It’s a big weekend of club football, with the Senior Football Championship semi-finals taking centre-stage in a Clones double-header on Sunday and semi-finals in all three divisions of the Minor Football Championships taking place across five venues on Saturday.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals
Castleblayney v Clontibret, Sunday, 3.30, Clones
Ballybay v Latton, Sunday, 5.00, Clones
Clontibret will be fancied to qualify for a fifth SFC Final in seven years when they take on Castleblayney, who they have already beaten in an action-packed match in the championship last month.
Clontibret have gone through the front door with wins over Latton and Sunday’s opponents, while Blayney beat Magheracloone before losing to Clontibret and bouncing back to dump old rivals Scotstown out. This is the fourth time these teams have met this year. It’s honours even so far, with a win, a draw and a defeat each, but Clontibret have the edge in that they won the championship clash and the O’Neills have been the form team in senior football in the last few months; having lost just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions, taking them up to second in the league table.
Much depends on the performance of Clontibret’s star forward Conor McManus, who tormented Blayney last time out; kicking nine points and creating a number of other scores. Vincent Corey gave a glimpse of his best form in that game, scoring two goals, while Dessie Mone, Paul McGuigan, Colum Greenan, Colin Duffy and Conor Boyle are other central figures for Clontibret, who should have John Paul Mone available after he returned from injury last weekend. Blayney are without injured midfielder Ciarán Hughes, meaning Conor Gurn’s role is vital for them, while Dermot Malone, Martin McElroy, Cormac Brady, Mark Treanor and goal-poacher Ryan Treacy should also be to the fore for the Faughs.
At 5pm, it’s a mid-Monaghan derby between Ballybay and Latton, who clashed last year in a classic semi-final which saw the O’Rahillys steal a late win on their way to a third county title since 2005.
Ballybay have reached this stage via the direct route thanks to wins over Carrickmacross (after a replay), Monaghan Harps and Currin. Latton lost to Clontibret in the first round after having three men sent off, but they have gone through the back door quietly and with little fuss, beating Truagh, Monaghan Harps and Currin. Ballybay have once again set the pace in the league all year and the leaders qualified for the semi-finals with four games to spare, while Latton are currently just a point outside the relegation zone. The Pearse Brothers have been much more consistent this year, but the only meeting of the sides this year produced a draw, underlining just how evenly matched they are.
Ballybay have one of the most dangerous forward lines in the county featuring Christopher and Shane McGuinness and Thomas Kerr, supported from a deeper role by Paul Finlay. Tommy O’Neill is a key player alongside Finlay at midfield, while Drew, Brent and Ryan Wylie are the leaders of their backs. Latton have probably the strongest midfield in the county in Owen Lennon and Aidan Farmer, while Owen Duffy, Hugh McElroy, Bernard O’Brien and Shane Coyle are the ones to watch up front and the defence should be led by Kieran Duffy, Owen Coyle, Stephen Fitzpatrick and Edmund Lennon. This one is almost certain to go to the wire once again and it will come down to a battle between Latton’s experience and Ballybay’s determination to avenge last year’s league and championship semi-final defeats.
Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division One Semi-Finals
Monaghan Harps v Scotstown, Saturday, 3.00, Truagh
Carrickmacross v Castleblayney, Saturday, 3.00, Inniskeen
The MFC Division One semi-finals are both repeats of the league semis, which produced narrow wins for Scotstown and Castleblayney.
Scotstown went on to edge out Blayney in that MFL Final and they have lost just twice in 14 matches this year, so they will be confident of taking another step towards a possible double. Scotstown have already beaten their neighbours three times, including a narrow win in the league last-four clash and they finished top of Group B, while the Harps came second in Group A.
Conor McCarthy, Ruairí Sheehan, Micheál McCarville, Tom Moyna and Conor Forde are quality players for Scotstown, while Fearghal McMahon, Evan Doherty, Michael Galligan, Niall Treanor and Shane Maguire will have to be on form for the Harps, who will be without the injured Kevin Loughran.
The other semi-final is between league runners-up Castleblayney and Carrickmacross. Blayney, who have beaten Carrick in two of their three meetings in 2012, topped Group A in the championship, while the Emmets finished second in Group B.
Barry Hanratty, Fergal Malone, Niall McCann, David McMahon and Aaron McNamara are among the main men for Blayney, while Carrick will need big performances from the likes of Kevin O’Hanlon, Brian Campion and Laurence McNally.
Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Two Semi-Finals
Cremartin v Magheracloone, Saturday, 3.00, Blackhill
Emyvale v Donaghmoyne, Saturday, 3.00, Clontibret
Already awaiting a replay of the MFL Division Two Final, Emyvale and Magheracloone could be on a collision course in the championship if they both come through Saturday’s semi-finals, although both face tough tests.
Cremartin won all three games in Group B of the championship, while Magheracloone needed a play-off against Latton to secure their semi-final place. Cremartin had failed to win a game in the league, in contrast to Magheracloone’s consistent form, but the Shamrocks look to have saved their best form for this time of year. Only two points separated the teams in their league fixture in May.
County minors Mark Magee and Shaun Buckley, who have been starring for their club’s senior team in recent weeks, will be expected to lead the way for Cremartin, while Magheracloone will be depending on David Kirk, Michael Metzger, Ciarán McClory, Paul McArdle and Alan McCahey.
Emyvale and Donaghmoyne look closely matched ahead of their semi-final. The teams shared top spot in the MFL Division Three, although Donaghmoyne subsequently lost their semi-final, so they will be keen to make amends here after going through Group A with a 100% record. Emyvale had to go to a play-off against neighbours Truagh to seal their progression to the last four. The sides haven’t crossed paths since April, when Emyvale won a high-scoring game by three points.
Donaghmoyne will be looking for inspiration from the likes of Niall Garland, Michael Murnaghan and Darren McElroy, but Ryan McAnespie, Colin Hughes, Daithí Colton and Nathan Keenan may do enough to see Emyvale through to another final.
Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Three Semi-Final
Cúchulains Sarsfields v St. Tiarnach’s, Saturday, 3.00, Ballybay
Cúchulains Sarsfields and St. Tiarnach’s battle it out for the right to play Corduff in the MFC Division Three Final.
Both of these amalgamated sides (Aughnamullen/Toome and Éire Óg/Clones) missed out on the league semi-finals after finishing fifth and sixth respectively, but they have found some form in time for the championship. Cúchulains Sarsfields, in particular, seem to have discovered an extra gear, as they accumulated an impressive 13-36 in their three Group A wins over St. Patrick’s, Tyholland and Inniskeen. St. Tiarnach’s finished second in Group B behind Corduff.
Shane Conlon and Aaron Kelly are key players for Cúchulains Sarsfields, while Jake Reihill and Conor Leonard should spearhead the St. Tiarnach’s challenge.
There is one unplayed game in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League on Sunday, when bottom-of-the-table Truagh host Carrickmacross.
Donaghmoyne host Tyholland in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League just a week after being knocked out of the championship by their north-Monaghan counterparts, while fellow beaten IFC semi-finalists Cremartin are away to Aughnamullen and Inniskeen make the short trip to Toome.
Junior Football Championship finalists Emyvale and Drumhowan have home games in the Eurotech Junior Football League against Killanny and Éire Óg respectively, while Blackhill entertain Clones and Aghabog and Killeevan contest a local derby.
Scotstown have home advantage against Inniskeen in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three semi-finals on Saturday, with a place in the final against Emyvale up for grabs. The last group game of the RFL Division One takes place on Sunday when Magheracloone are at home to Scotstown. If Magheracloone take anything from the game, they will finish third, but if they lose, they will be consigned to a four-way play-off for two semi-final places along with Clontibret, Latton and Monaghan Harps.
The business end of the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions is with us. The Under-16 Football Championship Finals take place as double-headers under lights in Emyvale and Inniskeen on Thursday evening. Emyvale hosts the Division One Final between Donaghmoyne and Scotstown and the Division Four decider between Corduff and Éire Óg, while Páirc Grattan is the venue for Carrickmacross v Latton and Aughnamullen v Cremartin in Divisions Two and Three respectively. The Under-14 Football League Division One semi-finals are down for decision on Saturday, when there will also be full rounds in the other five divisions. The Under-16 Hurling Championship semi-finals take place on Sunday morning, with Truagh and Carrickmacross at home to Clontibret and Castleblayney respectively.
By michael Thu 13th Sep
