Club Previews

It’s a big weekend of club games, with action in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football Championships taking top billing.

Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Semi-Finals

Blackhill v Seán McDermotts, Sunday, 1.45, Drumhowan

Emyvale v Oram, Sunday, 2.00, Smithborough

The JFC semi-finals take place on Sunday afternoon.

League leaders Blackhill will face a real test from Seán McDermotts if they are to qualify for the final.

Blackhill have been in fine form this year – notwithstanding last week’s shock defeat against Killeevan – and they have led the way in the JFL for most of the year. They have also had championship wins over Killeevan, Oram and Toome, although they did lose to Emyvale along the way. The Seáns’ league form has been more mixed, with five draws leaving them a point outside the top four, but they have been flying in the championship with convincing wins over Toome, Killanny and Aghabog.

Colin Woods, Ryan, Dónal and Ciarán Courtney and Dermot Daly are Blackhill’s main assets, while Damien Larkin, James Treanor, Páraic McGuirk, Brian McQuaid and Noel Rice should be to the fore for the Seáns. Both sides have doubts over key players – the Seáns about Paddy Kieran and Blackhill over Philip Donnelly – which will be critical to the outcome of this one. If the Seáns can maintain the form shown in the championship to date, they can negotiate this tricky hurdle, but it will be tight, with the sides having drawn twice already this year.

The other semi-final is between Emyvale and Oram.

Emyvale are currently second in the JFL, a point and a place above Oram, who hit three goals in a six-point win over Declan Brennan’s side in May. Emyvale have only played once to reach this stage, as they got a walkover from Feargal O’Hanlons before emerging from an entertaining game against Blackhill. Oram have had a less straightforward path, as they had two men sent off in a heavy first-round defeat against neighbours Blackhill, before bouncing back to beat Éire Óg and Aghabog.

Last year’s beaten finalists Emyvale will be looking for big performances from county minors Ryan McAnespie, David McAlister, Mervyn Brown and Daithí Colton, as well as Daniel McMahon, James Bellew and Seán McMeel. Pauric Graham, Ryan McGuinness, Deaglán and Cathal Crowe, Stephen McBride and Lorcan Keenan will be expected to lead Oram’s challenge. Emyvale should edge through to a second consecutive final.

Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Round 1B

Carrickmacross v Doohamlet, Saturday, 6.30, Inniskeen

Castleblayney v Magheracloone, Saturday, 8.00, Inniskeen

Two teams will exit the SFC at Páirc Grattan on Saturday evening.

First up is the meeting of the last two IFC winners, Doohamlet and Carrickmacross. Doohamlet have competed well on their return to senior football this year, as they sit seventh in the league, while it has been a year to forget for Carrick, who prop up the table. Doohamlet did lose meekly against Monaghan Harps in their SFC opener, but they were short a number of regulars that evening. Carrick gave Latton a scare in the preliminary round, only to fall short.

Doohamlet are set to be boosted by returns for Colin Walshe, Barry McGinn and possibly Darren Connolly, who will be central to their chances, along with Ciarán and Shane McManus, Ted Duffy and Martin Hughes. Carrick will need Stephen Gollogly, James Conlon, Mark McNally and Cillian Cromwell, particularly in the absence of Peter O’Hanlon and Conor McEnaney, whose departures have further depleted their options. Doohamlet have done the double over Carrick in the league this year and they look poised to complete a hat-trick.

The second game sees Castleblayney and Magheracloone go head-to-head.

Magheracloone have fared much better in the league this year, sitting third in the table, well clear of third-from-bottom Blayney, while both sides got off to losing starts in the championship. Magheracloone were beaten by in-form Scotstown, while Blayney were left to rue wasteful finishing against Clontibret. The Mitchells have beaten the Faughs twice this year, most recently just ten days ago.

Tommy Freeman’s illness-enforced absence was a big blow to Magheracloone against Scotstown and his return will be a boost to a team whose other central figures are Gavin Doogan, Damien Freeman, James Ward and James Hand. Blayney will need Dermot Malone, Ciarán Hanratty, Martin McElroy, Cormac Brady and Mark Treanor on form if they are to avoid an early exit.

McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Round 1B

Corduff v Truagh, Saturday, 5.00, Clontibret

Aughnamullen v Inniskeen, Sunday, 1.45, Cremartin * Note change of venue

Two teams will also get knocked out of the IFC over the weekend.

Saturday’s fixture is between Corduff and a fancied Truagh side. Truagh have been the front-runners all year in the league, where they have won 12 of their 13 games, often by big margins, although they were on the wrong end of a surprise result against Donaghmoyne in their championship opener. Corduff, who are fifth in the IFL, lost to Tyholland in their first-round clash, while they were beaten by Truagh in an at times fiery league match a few weeks ago.

Truagh, who were relegated from senior last year, have a lot of promising young players like Daniel, Pádraig and Christopher McKenna and Adam Treanor, along with more experienced campaigners such as Mark Counihan, Niall Feely and Barry Cuddy. Keith McEnaney, Pádraic Keenan, Declan Larkin, Ben Woods and Ciarán Brennan should be prominent for Corduff. Truagh should get their championship hopes back on track, but not without a battle.

Aughnamullen and Inniskeen are in action on Sunday.

Aughnamullen have struggled this year, winning just one game in the league, meaning they need to win the championship to avoid relegation, while Inniskeen are third in the table with 17 points. Aughnamullen lost to Cremartin in the IFC first round, with Inniskeen being beaten by Clones.

Inniskeen can call on Ronan, Paul and Dónal Meegan as well as Matthew McKenna and Gerard McArdle, while Aughnamullen, who are without Pete and Sam Dooney, are dependent on Thomas Hughes, Mark McArdle, Chris Keenan and Shane Conlon. Inniskeen were held by a draw when they last met Aughnamullen, but they should have enough in reserve this time.

The Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League semi-finals are down for decision, with championship winners Inniskeen at home to Monaghan Harps on Thursday and Castleblayney seeking to bounce back from their SHC Final defeat when they entertain Truagh.

Latton will expect to make it three wins in a row in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League when they host neighbours Rockcorry on Sunday.

The top two clash in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League when Currin and Truagh play under lights in Scotshouse on Wednesday night.

Killanny will bid to join Emyvale in second place in the Eurotech Junior Football League when they travel to Scotstown on Sunday.

The Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division One gets underway on Tuesday with quarter-finals between Magheracloone and Scotstown and local rivals Emyvale and Truagh.

The Division Two last-eight ties are league table-toppers Cúchulains Sarsfields v Clontibret, Latton v Donaghmoyne, Killanny v Seán McDermotts and St. Patrick’s v Cremartin. The Division Three quarter-finals are between Doohamlet and Corduff and amalgamated sides St. Tiarnach’s and Emerald Sarsfields.

It’s the business end of the season in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, with finals in the Under-12 Football Leagues at Blackhill and Drumhowan on Saturday and semi-finals in Under-16 Football and Hurling Leagues and Under-14 Football Leagues taking place throughout the week.