McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final
Cremartin v Doohamlet, Saturday, 5.30, Oram
Doohamlet will be expected to book their place in the IFC Final for the second time in three years when they take on neighbours Cremartin in Saturday’s semi-final.
Doohamlet won the IFC in 2010 and although they were relegated last year, they look well poised to bounce back, having had an impressive season in both league and championship; losing just two of their 19 matches to date. They have three wins under their belts in this competition, at the expense of Seán McDermotts, Inniskeen and Rockcorry. Cremartin, who won the junior double last year as well as reaching the Ulster JFC Final, beat Donaghmoyne in the IFC first round and although they then lost narrowly to Tyholland, they booked their semi-final place with a strong finish against Inniskeen. Doohamlet are seven points clear at the top of the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League, while Cremartin are well behind in sixth place and the O’Neills have already done the double over the Shamrocks this year.
Doohamlet have a strong, physical team which is well balanced between defence and attack. County man Colin Walshe is the star name, but they can also call on the likes of Shane and Ciarán McManus, Paul McArdle Ted and Greg Duffy and Mark Murphy, although Darren Connolly is set to miss out through injury. Cremartin should give the championship favourites a test, however, with players of the ability of Darren Bishop, Niall Flanagan, Johnny and Paddy McGuigan, Kevin Brennan, Gary Boyd and Barry Carragher in their ranks. Cremartin have lost just two of their 12 championship games under Gerry McCarville, but it’s hard to see them extending that run on Saturday, as Doohamlet look to be a team on a mission.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final
Donaghmoyne v Tyholland, Sunday, 5.30, Drumhowan
Tyholland and Donaghmoyne battle it out in what looks like a finely-balanced IFC semi-final pairing on Sunday evening.
Tyholland have gone through the front door in the championship with wins over Aughnamullen and Cremartin, while Donaghmoyne recovered from their opening-round loss against Cremartin to beat Corduff, Seán McDermotts and Rockcorry (the latter after extra-time). Donaghmoyne are third in the league, one place and four points ahead of Tyholland, who they beat by two points back in April in their only meeting of 2012 up to now.
Tyholland have been without Karl O’Connell in recent months, but they still have plenty of quality in the likes of Gary McQuaid, Dermot Coyle, Raymond Ronaghan, Brian McArdle, Ronan McNally and Shane Treanor. Donaghmoyne will need big performances from the likes of Ciarán Daly, Colm Connolly, Pauric Donaghy, Joe and Bernard Kelly and Christopher Deery. It all points to a close game, but Tyholland have saved their best form for the championship and they have slightly more experience of the business end of this competition – having won it in 2007 and reached the 2010 final – so they may just edge through.
GRM Minor Football League Division One Final
Castleblayney v Scotstown, Saturday, 2.00, Drumhowan
Castleblayney and Scotstown go head-to-head in the MFL Division One Final on Saturday afternoon.
These teams occupied the top two places in the league table, before winning their semi-finals when Scotstown edged out Monaghan Harps and Blayney gained a similar result against Carrickmacross. Both sides are also through to the championship semi-finals after topping their groups. Scotstown won both league meetings with the Faughs.
Scotstown are strong all over the field with the likes of Conor McCarthy, Seán Mohan, Micheál McCarville, Conor Forde, Tom Moyna and Ruairí Sheehan, while Blayney will need Barry Hanratty, Fergal Malone, David McMahon, Niall McCann and Aaron McNamara on top form. There should be little between these teams, but Scotstown have led the way all year in the league and they should finish the job here.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Four
Blackhill v Clones, Sunday, 2.00, Cremartin
The RFL Division Four Final sees Blackhill and Clones clash on Sunday.
These teams finished joint-top of the league table with 18 points each, before winning their semi-finals when Clones edged out Éire Óg and Blackhill eased past Aghabog. Clones may be able to call on the likes of Ciarán Kelly, Ethan Audley and Darragh Graham, while Ciarán Courtney, Michael Geehan and Matthew McArdle (who won Under-21 Division One silverware earlier this year) should lead the way for Blackhill. The teams last met back in March in the first round of the league when Clones had a five-point win, but a closer game is on the cards this time.
Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Three Semi-Final
Corduff v St. Patrick’s, Tuesday, 8.00, Inniskeen
Just a week after they contested the MFL Division Three Final, Corduff and St. Patrick’s cross paths once again on Tuesday evening under lights at Páirc Grattan, with a championship final place up for grabs.
Ballybay and Drumhowan amalgamation St. Pat’s won that league decider comfortably, so they will be expected to advance to within one win of a double. Pat’s recovered from losing to Cúchulains Sarsfields in their first championship match to beat Inniskeen and get a walkover from Tyholland to secure second place in Group A, while wins over St. Tiarnach’s, Blackhill and Doohamlet saw Corduff top Group B. St. Pat’s finished second in the league, two points and two places above Corduff, while their previous league clash produced a high-scoring draw.
Dessie Ward, Ryan Wylie, Dean Mooney and Aidan Quinn are key players for St. Pat’s, while Corduff will need more support for county minor captain Pádraic Keenan from the likes of Mark Treanor, Hugh Larkin and Blain McEnaney.
Meanwhile, there are two MFC Division Two play-offs on Saturday. Latton and Magheracloone meet in Corduff at 3.30, while neighbours Emyvale and Truagh are in Tyholland for a 2pm throw-in (note change of time). Both games are very hard to call, as Latton and Magheracloone drew in the first game in Group A on their way to finishing level on three points each, while Emyvale and Truagh were also neck and neck in Group B after finishing all-square in round two. Emyvale should just get past Truagh, while Latton and Magheracloone may need extra-time to decide who qualifies for the semi-finals.
There is an important round of Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League games over the weekend, starting with the game between Carrickmacross and Castleblayney on Friday evening. Latton and Currin renew acquaintances on Sunday just a week after the O’Rahillys beat the senior newcomers in the championship, while Monaghan Harps host Magheracloone and the top two, Ballybay and Clontibret, travel to Scotstown and Truagh respectively. There is also a game on Wednesday evening, when Magheracloone take on Currin under lights in Inniskeen.
The race for fourth place in the Eurotech Junior Football League continues with Sunday’s game between Killanny and Oram.
Aughnamullen and Emyvale replay their Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three semi-final on Sunday at Sarsfield Park.
The Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling Championship semi-finals are down for decision over the next few days. League winners Emmet Grattans (Carrickmacross and Inniskeen) take on Clontibret in Oram on Friday, while defending champions Castleblayney face Truagh Harps (Truagh and Monaghan Harps) in Clontibret on Monday.
It’s a relatively quiet weekend in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, with Under-16 championship semi-finals on Thursday followed by one rescheduled Under-12 Football League Final between Emyvale and Emerald Sarsfields on Saturday.
By michael Fri 7th Sep
