC first round.
Emyvale are going well in the Junior Football League, where they share first place with Clones, but they will be seeking to avoid the same fate as their nearest rivals, who were turned over by Oram last Saturday. Emyvale, who are managed by Declan Brennan, have lost just twice so far this year, although one of those defeats came against Declan McArdle’s Killeevan, who are fourth in the table, three points behind their opponents.
Daniel McMahon, Martin McAree, James Bellew, James McAlister and Emmet Colleran are likely to lead the way for Emyvale, while Killeevan will need big performances from Noel Smith, Kevin McGinn, Darren Quigley and Gerard Hughes. Killeevan are an improved outfit from the one that lost to Clones and Killanny in last year’s championship, but they may have another bit to go to bridge the gap on Emyvale, who kicked themselves out of their semi-final against Clones last August.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round
Monaghan Harps v Truagh, Saturday, 7.00, Emyvale
Monaghan Harps and Truagh get the Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship underway when they contest a north-Monaghan derby in Emyvale on Saturday evening.
These teams both sit in a congested mid-table in the Senior Football League with eight points from nine games. Truagh, who knocked the Harps out of the championship in 2010, won the only league meeting of these teams yet this year by three points. Neither side made much impact in last year’s SFC, when Truagh’s opening win over Magheracloone was followed by losses to Ballybay and Castleblayney, while the Harps had disappointing defeats against Ballybay and Inniskeen.
Donal Hahessy, Conor Galligan, David Hughes, Shane Smyth and Stephen Driver are central players for the Harps, although injury could keep Neil McAdam out. Truagh will be looking to Mark Counihan, Christopher and Pádraig McKenna, Niall Coyle and Neil McRory to lead them through. This one will almost certainly go to the wire, but the Harps may just have more options in attack.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship First Round
Blackhill v Killanny, Saturday, 7.00, Toome
Blackhill and Killanny will both see this game as a chance to get a win under their belts in the JFC.
Very little separates these two teams, as shown by the fact that they both have six points in the Junior Football League. Neither side have been challenging for honours at this level in some years, but both are now looking to benefit from good underage work, particularly Killanny, who have been making hay at juvenile level in recent years. Blackhill did pick up a brace of wins in last year’s championship at the expense of Oram and Fergal O’Hanlons, while Killanny also got the better of Killeevan, but neither progressed beyond the quarter-final stage.
Ryan Courtney, Colin Woods and Dermot Daly will need to be on form for Blackhill, while Peter Dooley, Tiernan and Ronan Duffy, Daryl Traynor and Eddie Markey are among the main men for Killanny. It could take extra-time to produce a winner here, but Blackhill should do enough.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship First Round
Drumhowan v Fergal O’Hanlons, Sunday, 12.30, Blackhill *
Aghabog v Éire Óg, Sunday, 2.30, Clontibret *
The JFC continues with two games on Sunday afternoon. Please note change of venues, as Ballybay, which had been due to host a double-header, has a flooded car park.
Just two years ago, Drumhowan were competing in the SFC, but two straight relegations has them competing in the JFC against Fergal O’Hanlons. Drumhowan’s form has been patchy, with seven points to their name from eight matches, but they will have little trouble in clearing this hurdle against a Fergal O’Hanlons side with just one win under their belts in the RFL Division Four to date. The retirement of Dermot McDermott has weakened Drumhowan, but they can still call on players of the ability of David Millar, Darren Duffy, Colm Lambe and Kieran Mooney.
Two teams with ambitions of competing for junior honours go head-to-head in the second game at Pearse Park.
Aghabog, who were only narrowly beaten by eventual winners Cremartin at the semi-final stage last year, got off to a very slow start in this year’s league when they lost three of their first four matches, but three straight wins have moved them up to third in the table. Éire Óg were relegated from intermediate in 2011 and they have shown no signs as of yet of reversing that slump, as they are currently only off the bottom of the JFL on score difference, although a comprehensive win over Drumhowan last week gave them a badly-needed boost.
Seán and Shane O’Brien, Gary McBride and are key players for Aghabog, as are Marc McBride, Paddy Croarkin, Pádraig McKenna and Ronan Cassidy for Éire Óg. Aghabog had a five-point win over Éire Óg in April and league form suggests they are favourites to come out on top once again.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round
Ballybay v Carrickmacross, Sunday, 6.00, Aughnamullen
The last game of the weekend is the SFC preliminary round between Ballybay and Carrickmacross.
These are the current top two in the SFL, but Ballybay will go in as clear favourites, based on form. Ballybay reached league and championship semi-finals last year, losing both by a single point against Latton, so they will be targeting another big run this time. The Pearse Brothers have lost just once so far this year, a defeat to Magheracloone with an understrength team last Friday, leaving them four points clear at the top of the table. Carrick, who won the intermediate league and championship double last year, got off to a flying start on their return to senior, but they have lost their last three games, including a three-point reverse at home to Ballybay last month.
Paul Finlay’s absence with a shoulder injury will be a big loss to Ballybay, but they can still select quality forwards like Christopher and Shane McGuinness and Thomas Kerr, as well as Drew and Ryan Wylie and Thomas O’Neill. Carrick have lost Seán and Mark Downey and Gary McEnaney, so Stephen Gollogly, Peter O’Hanlon, James Conlon and Mark McNally will have to be on top form if they are to make a winning return to the SFC.
There is a full round of games in the Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League on Thursday evening. Inniskeen and Carrickmacross will both be looking to build on opening-round wins when they clash at Páirc Grattan. Meanwhile, Castleblayney will be expected to make it two from two when they travel to Truagh and Monaghan Harps and Clontibret go in search of their first points.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division One joint-leaders Scotstown make the short trip to play Monaghan Harps on Wednesday evening, while Clontibret and Latton have home advantage against Tyholland and Magheracloone respectively.
Corduff will look to preserve their three-point lead at the top of the RFL Division Two when they host Ballybay on Wednesday, while their nearest challengers Cremartin and Drumhowan are up against each other. Elsewhere, Carrickmacross take on Killeevan and Donaghmoyne face Doohamlet.
Aughnamullen are at home to Seán McDermotts in the RFL Division Three on Wednesday.
RFL Division Four joint-leaders Clones and Blackhill are up against Truagh and Aghabog respectively on Wednesday, while Killanny make the trip north to Emyvale and Éire Óg head in the opposite direction to play Toome.
The action in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions this week is dominated by the Under-14 Football Championships. Aughnamullen hosts a double-header of finals, where Toome take on Latton in Division Four, followed by the Division Two clash between Magheracloone and Corduff. Scotstown is the venue for another double-bill, as Truagh B take on Rockcorry in Division Six and Feargal O’Hanlons face Emyvale B in Division Five. The Division Three semi-finals take place on Thursday (June 7), when Clones and Éire Óg have home advantage against Aughnamullen and Inniskeen respectively, with the final also fixed for Tuesday week (June 19). There are also games down for decision in the Under-12 Football Leagues spread between Thursday and Tuesday.
By michael Thu 7th Jun
