Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A
Donegal v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Letterkenny
Monaghan start their NHL campaign against Donegal at O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny on Sunday.
Monaghan beat Donegal at the same stage last year on their way to an unbeaten league run, before the infamous row over club fixtures saw then-manager Mattie Lennon quit and the players pull out of the scheduled final against Fingal. Monaghan did go on to compete in the Nicky Rackard Cup, but they lost to Sunday’s opponents in the first round and were subsequently knocked out by Roscommon. Former Dublin hurler Joey Morris is now in charge and he will be keen to see his tenure get off to a winning start.
The likes of Gary Boyd, Trevor Hilliard, Mickey McHugh, Peter Treanor, Brian McGuigan and Éanna Mac Suibhne should play key roles for Monaghan, while Donegal will be looking for big performances from Niall and Kevin Campbell, Lee Henderson and James Donnelly.
Danske Bank MacRory Cup Semi-Final
St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan v St. Paul’s, Bessbrook, Wednesday, 7.30, Armagh
St. Macartan’s College will attempt to qualify for the MacRory Cup final for the first time since 2007 when they take on St. Paul’s, Bessbrook in Wednesday’s semi-final at the Athletic Grounds.
The Sem, who needed to come from well behind in a play-off against St. Pat’s, Armagh in a play-off to make the quarter-finals, pipped St. Pat’s, Dungannon in a dramatic finish last Saturday, when Fearghal McMahon converted a last-gasp penalty to win it. Bessbrook, who won MacLarnon Cup and All-Ireland ‘B’ titles in some style last year, have adapted seamlessly to the higher standard of the MacRory. The Armagh school topped their group, ahead of the Sem, who they beat in a high-scoring match.
Bessbrook have a top-class forward in the hotly-tipped Ciarán O’Hanlon, alongside All-Star corner-back Jamie Cosgrove and the likes of Conor Nugent, Eoghan and Fionnán Burns and Cormac Toner. The Sem, who have David McAlister available after injury but are likely to again be without Ryan Caulfield, will need big performances from Fearghal McMahon, Conor McCarthy, Tom Hayes, Lorcan Smyth, Kevin Loughran and Micheál McCarville if they are to rip up the form book for the second game in a row.
Castleblayney host Magherafelt in the Ulster Club Senior Football League on Sunday in their first official senior fixture on their home pitch since 2011. Aughnamullen travel to Donegal side St. Joseph’s in the Ulster Club Intermediate Football League on Saturday, while Truagh are away to Ballymaguigan (Derry) on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a number of Monaghan players will be chasing glory at the Sigerson Cup finals weekend in Athlone, with Colin Walshe captaining DIT, who face the strong Farney contingent with DCU in the semi-finals.
Darren Hughes once again captains Ulster from centre-back in Sunday’s interprovincial football championship final against Leinster at Croke Park, while Conor McManus lines out at corner-forward and Kieran Hughes is among the substitutes. The game throws in at 3.45pm, following the All-Ireland Club JFC Final, with all proceeds going to the Crumlin Children’s Hospital.
By michael Fri 22nd Feb
