It’s a busy week of club games, with championship action over the weekend including the Senior Hurling Finals.
Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Final
Castleblayney v Inniskeen, Saturday, 7.00, Clontibret
This Saturday evening’s Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Final sees Castleblayney and Inniskeen go head-to-head for the fourth year in a row. At the minute, the balance stands at two to one in Castleblayney’s favour after they beat Inniskeen in the last two years to avenge the 2010 defeat, when the Grattans denied them a seventh successive title.
Blayney are contesting their 15th consecutive county final and are going for their 13th win in that time and their 28th title in total. Both clubs have previously won the Ulster Junior Hurling Championship – Blayney in 2005 and Inniskeen in 2010 – while Blayney got to the intermediate final in 2011, only to lose to eventual All-Ireland finalists Middletown.
Castleblayney won their five group games by an average margin of 17.4 points, while Inniskeen also put up some big scores in their four wins to finish second, with their only defeat coming against today’s opponents. Blayney then overcame a stern test from Monaghan Harps in the semi-finals, eventually running out winners by three points, while Inniskeen had a comprehensive victory over neighbours Carrickmacross.
A hugely experienced Blayney team will be looking for big performances from Brian McGuigan, Mickey and Jim McHugh, Deaglán Crowe, Peter Treanor, Fergal Rafter and Barry Reilly. They could also be able to call on talented hurlers like Gary Boyd and Stephen Lambe, although they have had limited involvement this year.
Inniskeen will need Ronan Meegan (who scored 0-14 in the semi-final), Trevor Hilliard, Séamus Loftus, Martin Murphy, Pauric Dowdall, Paul Meegan, Kevin Crawley and Dónal Meegan (if available) on top form if they are to regain the title.
Castleblayney won by just two points at this stage last year and Inniskeen’s semi-final win shows they mean business. However, Blayney’s greater resources should see them complete another three-in-a-row.
The winners will compete in the Ulster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship.
Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Shield Final
Carrickmacross v Monaghan Harps, Saturday, 5.00, Clontibret
In Saturday’s curtain-raiser, Monaghan Harps and Carrickmacross contest the shield final.
These sides were separated by just a point in the round-robin stage of the championship, with Carrick edging into third place just ahead of the Harps, who put up a much better display in their semi-final against Castleblayney than the Emmets managed against Inniskeen. If the most recent meeting of these teams – a draw in June – is anything to go by, a close battle can be expected.
Carrick, who last won the shield in 2009 have gained a scoring forward in Waterford native Tadhg Campbell and they will also be looking to Éanna and Aonghus Mac Suibhne, Jamie Guinan and Jason O’Rourke to play key roles. It will be up to Niall Hahessy, Shane Smyth, Jack Lee, Alan Ryan and Maurice McKenna to lead the Harps’ bid to regain the shield, which they won two years ago.
The winners will compete in the Ulster Club Junior Hurling Championship.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 2A
Aghabog v Seán McDermotts, Friday, 7.30, Smithborough
Seán McDermotts will be fancied to join Emyvale in the JFC semi-finals when they play a local derby against Aghabog on Friday.
The Seáns have two convincing wins under their belts at the expense of Toome and Killanny, while Aghabog battled past Éire Óg. Just four points separate the teams in the JFL, but the Seáns, who are currently just outside the semi-final places, have four games in hand on their neighbours. The most recent meeting of the teams resulted in a draw in May, but injury-hit Aghabog have lost seven consecutive league games since that.
Damien Larkin, Paddy Kieran, James Treanor, Mark Koegh, Páraic McGuirk, Brian McQuaid and Noel Rice should play key roles for the Seáns, while Aghabog will need Seán and Shane O’Brien, Gary and Mark McBride and Damian and Dermot Smyth on top form if they are to rip up the form book.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 2B Replay
Killanny v Toome, Sunday, 6.30, Inniskeen
Killanny and Toome will attempt to keep their JFC hopes alive when they return to Páirc Grattan for their back-door replay on Sunday.
The teams could not be separated when they met two weeks ago, so they have to do it all over again. Both teams have already fallen to heavy defeats against Seán McDermotts in the championship, although Toome bounced back to grind out a narrow win over Killeevan. Killanny have fared much better in the league so far this year as they are in third place with 14 points, well clear of third-from-bottom Toome, whom they defeated comfortably last month.
Peter Dooley, Steven McMahon, Cian Wakely and Ronan and Tiernan Duffy will be expected to lead Killanny’s challenge, while Toome will be looking for big displays from Gavin Flanagan, Mattie O’Reilly, Liam McCooey and Francis Quinn.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 2A Final
Donaghmoyne v Emyvale, Friday, 7.30, Oram
Donaghmoyne and Emyvale meet in the RFL Division 2A Final on Friday evening.
Donaghmoyne won all nine of their group games to top the table, four points ahead of Emyvale, who lost just twice. Niall Garland, Darren McElroy, Gary Woods and Niall Kelly should be to the fore for Donaghmoyne, with David Bellew, Brendan Askin, Paul and Patrick McCarron and Colm McKenna central to Emyvale’s plans.
There is a full round of games in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League over the weekend, starting with the basement clash between Doohamlet and Carrickmacross on Saturday. Leaders Scotstown host third-placed Magheracloone on Sunday, a week before they clash in the championship, while Monaghan Harps are up against Ballybay, Castleblayney travel to Rockcorry and Latton face Clontibret.
Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League joint-leaders Truagh make the short trip to Tyholland on Sunday, while their nearest challengers Currin are away to Donaghmoyne. Elsewhere, Corduff host Cremartin and Clones meet Aughnamullen.
The top two in the Eurotech Junior Football League, Emyvale and Blackhill, go head-to-head on Sunday.
Clontibret and Éire Óg contest the first semi-final of the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three on Tuesday.
The Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League continues with a game between Inniskeen and Monaghan Harps on Tuesday.
It is also a busy week in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, with games in the U-16, U-14 and U-12 Football Leagues and the U-16 and U-12 Hurling Leagues.
By cshalvey Fri 9th Aug
