There are eight games to be played this weekend between the Senior and Intermediate Football Championships (two double-headers and four standalone fixtures), as well as a number of league games spread out over the week.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship First Round
Ballybay v Monaghan Harps, Friday, 7.30, Clontibret
Ballybay and Monaghan Harps go head-to-head in the SFC for the third year in a row.
Ballybay came out on top against the Harps last year and in 2010 (after a replay) and the two sides’ preliminary-wins have put them on a collision course once again. Ballybay needed a replay to get past the challenge of Carrickmacross, while Monaghan Harps had to come from behind to see off Truagh. Ballybay have also beaten the Harps twice in the league last year, most recently last Sunday by the narrowest of margins.
Paul Finlay, Drew and Ryan Wylie, Christopher McGuinness, Thomas Kerr and Fergal Smyth are central players for Ballybay, while Neil McAdam, Conor Galligan, David Hughes, Shane Smyth and Donal Hahessy are key figures for the Harps.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship
Latton v Truagh, Saturday, 7.00, Scotstown
Latton will bid to get their defence of the Mick Duffy Cup back on the right road when they play Truagh on Saturday.
Latton looked poised to start off on the front foot when they opened up a healthy lead against Clontibret in the first round, but three red cards saw them fall completely out of the match. Truagh also let a fine start go to waste when they lost to Monaghan Harps. Latton have been the more consistent team in the league where they sit a couple of places ahead of their opponents and they ran out double-scores winners in the last meeting of these teams.
Latton will be without Owen Lennon, who has another week to run on his eight-week suspension, but they have the experience in the likes of Hugh McElroy, Aidan Farmer, Owen and Kieran Duffy and Bernard O’Brien to get the better of a Truagh team who will be depending on big performances from Mark Counihan, Niall Feely and Pádraig and Christopher McKenna in the absence of Daniel McKenna (in the USA) and the injured Barry Cuddy.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship
Magheracloone v Scotstown, Sunday, 6.30, Ballybay
Magheracloone and Scotstown need a positive result in Sunday evening’s match to stay in the SFC.
Magheracloone lost to Castleblayney in the first round, while Scotstown suffered a shock defeat against senior newcomers Currin. Magheracloone are third in the Senior Football League, but Scotstown’s recent good run has seen them win four in a row to shoot up to mid-table. Magheracloone had a two-point win when the sides met in the league in June, but Scotstown were of course the victors in last year’s championship semi-final. Scotstown went on to lose narrowly to Latton in the county final and will be determined to get back on track here.
Scotstown have five county panellists in Darren and Kieran Hughes, James Turley, Donal Morgan and Rory Beggan, while Mark Duffy, Shane Carey and Orin Heaphey should also play big parts. Magheracloone are still very much dependent on Tommy and Damien Freeman for scores and the loss of Gavin and Francie Doogan and Pete Ward has weakened the centre of their team, although James Ward, Paudie Finnegan and Peter Tuite still have plenty to offer. Scotstown look to have hit form at the right time for this one.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship
Donaghmoyne v Seán McDermotts, Friday, 7.30, Drumhowan
Donaghmoyne will be expected to advance to the IFC quarter-finals when they take on Seán McDermotts on Friday evening.
After losing to Cremartin in the first round, Donaghmoyne bounced back with a win over Corduff. The Seáns pushed championship favourites Doohamlet all the way in the preliminary round before getting a bye through the first qualifier round. Donaghmoyne have shown much better form in the league and are currently second in the table, seven places above the Seáns, who they have comfortably beaten twice this year, most recently last Sunday.
Pauric Donaghy, Ciarán Daly, Colm Connolly and Bernard Kelly are among the main men for Donaghmoyne, while the Seáns, who have lost Páraic McGuirk and Brian McQuaid to America for the summer, will need Damien Larkin, James Treanor, Paddy Kieran and Shane Larkin to be on top form. It’s hard to look past Donaghmoyne here.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship
Cremartin v Tyholland, Saturday, 5.30, Scotstown
The first semi-final place in the Intermediate Football Championship is up for grabs in this game between Cremartin and Tyholland, which is being played in Scotstown prior to the SFC match between Latton and Truagh.
Tyholland looked impressive in a straightforward first-round dismissal of Aughnamullen, but they will face a tougher challenge against 2011 junior double-winners Cremartin, who marked their return to the IFC by beating Donaghmoyne. Tyholland, who are fourth in the league, had a four-point win over the Shamrocks in their last clash, while the mid-Monaghan side are tied for fifth.
Tyholland are undoubtedly one of the main contenders for intermediate honours, with players of the calibre of Gary McQuaid, Dermot Coyle Raymond and Gregory Ronaghan, Ronan McNally and Peadar Farrelly at their disposal, but the absence of Karl O’Connell (in the USA for the summer) has robbed them of their main source of pace. Cremartin’s Darren Bishop, Niall Flanagan, Gary Boyd, Johnny and Paddy McGuigan and Declan Farrell will take the game to Tyholland, but the north-Monaghan men should have enough to come through this one.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship
Doohamlet v Rockcorry, Sunday, 1.45, Clontibret
Aughnamullen v Inniskeen, Sunday, 3.15, Clontibret
The two form teams in intermediate football, Doohamlet and Rockcorry, lock horns in the championship on Sunday. Doohamlet have led the way practically all year in the IFL, while Rockcorry have also been flying in recent months.
Doohamlet already have two championship wins under their belts this year, having beaten Seán McDermotts and Inniskeen. Rockcorry were made to sweat in the closing stages of their win over Corduff, when goals by Noel Carroll, Mark McGuirk and Johnny Reilly saw them over the line. Doohamlet, who have lost just once all year, are currently six points clear at the top of the league, while Rockcorry are third after their ten-match unbeaten run came to an end against Corduff last time out. The teams were inseparable when their paths last crossed.
Doohamlet are backboned by players with IFC medals from 2010, such as county man Colin Walshe, Shane and Ciarán McManus, Ted Duffy and Mark Murphy. Rock also have a good balance of experienced players like Mark and Keith Daly, Damien Matthews, Noel Carroll and Paul McKeown alongside young guns Fergal McGeough, Niall McKeown and Mark McGuirk. Doohamlet look like a team on a mission this season and they should take another step towards a second IFC title in three years.
Part two of the double-header in Clontibret sees Aughnamullen and Inniskeen put their championship hopes on the line.
Both sides remain in the running thanks to low-scoring wins over Toome – Inniskeen in the preliminary round and Aughnamullen in the first round of the back door – while the Sarsfields were well beaten by Tyholland in their opening match and the Grattans fell short with a late charge against Doohamlet last time out. The teams are separated by just two points in the league table, while Aughnamullen won their most recent encounter by four points.
Pete and Sam Dooney, Lee Conlan, Chris Keenan and Seán Sheridan will lead the way for Aughnamullen, but the likes of Paul, Ronan and Dónal Meegan, Michael Lennon and Matthew McKenna should do enough to see Inniskeen over the line.
Four days after they won the Senior Hurling Championship, it’s back to Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League for Castleblayney with an away game against Clontibret on Thursday. Beaten finalists Inniskeen will attempt to pick themselves up when they host Truagh, while the other game sees Monaghan Harps travel to Carrickmacross.
Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Shield Final
Clontibret v Truagh, Sunday, 1.00, Emyvale * Note change of venue
Clontibret and Truagh contest the SHC Shield Final inEmyvale on Sunday afternoon.
The teams shared third place in the group system of the championship, which qualified them for the semi-finals, where Clontibret lost narrowly to Inniskeen and Truagh fell to a heavy defeat against eventual champions Castleblayney. Clontibret also have two wins to their name in the Senior Hurling League, where Truagh have yet to pick up a point, so the O’Neills will go into this one as favourites.
Conor McKenna, Conor McGinnity, Proinsias McKenna and Niall Coyle should be to the fore for Truagh, but Clontibret, in the likes of Noel Morgan, Eoin McGuigan, Fergal Greenan, Ned McCann and Cormac Connolly, should get their hands on the shield.
There is a full round of games down for decision in the Eurotech Junior Football League on Sunday. League leaders Emyvale are away to Oram, while fellow challengers Clones and Drumhowan have games against Éire Óg and Killeevan respectively and the other game sees Aghabog facing Blackhill. Oram have home advantage against Clones on Wednesday evening.
The Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League continues on Wednesday, when Doohamlet and Tyholland will be expected to pick up wins against the bottom two, Seán McDermotts and Toome, respectively. The other game pits Cremartin against Rockcorry in the battle to qualify for the semi-finals.
There are semi-final places up for grabs in the Maguire Transport Minor Football Championships over the next few days. Killanny must beat Castleblayney in Division One Group A on Saturday to keep their hopes alive, while Blayney then visit Monaghan Harps on Tuesday. Clontibret need a positive result away to Carrickmacross in Group B on Saturday, before Scotstown entertain Carrick on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s games in Division Two Group A see Donaghmoyne and Seán McDermotts play hosts to Magheracloone and Latton respectively, while the Group B fixtures see Truagh and Emyvale contest a north-Monaghan derby and Cremartin take on Rock Sarsfields.
Cúchulain Sarsfields will attempt to build on their Division Three Group A opening-round win over St. Patrick’s when they play Tyholland, while St. Pat’s will strive to get their campaign back on track in their game against Inniskeen. Blackhill host Doohamlet in Group B, while St. Tiarnach’s welcome Corduff to Smithborough.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Two leaders Doohamlet make the short trip to Cremartin on Wednesday, while Donaghmoyne and Killeevan are at home to Corduff and Drumhowan respectively. Before that, Ballybay host Carrickmacross on Sunday. Meanwhile, Blackhill face Aghabog in the first Division Four semi-final on Wednesday.
In the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, there are semi-finals to be played in all four divisions of the Under-16 Football Leagues on Thursday, as well as the Under-12 Football Leagues on Saturday and there is also action on the agenda in the Under-12 and Under-16 Hurling Leagues on Monday and the Under-14 Football Leagues spread out over the weekend.
By michael Thu 16th Aug
