Monaghan’s hurlers are in a battle to avoid relegation in the league on Saturday, while there is a busy schedule of club games in the coming week.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A relegation play-off
Monaghan v Tyrone, Saturday, 2.00, Breffni Park
Monaghan will attempt to hold on to their status in the NHL Division 3A when they take on Tyrone in the relegation play-off on Saturday in Cavan.
It has been a disappointing campaign so far for a youthful Monaghan team, who finished bottom of the group after defeats against Donegal, Fingal, Louth, Fermanagh and Saturday’s opponents. Tyrone also lost to Donegal, Fingal, Louth and Fermanagh, with their only win coming against Monaghan.
Monaghan will need big performances from Mickey McHugh, Trevor Hilliard, Éanna Mac Suibhne, Peter and Mark Treanor and Hugh Byrne. Damien Casey, Kiefer and Tiernan Morgan and Stephen Donnelly are among the main men for Tyrone.
There are two full rounds in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football Leagues in the next week.
Four Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League games are down for decision on Saturday evening, when Latton take on Scotstown, Clontibret host Carrickmacross, Monaghan Harps play SFL newcomers Rockcorry and Doohamlet meet Magheracloone. Ballybay are up against Castleblayney on Sunday. On Wednesday, Rockcorry have their first home senior game against fellow newly-promoted side Doohamlet, while Monaghan Harps make the short journey to Scotstown, Ballybay and Clontibret clash in a repeat of last year’s county final, Carrickmacross entertain Latton and Castleblayney play the first SFL game at their re-opened St. Mary’s Park against Magheracloone.
Currin and Drumhowan will both attempt to build on winning starts in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League when they go head-to-head on Saturday, while Tyholland have home advantage against Aughnamullen. The big game on Sunday is the local derby between Inniskeen and Donaghmoyne, while Corduff and Truagh have home games against Clones and Cremartin. Wednesday’s games see Aughnamullen, Cremartin, Currin, Drumhowan and Inniskeen play hosts to Donaghmoyne, Tyholland, Truagh, Clones and Corduff respectively.
In the Eurotech Junior Football League, Éire Óg and Killeevan are at home to Killanny and Emyvale on Saturday, while on Sunday, Aghabog meet Toome, Blackhill face Seán McDermotts and Scotstown play their first JFL home game against Oram. Local derbies are the order of the day on Wednesday with games Emyvale and Scotstown, Seán McDermotts and Éire Óg, Aghabog and Killeevan, Oram and Blackhill and Toome and Killanny.
There is also action in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Leagues over the weekend. Truagh face Castleblayney in Division 2B on Saturday, while there are two games in Division 3 on Sunday between Monaghan Harps and Feargal O’Hanlons and Clontibret and Emyvale.
Round two of the Development Hurling League takes place on Thursday. Clontibret and Inniskeen, who both made winning starts, go head-to-head, while Truagh and Carrickmacross host Castleblayney and Monaghan Harps respectively.
There is a local derby between Truagh and Scotstown in the McElvaney Recycling Under-21 Division One on Friday, while Seán McDermotts face Blackhill in Division Three.
The GRM Minor Football Leagues continue on Tuesday. Magheracloone and Truagh make long trips to Emyvale and Carrickmacross respectively in Division One, while Scotstown host neighbours Monaghan Harps. In Division Two, Cremartin, Killanny, Latton and Seán McDermotts host Cúchulains Sarsfields, Clontibret, Donaghmoyne and St. Patrick’s respectively, while the Division Three games are between Corduff and Castleblayney, Doohamlet and St. Tiarnach’s and Emerald Sarsfields and Killeevan.
The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions are in full flight, with action in the Under-16 Football League, the Under-12 Football Spring Leagues, the Under-14 Hurling League and Championship, the Under-14 Football Leagues and the Under-14 Football Championship Division One, which reaches the semi-final stage with games between Monaghan Harps and Truagh and Killanny and Emyvale on Tuesday evening.
By michael Thu 11th Apr
