A busy week is in prospect, with Monaghan’s senior men’s and ladies county footballers in action in a double-header in Clones on Sunday, minor football and hurling teams facing crucial Ulster league games and club fixtures continuing.
Allianz National Football League Division Three
Monaghan v Antrim, Sunday, 3.00, Clones
Monaghan need to win Sunday’s Allianz NFL game against Antrim in Clones to be assured of promotion back to Division Two.
Wins over Meath, Sligo, Fermanagh and Wicklow, sandwiching a disappointing defeat in Cavan, had Monaghan top of the league going into round six, but a low-scoring loss to Roscommon sent the campaign down to the final day. Antrim haven’t won since their opener against Cavan – drawing with Fermanagh and Wicklow and losing to Roscommon, Sligo and Meath since then – but they can take some heart from the fact that they are unbeaten against fellow Ulster teams. These counties haven’t met in the league for a number of years, but they did cross swords in the championship last year when Monaghan needed a strong finish to battle through and they have been drawn together again in this year’s Ulster first round.
Malachy O’Rourke has named an unchanged Monaghan team, while Frank Dawson has made just one change to the Antrim side, with Andy McClean coming in at full-back. Monaghan will need their experienced players such as Owen Lennon, Dessie Mone, Darren Hughes, Paul Finlay and Conor McManus to lead from the front in this one.
Antrim have been weakened this year by star player James Loughrey, who scored a memorable goal against Monaghan in their last meeting, moving to Cork. Michael McCann has also taken a ‘break’ from inter-county football, while Tomás McCann has struggled with injury, but Paddy Cunningham returned to scoring form with five points against Meath and Monaghan will have to improve their tackling in front of their own goal, or else the accurate left-footed free-taker will punish them. Frank Dawson’s side will also be looking for big performances from Kevin O’Boyle, Tony Scullion, Justin Crozier and Kevin Niblock.
Monaghan need to up their performance from the Roscommon game, particularly in attack, but if they do they can clinch a quick return to Division Two.
Monaghan (v Antrim): Rory Beggan; Dessie Mone, Drew Wylie, Ronan McNally; Colin Walshe, Darren Hughes, Kieran Duffy; Owen Lennon (Capt.), Neil McAdam; Gavin Doogan, Kieran Hughes, Owen Duffy; Conor McManus, Paul Finlay, Dermot Malone.
Subs: Mark Keogh, Fintan Kelly, Conor Galligan, Vincent Corey, Karl O’Connell, Martin McElroy, Dick Clerkin, Christopher McGuinness, Stephen Gollogly, Jack McCarron, Shane McQuillan.
Antrim: John Finucane; Kevin O’Boyle (Capt.), Andy McClean, Seán Finch; Tony Scullion, Justin Crozier, Dermot McCann; Liam Carland, Seán McVeigh; Conor Murray, Kevin Niblock, Brendan Herron; Paddy Cunningham, Conall Kelly, Tomás McCann.
Ladies National Football League Division One
Monaghan v Tyrone, Sunday, 1.00, Clones
Sunday’s Allianz League game is preceded by another all-Ulster NFL game, when Monaghan ladies face Tyrone as they bid to stretch their winning run to seven games.
Defending champions Monaghan sit on top of the Division One table after beating Cork, Meath, Donegal, Mayo, Laois and Dublin by an average of just short of 10 points. Tyrone have had wins over Donegal and Meath and defeats against Mayo, Laois, Cork and Dublin, leaving them level on points with second-from-bottom Donegal.
Monaghan have had a great spread of scorers to date, with Ciara McAnespie, Caoimhe Mohan, Ellen McCarron and Therese McNally figuring prominently. Gemma Begley, Cathy and Joline Donnelly and Orla O’Neill will need to be on top form if Tyrone are to upset the odds. Gregory McGonigle’s side should do enough to carry their winning momentum into the league semi-finals.
Ulster Minor Hurling League Division Two Final
Cavan v Monaghan, Friday, 7.00, Breffni Park
Monaghan’s minor hurlers bid to retain the Ulster MHL Division Two when they take on Cavan in the final at Breffni Park.
Monaghan beat Cavan and lost to Tyrone in their group games, while Cavan also got the better of Tyrone to secure their place in the final. Monaghan may have come out on top when these sides met in Cloghan last month, but Arthur Hughes and co. need only look at how the Breffni boys dismantled Tyrone to see that they will face a stiff challenge.
Monaghan will be looking for big displays from some of the players who helped them win the double last year like Dónal Meegan, Tony Forde, Aodh Curran, Michael Paul O’Dowd, Ciarán McQuaid and Conor Boyle, while Neasán Neary, Josh Crowe, Fiachra Hughes and Caoimhín Carney are among the main men for Cavan.
Ulster Minor Football League Group A
Cavan v Monaghan, Saturday, 12.00, Breffni Park
The county’s minor footballers are also in action at the Cavan-town venue when they take on the near-neighbours in the Ulster MFL on Saturday in a game which will see the winners progress to the semi-finals.
Monaghan and Cavan share second place in the table after both losing to Down and beating Armagh. Monaghan have Ryan McAnespie back in the fold and he made a big impact when coming on to score the goal last Saturday. Frank Brady will also be hoping that Conor McCarthy, Fearghal McMahon, David McAlister, Dónal Meegan, Mark Magee and Micheál McCarville can produce big performances. Cavan can call on the likes of Greg McGovern, Conor Bradley, Seán Tierney and Ben Kiernan.
If Monaghan can play like they did in the second-half comeback against Armagh, they have what it takes to get at least a draw and advance to the knock-out stages.
On the club scene, the Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League starts on Thursday, when Castleblayney, Inniskeen and Monaghan Harps host Clontibret, Carrickmacross and Truagh respectively. Round two of the Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling League takes place on Sunday, when Castleblayney play Cootehill and Clontibret meet Carrickmacross.
The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A continues on Saturday with games between Monaghan Harps and Magheracloone, Clontibret and leaders Latton and Scotstown and Castleblayney. In Division 1B, Doohamlet host Drumhowan and Tyholland face Cremartin.
There is a local derby between Carrickmacross and Corduff in Division 2A on Thursday, while on Saturday, Corduff, Inniskeen and Killeevan have home advantage against Emyvale, Carrickmacross and Donaghmoyne respectively. Saturday’s Division 2B fixtures are between Rockcorry and Aughnamullen and Oram and Truagh. Éire Óg entertain Aghabog in Division 3 on Friday, while Killanny travel to Clones on Saturday.
The GRM Minor Football League Division One continues on Tuesday with a local derby between Emyvale and Truagh and north-v-south clashes between Monaghan Harps and Carrickmacross and Scotstown and Magheracloone.
The McElvaney Recycling Under-21 Football Leagues take centre stage on Wednesday evening. Castleblayney, Latton and Truagh have home games against Clontibret, St. Patrick’s and Scotstown respectively in Division One. Aughnamullen and Donaghmoyne are away to Magheracloone and Monaghan Harps in Division Two, while the Division Three games see Emyvale and Seán McDermotts host Tyholland and Blackhill.
The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions also continue to pick up pace. The Under-16 Football Leagues start up on Thursday, while there is Under-14 Football League action over the weekends and attention turns to the Under-14 Football Championships next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
By michael Fri 5th Apr
