It’s another busy week on the club scene, with six championship games down for decision over the weekend, including two double-headers in the senior championship. League action is also continuing, while the minor competitions reach a crucial stage.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship
Latton v Monaghan Harps, Saturday, 5.15, Inniskeen
Castleblayney v Clontibret, Saturday, 6.45, Inniskeen
The Senior Football Championship continues with an intriguing double-header at Páirc Grattan on Saturday evening.
First up, county champions Latton take on Monaghan Harps in the back door. Latton lost to Clontibret in the first round in a game where they finished with 12 men, but they bounced back with a narrow win over Truagh last Saturday; the latest in their collection of one-point victories in the championship. The Harps beat Truagh in the preliminary round, only to fall to Ballybay for the third year in a row. There is nothing to separate the teams in the league this year, where they both have 12 points from 14 matches and one win apiece from their two meetings. The teams haven’t met in the championship since 2008, when Latton had a hard-earned win.
Latton will be boosted by the return of Owen and Edmund Lennon after suspension and they should come straight in to play central roles alongside the likes of Kieran and Owen Duffy, Hugh McElroy, Shane and Owen Coyle and Bernard O’Brien. The Harps are without suspended forward Dean Fanning, making the contributions of Conor Galligan, Donal Hahessy, Neil McAdam, Shane Smyth and David Hughes all the more important. Latton have a huge amount of experience in their team, having won three of the last seven county championships and they will be determined to prolong their defence of the title for at least another round.
The second game sees Castleblayney and Clontibret battle it out for the first place in the semi-finals.
Both teams were in Inniskeen for the first round at the end of June, when Blayney had three points to spare against Magheracloone and Clontibret recovered from a nightmare start to get the better of Latton. Second-placed Clontibret are two points and two places better off than Blayney in the league, but the Faughs have had the better of their clashes, having taken three points from the O’Neills. Clontibret were the dominant force in Monaghan football a few years ago after winning back-to-back championships (‘06/’07 and ‘09/’10) and although they made a relatively early exit last year, they are still undoubtedly one of the frontrunners, while Blayney will be fired up to take a step towards their first Mick Duffy Cup since 2003.
Much depends on the quality and quantity of possession Clontibret can get to their star forward Conor McManus, with John Paul and Dessie Mone, Paul McGuigan and Vincent and Martin Corey also expected to play key roles. Blayney are likely to be boosted by the return from the USA of Dermot Malone, with Ciarán Hanratty, Martin McElroy, Cormac Brady and Ciarán Hughes their other big players. Memories remain of the 2009 classic between these teams which went to extra-time and any repeat of that would be welcome for the neutrals. It should go to the wire once again, but Clontibret look to be the slightly more battle-hardened outfit.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship
Carrickmacross v Scotstown, Sunday, 5.15, Clontibret
Ballybay v Currin, Sunday, 6.45, Clontibret
The weekend’s championship action concludes with another SFC double-header in Clontibret on Sunday evening.
Carrickmacross and Scotstown put their championship hopes on the line in the first match. Carrick haven’t played in the SFC since losing to Ballybay after a replay in the preliminary round. Scotstown were on the wrong end of a shock defeat against Currin in the first round, but they were convincing winners over Magheracloone last Sunday. Carrick are still a point ahead of Scotstown in the SFL, but the teams have been in opposite trajectories, with the Emmets gradually falling down the table after losing a few key players and Scotstown rapidly climbing up the rankings after four straight wins. The north-Monaghan men look to be hitting form in time for the business end of the championship (like they did last year when they reached the final) and with two comprehensive wins over Carrick under their belts in the league, they will be strong favourites to win this.
Darren and Kieran Hughes, James Turley, Shane Carey, Donal Morgan, Mark Duffy and Orin Heaphey are likely to be to the fore for Scotstown, while Carrick will need big performances from Stephen Gollogly, Mark McNally, James Conlon, Paddy Lonergan and James McGeown.
Ballybay will be tipped to advance to the SFC semi-finals for the second year in a row when they play Currin.
The Pearse Brothers have once again been the most consistent team in the SFL this year – currently sitting four points clear at the top – and they have seen off Carrickmacross (after a replay) and Monaghan Harps in the championship. Currin, who were promoted from intermediate last year, showed they have no fear of reputations when they took Scotstown apart in the first round. This may be top against bottom based on the league table, but Currin ran Ballybay close in the opening round before taking a point off them at Pearse Park just over a month ago.
Ballybay have quality all over the pitch in the likes of Paul Finlay, Drew and Ryan Wylie, Thomas Kerr, Christopher and Shane McGuinness and Tommy O’Neill and although Currin have quality of their own in Jack McCarron, Stephen Smyth, Dick and Ben Clerkin, Philip O’Callaghan and Ciarán McCaffrey, it is hard to see past the Pearse Brothers here.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship
Donaghmoyne v Rockcorry, Friday, 8.00, Emyvale
Donaghmoyne and Rockcorry kick off the weekend’s club championship action with an IFC quarter-final under floodlights in Emyvale on Friday night.
Donaghmoyne lost to Cremartin in the first round but have recovered with narrow wins over Corduff and Seán McDermotts, while Rockcorry also edged out Corduff, only to fall to a heavy defeat against Doohamlet last Sunday. That was Rock’s second loss in a row after they had gone ten games unbeaten, including a four-point win in Donaghmoyne in June. Instead it is Donaghmoyne who are now the form team going into this one, with five wins and a draw from their last six matches. The Fontenoys are second in the table, a point ahead of Rockcorry with a game in hand.
Ciarán Daly, Pauric Donaghy, Bernard Kelly, Colm Connolly and Christopher Deery will be crucial to Donaghmoyne’s chances, while Rockcorry will need to see more of Mark and Keith Daly, Niall and Paul McKeown in support of Mark McGuirk and they will be hoping that Noel Carroll and Stephen McGuirk are available.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship
Cremartin v Inniskeen, Sunday, 1.45, Aughnamullen
Cremartin and Inniskeen contest the last IFC quarter-final on Sunday afternoon at Sarsfield Park, Aughnamullen.
These teams were separated by two divisions last year, but there now looks to be very little between them. Cremartin won the junior double in 2011 and went all the way to the Ulster final, while Inniskeen were relegated from the senior league. Cremartin in fifth are two places and two points better off than Inniskeen in the IFL, but the Grattans ran out double-scores winners in their only meeting so far this year. That game was one of few to date where Inniskeen have really showed what they are capable of; another being last Sunday when they put 0-22 past Aughnamullen in the back door. They also gave a glimpse of their ability in the second half of the championship loss to Doohamlet, almost turning around what looked like a lost cause at half-time. Those games followed a narrow win over Toome in the preliminary round. Meanwhile, Cremartin began their championship campaign with a good win over Donaghmoyne, although they lost narrowly to Tyholland in another high-scoring encounter last Saturday.
These teams possess the championship’s two top scorers to date – Inniskeen’s Dónal Meegan (0-19) and Cremartin’s Darren Bishop (2-12) – and both have plenty of scoring potential, so this could produce a bit of a shoot-out. Neither team are a one-man show, as Inniskeen will also need Matthew McKenna, Paul and Ronan Meegan, Gerard McArdle and Fergal Duffy, with Michael Lennon an injury doubt after he limped off last week. Gary Boyd, Niall Flanagan, Barry Carragher, Kevin Brennan and Paddy and Johnny McGuigan are among the main men for Cremartin. Inniskeen look to have found some form after an unconvincing start to the season and they get the nod to move into the last four.
The last round of the Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League takes place on Thursday evening. Castleblayney host Inniskeen in a repeat of the recent SHC Final, with the winners set to top the group, while Clontibret and Carrickmacross battle it out for third place and Monaghan Harps host Truagh in a dead-rubber.
Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League leaders Doohamlet will attempt to bounce back from their shock midweek defeat against Seán McDermotts when they host Aughnamullen on Sunday. Aughnamullen will then travel to Inniskeen on Wednesday, while Corduff host Donaghmoyne under lights.
The top two go head-to-head in the Eurotech Junior Football League on Sunday when leaders Emyvale go to Clones, while third play fourth when Drumhowan travel to Killanny. Elsewhere, Killeevan are at home to Blackhill and Oram take on Aghabog.
The last round of the groups in Divisions Two and Three of the Maguire Transport Minor Football Championships will be played on Tuesday evening. Latton will attempt to book their place in the Division Two semi-finals when they visit Donaghmoyne in Group A, but any slip-up could let Magheracloone back in if they can beat Seán McDermotts. Similarly, a draw away to Cremartin would be good enough for Emyvale to ensure their progression from Group B, with Truagh, who are away to Rock Sarsfields, still within touching distance of their neighbours in the table.
Second place in Division Three Group A looks to be a battle between St. Patrick’s and Inniskeen, who are away to Cúchulains Sarsfields and Tyholland respectively. Group B leaders Corduff go to Blackhill, while Doohamlet host St. Tiarnach’s.
The GRM Minor Football League Division One semi-finals are down for decision this week. Scotstown, who have lost just once all year, face neighbours Monaghan Harps on Monday, while Castleblayney and Carrickmacross clash in Oram on Tuesday.
The last round of the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division One is due to take place on Wednesday. Magheracloone, Monaghan Harps and Tyholland are set to host Scotstown, Truagh and Latton respectively, but the games are dependent on senior championship fixtures.
Drumhowan host Corduff on Friday in the last round of the RFL Division Two, while Cremartin and Killeevan have home advantage against Doohamlet and Ballybay respectively on Wednesday.
Emyvale are at home to Aughnamullen on Thursday in the first RFL Division Three semi-final, while Éire Óg make the short trip to Clones for the second Division Four semi on Friday.
In the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, the Under-16 Football League Finals take centre stage on Thursday evening. Killanny take on Scotstown in the Division One Final in Blackhill, while Carrickmacross and Truagh contest the Division Two title in Drumhowan, Cremartin go head-to-head with St. Patrick’s (Ballybay and Drumhowan) for Division Three honours at Oram and Scotshouse is the venue for the Division Four decider between Éire Óg and Killeevan. All four matches throw in at 7pm. The Under-12 Hurling League semi-finals take place on Monday evening, while there are also games in the Under-16 Hurling League and all six divisions of the Under-14 Football League spread out over the next week.
By michael Thu 23rd Aug
