Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Monaghan v Cavan, Saturday, 7.00, Clones
Monaghan take on neighbours Cavan in a highly-anticipated Ulster SFC semi-final at Clones on Saturday evening.
These local rivals haven’t met in the championship since 2001, but their paths did cross in this year’s Allianz National Football League, when Cavan ran out winners with eight points to spare. That was a blip on Monaghan’s run to promotion and the Division Three title and they have gone on to beat Antrim in a scrappy championship opener, while Cavan have two Ulster SFC wins under their belts at the expense of Armagh and Cavan respectively.
The Monaghan team selected for this one shows two changes from the last day, with Drew Wylie and Stephen Gollogly replacing Fintan Kelly and ankle injury victim Owen Duffy. Cavan, meanwhile, have stuck with the same line-up that got them to this stage, which is backboned by their successful Under-21s of the last few years. Monaghan will be looking for big performances from the likes of Conor McManus, Owen Lennon, Darren and Kieran Hughes, Paul Finlay and Colin Walshe, while Martin Dunne, Eugene Keating, David Givney, Alan Clarke and Cian Mackey are ones to watch on the Cavan side.
Close battles have been the order of the day in this year’s Ulster SFC and another one is in prospect on Sunday, with Donegal awaiting the winners in the final.
Monaghan (v Cavan – SFC): Rory Beggan; Dessie Mone, Drew Wylie, Colin Walshe; Vincent Corey, Neil McAdam, Kieran Duffy; Owen Lennon (Capt.), Darren Hughes; Stephen Gollogly, Paul Finlay, Dick Clerkin; Christopher McGuinness, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus.
Cavan: Conor Gilsenan; Jason McLoughlin, Rory Dunne, Killian Clarke; James McEnroe, Alan Clarke (Capt.), Ronan Flanagan; Damien O’Reilly, David Givney; Cian Mackey, Jack Brady, Fergal Flanagan; Niall McDermott, Martin Dunne, Eugene Keating.
Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship Semi-Final
Monaghan v Cavan, Saturday, 5.15, Clones
First up at St. Tiernach’s Park on Saturday is the minor semi-final, also between Monaghan and Cavan.
Monaghan have enjoyed a good year so far at minor level, ending a 24-year wait for an Ulster MFL title before easily dismissing the challenge of Antrim in their championship opener. Cavan had little success in the league, but they have stepped it up for the MFC, where they have had hard-earned one-point wins over Armagh and Fermanagh.
Monaghan have an impressive forward line, which stars the likes of Fearghal McMahon, Conor McCarthy, Ryan McAnespie and Adam Treanor, while David McAlister, Kevin Loughran and Adam Kieran should also play key roles. Tom Hayes, Conor Bradley, Ben Kiernan, Ryan Connolly and Ben Fortune are among the main men for Cavan, who have lost midfielder Greg McGovern to injury.
Having lost to Tyrone in last year’s final, Monaghan will be determined to qualify for another decider.
Monaghan (v Cavan – MFC): Shane Grimes; Shane Treanor, Kevin Loughran (Capt.), Ciarán Martin; Adam Kieran, Aodh Curran, Michael Murnaghan; Niall Loughman, David McAlister; Dessie Ward, Ryan McAnespie, Adam Treanor; Conor McCarthy, Fearghal McMahon, Michael O’Dowd.
By cshalvey Thu 27th Jun
