Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A
Fermanagh v Monaghan, Sunday, 3.00, Enniskillen
Monaghan’s senior hurlers play their final NHL group game against Fermanagh at Brewster Park on Sunday.
Defeat against Tyrone last Sunday, following on from losses to Donegal, Fingal and Louth, confirmed that Monaghan will face a relegation play-off. Manager Joey Morris has had to contend with a large number of absentees, with Monaghan fielding young and inexperienced teams, which have included players just out of minor like Jamie Guinan and Kevin Crawley. Fermanagh, meanwhile, need a result to stay ahead of Tyrone, who they defeated in the first round for their only win so far, which has been followed by defeats at the hands of Louth, Donegal and Fingal.
Monaghan’s discipline has let them down in their last few games, with players being sent off at key stages. They will need to address that and see big performances from Mickey McHugh, Trevor Hilliard, Peter and Mark Treanor and Hugh Byrne (who is available after suspension) if they are to have a chance of picking up their first points. Seán Corrigan, John Duffy, Ryan Bogue, JP McGarry and Daniel Teague are some of the main men for Fermanagh.
Ladies National Football League Division One
Dublin v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Fingallians
Monaghan will bid to stretch their 100% run in the Ladies NFL to six games when they take on Dublin on Sunday.
Last year’s winners Monaghan have had wins over Cork, Meath, Donegal, Mayo and Laois so far, leaving them three points clear of the All-Ireland champions at the top of the table. Dublin are in a share of third place after winning three (against Tyrone, Laois and Meath) and losing two (at the hands of Cork and Donegal) to date.
Monaghan have had Sharon Courtney,
They will hope to have Caoimhe Mohan available after she went off injured last Sunday, while Niamh Kindlon provides another option after coming on to score a goal against Laois. Sinéad Ahern, Lyndsey Davey, Sinéad Goldrick, Natalia Hyland and Sinéad Finnegan are among the key players for Dublin.
Monaghan should have enough in the tank to continue their fine form in this match, which is being played at Lawless Memorial Park in Swords, the home of the Fingallians club.
Ulster Minor Football League Group A
Monaghan v Armagh, Saturday, 12.00, Clones
Monaghan’s minor footballers will attempt to get off the mark when they host Armagh on Saturday at noon.
Monaghan’s first game, which was rescheduled to Tuesday night, resulted in a win for Down, who finished strongly to take the spoils from a high-scoring match, while Armagh are yet to play competitively after the weather also claimed their fixture against Cavan. Conor McCarthy, Dónal Meegan, David McAlister, Kevin Loughran and Micheál McCarville should play key roles for Monaghan. Armagh should be able to call on some of the players who helped St. Paul’s, Bessbrook to the MacRory Cup Final like Aaron McKay and Caolán McCullough as well as the likes of Conor Martin.
It’s a busy week of club fixtures, with the first round of the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football Leagues taking centre stage over the weekend.
The Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League starts on Saturday with the meeting of Scotstown and Clontibret. Sunday’s games see county champions Ballybay travel to Carrickmacross, last year’s league winners Magheracloone host Monaghan Harps.
2012 JFC winners Drumhowan are at home to Corduff in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Saturday, while on Sunday, the other newly-promoted team, Clones, take on Donaghmoyne and last year’s relegated senior teams Truagh and Currin are away to Aughnamullen and Cremartin respectively.
Emyvale and Aghabog clash in a repeat of last year’s Eurotech Junior Football League semi-final on Saturday. Scotstown’s reserves enter the JFL for the first time with a local derby against Seán McDermotts in Threemilehouse on Sunday, while Toome and Oram host Éire Óg and Killeevan respectively.
The involvement of players in the county hurling panel has seen one game in each division – Castleblayney v Doohamlet (SFL), Inniskeen v Tyholland (IFL) and Killanny v Blackhill (JFL) – postponed, while a bereavement has seen the SFL game between Rockcorry and Latton postponed.
Club action in both minor football and hurling is also set to get up and running.
The Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling League gets underway over the weekend, with Clontibret away to Cootehill on Sunday and Truagh Harps up against Castleblayney on Monday.
A week later than planned (due to the rescheduling of Monaghan’s Ulster MFL game against Down), the GRM Minor Football League begins on Tuesday evening. There is a local derby between Truagh and Scotstown in Division One, while Carrickmacross and Monaghan Harps make the fairly lengthy trips to Emyvale and Magheracloone respectively. Clontibret, Cúchulains Sarsfields, Donaghmoyne and St. Patrick’s are at home to Seán McDermotts, Latton, Killanny and Cremartin respectively in Division Two, while the Division Three fixtures see Castleblayney, Inniskeen, Killeevan and St. Tiarnach’s host Doohamlet, Corduff, Rock Emmets and Emmet Sarsfields respectively.
The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Leagues resume on Wednesday evening. Latton and Magheracloone will attempt to continue their unbeaten starts to Division 1A when they host Scotstown and Clontibret respectively, while Castleblayney and Monaghan Harps will both be chasing a first win when they meet. There are three fairly local clashes in Division 1B – between Cremartin and Doohamlet, Ballybay and Drumhowan and Truagh and Tyholland – while Carrickmacross, Donaghmoyne and Emyvale host Corduff, Inniskeen and Killeevan respectively in Division 2A. Aughnamullen and Seán McDermotts entertain Oram and Rockcorry in Division 2B, with Aghabog, Currin, Feargal O’Hanlons and Killanny up against Clones, Éire Óg, Blackhill and Toome in Division 3. Before all that, there is a previously-postponed game between Blackhill and Monaghan Harps in Division 3 on Saturday.
There is also a busy schedule in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, with games down for decision in the Under-14 Football and Hurling Leagues and the Under-12 Football Spring Leagues.
By michael Fri 29th Mar
