It’s the busiest weekend of Monaghan club championship fixtures of the year, with 16 teams in action between Friday and Sunday.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Round 1A
Doohamlet v Monaghan Harps, Saturday, 5.30, Clontibret
Magheracloone v Scotstown, Saturday, 7.15, Clontibret
This SFC double-header in Clontibret starts with the meeting of Doohamlet and Monaghan Harps.
Doohamlet, who won the IFC last year and went on to run eventual All-Ireland winners Cookstown close in the Ulster semi-finals, have been competitive on their return to senior football, winning four and drawing one so far in the league, while Monaghan Harps are second in the table.
Doohamlet have lost top marksman Paul McArdle, but they have a strong backbone with Colin Walshe, Shane and Ciarán McManus, Ted Duffy and Martin Hughes, as well as county minor Barry McGinn. Neil McAdam, Conor Galligan, Shane Smyth and Stephen Driver should be to the fore for the Harps.
The second game at O’Neill Park sees Scotstown attempt to translate their impressive league form into the championship when they play Magheracloone.
Scotstown are top of the SFL, having lost just once in 12 matches, while Magheracloone sit six points behind in third. The Blues will go in with added confidence after beating Saturday’s opponents with an understrength team last Sunday, following on from a comprehensive defeat of the Mitchells in last year’s championship.
Darren and Kieran Hughes and Rory Beggan are the big names on the Scotstown team, but they also have Francis Caulfield, Dónal Morgan, Mark Duffy and the recently-returned Shane Carey in their ranks, although James Turley is a long-term injury absentee. Tommy and Damien Freeman, Gavin Doogan and James and Pete Ward (if available) are the ones to watch for Magheracloone.
Ballybay v Latton, Sunday, 2.00, Inniskeen
Castleblayney v Clontibret, Sunday, 3.30, Inniskeen
The SFC continues with a tasty-looking double-header at Páirc Grattan on Sunday.
First up is the clash of the two most recent winners, Ballybay and Latton. Defending champions Ballybay, who put their local rivals to the sword at the semi-final stage last year, have a win under their belts in the championship at the expense of Rockcorry, while this is the first outing of the campaign for 2011 winners Latton. The teams have had similar fortunes in the SFL this year, with just one point separating them in the middle of the table, while Ballybay came out on top of an exciting game at home to Latton in round two.
Ballybay will, as usual, hope that their potent forward line featuring Paul Finlay, Christopher and Shane McGuinness and Thomas Kerr is on song, while Drew and Ryan Wylie and Shane McQuillan are other key men. Owen Lennon, Kieran Duffy, Hugh McElroy and Bernard O’Brien are crucial to Latton’s chances, particularly in the likely absence of the injured Owen Duffy and Shane Coyle (in the USA).
The last SFC game of the weekend sees Castleblayney and Clontibret renew rivalries.
These teams played out a high-scoring thriller at the same venue last year and neutrals will hope for a repeat of that one, which Clontibret won by three points. Clontibret won the SFC four times out of five between 2006 and 2010 and reached last year’s final, where they lost to Ballybay, while record winners Blayney haven’t added to their 37 county titles since 2003. Blayney have
Clontibret rely on Conor McManus for the bulk of their scores, but they can also call on players of the calibre of Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey, Paul McGuigan and Conor Boyle (who recently returned from the USA). Blayney’s main men are Martin McElroy, Dermot Malone, Ciarán and Barry Hanratty and Cormac Brady. The Faughs will be hearted by the fact that they took full points from Clontibret in the league in April, but the O’Neills have upped their game in recent weeks and they look poised to get their championship off to a good start.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Round 1A
Clones v Inniskeen, Friday, 7.30, Drumhowan
Clones and Inniskeen meet in the opening round of the IFC on Friday evening.
Inniskeen are third in the league with 14 points, four points and three places better off than last year’s JFL winners Clones, and they go into this one on the back of two wins and a draw with local rivals Donaghmoyne.
Inniskeen, whose dual stars tasted championship success with their hurlers last Saturday, will be looking to Ronan, Paul and Dónal Meegan, Matthew McKenna, Gerard McArdle and Michael Lennon to lead the way, while Fintan Kelly, Adrian Alford, David Freeman, Danny Rooney and Darragh Holland are among the main men for Clones. Inniskeen had nine points to spare over Clones in the IFL back in April and while this one will surely be closer, the Grattans are favourites.
Currin v Drumhowan, Sunday, 7.00, Clones
Currin will be fancied to get their IFC campaign off to a winning start against Drumhowan on Sunday evening at St. Tiernach’s Park.
Currin, who were relegated from senior last year, are currently second in the IFL with 16 points, while 2012 JFC winners Drumhowan are second-from-bottom on just five points. Currin have also done the double over the Geraldines, who have been hit by emigration and retirements in recent years, in the league.
Currin have three county seniors in Dick Clerkin, Jack McCarron and Stephen Smyth, alongside the likes of Philip O’Callaghan, Ciarán McCaffrey and Ben Clerkin, while Drumhowan are dependent on Colm Lambe, David Millar, Darren Duffy and Kieran and Niall Mooney. Drumhowan lost by just three points when the sides met earlier this month and they are capable of raising their game again, but Currin should have enough in reserve.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 3B
Blackhill v Toome, Friday, 7.30, Oram
Blackhill will attempt to take their strong league form into the JFC when they face Toome in Friday’s quarter-final.
Blackhill defeated Emyvale last Sunday – their ninth successive JFL win – to replace the north-Monaghan men at the top of the table and also gaining a small bit of revenge after losing to the same opposition in the championship, having earlier beaten Killeevan and Oram. Toome have struggled in the league, winning just three games so far, but despite losing to Seán McDermotts in their championship opener, they have gone unbeaten in three back-door games, beating Killeevan and drawing with Killanny, before beating the latter after extra-time in a replay last Sunday.
Blackhill have the likes of Philip Donnelly, Colin Woods, Ryan and Ciarán Courtney and Dermot Daly motoring well, while Toome will need Gavin Flanagan, Stephen Lambe, Liam McCooey, Seán McMahon and Gary Wilson to bring their best form. Blackhill won by three points in their most recent league meeting and they should once again be too strong.
Aghabog v Oram, Sunday, 1.45, Cremartin
Another JFC semi-final place is up for grabs when Aghabog and Oram meet on Sunday.
Oram have won two of their three championship games to date, beating Scotstown and Éire Óg, either side of a defeat against neighbours Blackhill, while Aghabog also beat Éire Óg, only to lose heavily to Seán McDermotts last weekend. Oram have been faring much better in the league, winning their last three games to move up to third on 16 points, seven more than Aghabog, who have failed to win in their last seven matches.
Oram will be looking for big performances from Pauric Graham, Ryan McGuinness, Deaglán Crowe, Aaron Molloy and Seán Graham, while Aghabog need Seán O’Brien, Gary McBride, Shane Brady and Martin Fox on top form. Aghabog ran Oram to within a point in their recent league clash, but the Sarsfields bring much better form into this one and that should help them through.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 2B Final
Aughnamullen v Seán McDermotts, Friday, 7.15, Rockcorry
Aughnamullen and Seán McDermotts contest the RFL Division 2B Final on Friday evening.
Aughnamullen – in contrast to their intermediate team, who have won just once this season –won eight and drew one of their ten games to finish top of the table; three points clear of the Seáns, who won their last game against Oram to secure second place.
Mark McArdle, Niall Keenan, Mark Meegan and Thomas Hughes are key players for Aughnamullen, while David McEntee, Danny McNally, Philip Farrell and Conor McElroy should be prominent for the Seáns. Just two points separated the teams on their most recent meeting (won by the Sarsfields) and a similar result is on the cards, with Crawley Cup winners Aughnamullen in with a good chance of completing a double.
The bottom two clash in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League when Carrickmacross host Rockcorry on Sunday. There is also a full round in the SFL on Wednesday, with the top two going head-to-head when Scotstown make the short trip to Monaghan Harps and last year’s county finalists Clontibret and Ballybay also up against each other. Elsewhere, Doohamlet play Rockcorry, Latton meet Carrickmacross and Magheracloone face Castleblayney.
Tyholland and Donaghmoyne meet in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Sunday, while leaders Truagh travel the length of the county to Corduff. Truagh tackle their nearest challengers Currin on Wednesday, when the other games are between Clones and Drumhowan, Tyholland and Cremartin, Corduff and Inniskeen and Donaghmoyne and Aughnamullen.
Seán McDermotts will attempt to continue their good form in the Eurotech Junior Football League when they go to Killanny on Sunday, while Scotstown host fellow strugglers Killeevan. The Seáns are up against table-toppers Blackhill on Wednesday, with Killanny and Toome at home to Éire Óg and Oram respectively.
Clontibret and Éire Óg contest the first Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three semi-final on Monday.
Monaghan Harps have home advantage against Carrickmacross in the Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League on Monday.
The schedule in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions is dominated by semi-finals in the Under-12 Football Leagues, while there are also games in the Under-14 Football League and the Under-16 and Under-12 Hurling Leagues.
By cshalvey Fri 16th Aug
