Another busy few days beckons for the county teams, with the senior men’s and ladies footballers, senior hurlers and minor footballers and hurlers all in action between Sunday and Wednesday.
Allianz National Football League Division Three
Roscommon v Monaghan, Sunday, 3.30, Dr. Hyde Park
Monaghan will attempt to maintain their position at the top of the NFL Division Three and all but secure promotion when they travel to Roscommon on Sunday.
Monaghan have won four of their five games so far, with the disappointing defeat in Cavan the only black mark on a campaign that has brought wins over Meath, Sligo, Fermanagh and Wicklow. Roscommon started with a win over Sligo, but took just one point from their next three games via a draw with Wicklow, until they bounced back to beat Antrim last Saturday.
The Monaghan team shows two changes from the one that defeated Wicklow, with Drew Wylie and Dermot Malone replacing Conor Galligan and the injured Tommy Freeman. Malachy O’Rourke will hope that Conor McManus can continue his prolific form and that Paul Finlay, Kieran Hughes and Owen Duffy can also chip in up front, while Owen Lennon, Darren Hughes, Dessie Mone and Colin Walshe also have big parts to play.
Roscommon could have new All-Ireland club winners from St. Brigid’s such as Senan Kilbride and Karol Mannion available for Sunday’s game. New manager John Evans has had to do without the injured Donie Shine for much of the league, but he is able to call on the likes of Donal Smith, Colin Compton, Michael Finneran, Cathal Cregg and Seánie McDermott.
Monaghan will need to produce a more complete performance than last Saturday and they will be keen to make a good start after struggling in the early stages of their last two games, but if they can manage that, it should be enough to maintain their winning run.
Monaghan (v Roscommon): Mark Keogh; Dessie Mone, Fintan Kelly, Kieran Duffy; Colin Walshe, Darren Hughes, Drew Wylie; Owen Lennon (Capt.) , Neil McAdam; Gavin Doogan, Kieran Hughes, Owen Duffy; Conor McManus, Paul Finlay, Dermot Malone.
Subs: Rory Beggan, Ronan McNally, Conor Galligan, Vincent Corey, Karl O’Connell, Martin McElroy, Dick Clerkin, Christopher McGuinness, Stephen Gollogly, Stephen Smyth, Matthew McKenna.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A
Monaghan v Tyrone, Sunday, 2.00, Clones * Note change of venue
Monaghan host neighbours Tyrone in a basement battle in the NHL Division 3A at Páirc Grattan on Sunday.
Neither of these sides has yet taken their first points of this year’s league, with Monaghan having lost to Donegal, Fingal and Louth and Tyrone having been beaten by Fermanagh, Donegal and Fingal. Both will see this match as an opportunity to get off the mark, however.
Joey Morris’s first few months as Monaghan manager has been marred by the absence of a large number of the county’s most experienced players. He will hope to be able to call on the likes of Trevor Hilliard, Mickey McHugh, Éanna Mac Suibhne and Mark and Peter Treanor for this one. Tyrone will be looking for big performances from the likes of Damien Casey, Kiefer and Tiernan Morgan and Stephen Donnelly.
Ladies National Football League Division One
Laois v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, O’Dempseys GAA * Note change of venue
Monaghan’s ladies footballers protect their 100% record in this year’s NFL once again in Sunday’s away game against Laois at O’Dempseys, just otuside Portarlington.
Defending champions Monaghan are top of the league after four straight wins at the expense of Cork, Meath, Donegal and Mayo, while Laois are just behind second-placed Cork on score-difference after beating Mayo, Donegal and Tyrone and losing narrowly to Dublin.
A number of Monaghan’s stars have carried their 2012 form into this year, not least Cathriona McConnell, Christina Reilly, Sharon Courtney, Caoimhe Mohan and Ellen McCarron, while the return of former captain Yvonne Connell has also added to the options available to manager Gregory McGonigle. Tracey Lawlor, Laura-Marie Maher, Martha Kirwan, Ciara Burke and Mags McEvoy are key players for Laois.
Laois have traditionally been tough opponents for Monaghan and that will be the case again on Sunday, but Monaghan’s winning momentum should continue.
Ulster Minor Football League Group A
Down v Monaghan, Tuesday, 8.00, St. Colman’s, Newry * Note change of date
Monaghan begin their Ulster MFL campaign against Down on Tuesday evening at the new venue of St. Colman’s College.
Monaghan, who reached the semi-finals of this competition last year before going on to contest the Ulster MFC Final, will be keen to get off to a winning start in a game which has had to be put back from Friday night due to an unplayable pitch.
Players like Conor McCarthy, David McAlister, Mark Magee, Dessie Ward, Conor Forde and Adam Kieran return from last year’s Monaghan team, to be joined by rising talents such as Dónal Meegan, Michael Metzger and Michael Geehan. Keelan Haughey, Tadhg Murdock and Keelan Rice are likely to be to the fore for Down.
Ulster Minor Hurling League Division Two
Tyrone v Monaghan, Wednesday, 7.30, Garvaghy * Note change of date and venue
Monaghan will be expected to build on an impressive opening win in the Ulster MHL Division Two when they play Tyrone at Healy Park on Wednesday evening. The game has been moved and will be played at the Tyrone centre of excellence – located between Ballygawley and Omagh – on Wednesday.
Defending champions Monaghan had a good first-round win over Cavan, who had themselves put Tyrone to the sword in their opener. Dónal Meegan, Aodh Curran, Michael O’Dowd, Ciarán McQuaid, Conor Burns and Cathal McAnespie should play key roles for Monaghan.
On the club scene, the McElvaney Recycling Under-21 Football Leagues get underway this weekend, as do the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-14 Football Leagues and the Under-14 Hurling League. Clontibret and Scotstown have home games against Latton and Castleblayney respectively in the U-21 FL Division One on Saturday, while St. Patrick’s (Ballybay and Drumhowan) take on Truagh on Sunday. In Division Two, Aughnamullen and Donaghmoyne host Carrickmacross and Magheracloone respectively, while Killanny face Monaghan Harps in Inniskeen. Emyvale and Tyholland have home advantage against Seán McDermotts and Blackhill in Division Three.
The start of the GRM Minor Football Leagues has been postponed due to the rescheduling of the county minor football fixture.
By michael Fri 22nd Mar
