McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship First Round
Corduff v Rockcorry, Saturday, 7.00, Drumhowan
Corduff and Rockcorry get their IFC campaigns underway on Saturday evening in Drumhowan.
2010 JFC winners Corduff beat Rockcorry in the semi-finals last year after a replay, before losing to Carrickmacross in the final, so Rock will have extra motivation to win this one. Rockcorry have been in fine form in the last number of weeks, putting a poor start to the season behind them to move up to fourth in the Intermediate Football League, while a couple of recent defeats have seen Corduff drop to the wrong end of the table.
Corduff had a two-point win when they hosted Rockcorry in the league in May, but Rock’s surge in form may have come at the right time for them to turn that result around. Corduff will need Keith McEnaney, Declan Larkin, Ciarán Byrne, Martin Mills and Shane McNally Jnr. to lead their challenge, while Mark and Keith Daly, Fergal McGeough, Niall and Paul McKeown and Damien Matthews are among the main men for Rockcorry.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship First Round
Cremartin v Donaghmoyne, Sunday, 6.00, Corduff
Cremartin and Donaghmoyne go head-to-head in the IFC on Sunday evening at Corduff.
Cremartin won the junior league and championship double last year and went on to reach the Ulster Club JFC Final, where they fell to a narrow defeat against Derrytresk, while Donaghmoyne exited the IFC at the quarter-final stage when they lost to Rockcorry. These teams share second place in the IFL on 13 points, so a close finish looks likely in this one. Donaghmoyne had a three-point win in Cremartin at the end of April, but the Shamrocks have the ability to get their own back and maintain their unbeaten record in Monaghan championship football, which stretches back to 2010.
Cremartin will be looking for big performances from Darren Bishop, Johnny and Paddy McGuigan, Declan Farrell, Barry Carragher and Niall Flanagan, while Pauric Donaghy, Ciarán Daly, Colm Connolly and Bernard Kelly will have to be on top form from Donaghmoyne.
Defending champions Castleblayney continue to lead the way in the Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship ahead of round four of group games on Thursday evening. Blayney will bid for a fourth straight win when they host Truagh, while fellow form team Inniskeen make the short trip to Carrickmacross. Elsewhere, Clontibret host fellow strugglers Monaghan Harps.
The Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League resumes with a full round of games on Friday night. Leaders Ballybay are away to Castleblayney, while their nearest rivals Magheracloone have a home game against Currin. Clontibret and Truagh make the short journeys to Scotstown and Monaghan Harps respectively, while Carrickmacross have home advantage against Latton.
Inniskeen travel north to Threemilehouse to take on an improving Seán McDermotts team on Friday in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League, while Aughnamullen and Tyholland face off just five days after the north-Monaghan men comfortably won their championship clash.
Emyvale have the chance to go top of the Eurotech Junior Football League when they travel to Blackhill on Sunday, just five days before the sides go head-to-head in the championship. Elsewhere, there are points and positions up for grabs in a congested mid-table in the games between Killeevan and Killanny, Aghabog and Drumhowan and bottom two Oram and Éire Óg.
There are two games in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three over the weekend. Leaders Emyvale host Oram on Friday, while their nearest rivals Inniskeen and Scotstown go head-to-head on Sunday.
The RFL Division One continues with a full round on Wednesday evening. It’s top versus bottom when Castleblayney face Tyholland, while fellow front-runners Scotstown and Monaghan Harps are up against Clontibret and Magheracloone respectively and Latton have home advantage against Truagh.
It’s top versus bottom in the RFL Division Two on Wednesday when Cremartin host Donaghmoyne, while any slip-up by Cremartin could see Drumhowan, who have home advantage against Carrickmacross overtake them.
In the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, there are games down for decision in the Under-16 and Under-14 Football Leagues and the Under-16 and Under-12 Hurling Leagues. Meanwhile, the Under-14 Hurling double-winners from Monaghan Harps represent the county at Féile na nGael in Dublin.
By michael Thu 5th Jul
