With the county senior ladies in the All-Ireland final on Sunday, most of the club action takes place on Saturday, including the SFC semi-finals.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals
Ballybay v Scotstown, Saturday, 1.45, Clones
Clontibret v Monaghan Harps, Saturday, 3.30, Clones
The SFC semi-finals take place as a double-header at St. Tiernach’s Park on Saturday, starting with the meeting of defending champions Ballybay and league leaders Scotstown.
Ballybay won their first county title in 25 years last October and they have again gone through the front door so far this year with wins over Rockcorry, Latton and Monaghan Harps. Scotstown also got off to a winning start at the expense of Magheracloone, but they then lost out to Clontibret before getting back on track by seeing off Latton. Scotstown will take heart from their good recent record against Ballybay. They ran out convincing winners at Pearse Park in the only meeting of the sides so far this year and they were also runaway winners in their last championship clash two years ago. The Blues have also been the form team in the county this year, losing just one SFL game, which leaves them five points clear at the top.
Ballybay will once again be looking to their dangerous forwards like Paul Finlay, Christopher and Shane McGuinness and Colin and Hugh Malone to power them through to the final, while Drew and Ryan Wylie, Thomas Kerr, Shane McQuillan and Tommy O’Neill will also have key roles to play. Scotstown’s main strength is around midfield through Francis Caulfield, Peter O’Hara and Darren Hughes, with Kieran Hughes, Shane Carey, James Turley, Dónal Morgan and Rory Beggan other central figures as they bid to make the county final for the second time in three years.
The second game sees Clontibret and Monaghan Harps go head-to-head. Clontibret, who lost to Ballybay in last year’s decider, are bidding to make the final for the sixth time in eight years (during which time they have won four), while the Harps are aiming to reach the big day for the first time since 1991.
Clontibret have blazed a trail to this stage with wins over Castleblayney and Scotstown, while the Harps have had victories against Doohamlet and Magheracloone, sandwiching a loss to Ballybay. The Harps have had a good year in the league, however, as they sit in second place, three positions and five points ahead of Clontibret, who they have taken three points off from two matches.
Clontibret will hope that Ulster All-Star Conor McManus – who is the SFC’s leading scorer with 2-14 – can again point the way for them, while Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey, Conor Boyle, Colum Greenan and Paul McGuigan (if fit) can also backbone their efforts. The Harps will need Neil McAdam, Conor Galligan, Shane Smyth, Dónal Hahessy and Nicholas Treanor on form if they are to eclipse their more decorated rivals.
A place in the Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Two Final against Donaghmoyne is up for grabs when Cúchulains Sarsfields (Aughnamullen and Toome) take on Killanny under lights in Inniskeen on Tuesday night.
Having finished top of the GRM Minor Football League Division One, as well as beating the same opposition in the championship semi-finals, Carrickmacross will be confident of making the final when they host Truagh on Saturday, while at the same time, Doohamlet travel to Castleblayney, with the winners to play St. Tiarnach’s in the Division Three decider.
Carrickmacross and Rockcorry both need home wins against Latton and Doohamlet respectively on Sunday morning to keep alive their slim hopes of escaping relegation from the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League.
There is a full round of games in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League over the weekend, starting on Saturday night, when Currin welcome Corduff to Scotshouse for a floodlit fixture. The rest take place on Saturday morning, with Truagh travelling to Donaghmoyne, Cremartin hosting Clones and relegated teams Aughnamullen and Drumhowan playing at home to Inniskeen and Tyholland respectively.
The last round of the Eurotech Junior Football League is also on the schedule. All four semi-final places have already been decided (with Killanny, Blackhill, Oram and Seán McDermotts certain to qualify), but the pairings still have to be determined. With Blackhill getting a walkover from Éire Óg, Killanny need to beat Scotstown on Sunday morning to finish top. The battle for third place goes to the wire, but Seán McDermotts will edge it if they beat Killeevan on Saturday evening, although any slip-up would allow Oram to overtake them with victory over Aghabog on Sunday morning.
The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions are almost at an end for the year, but the Under-16 Hurling Championship Final between Carrickmacross and Monaghan Harps is down for decision on Saturday morning, while the Under-14 Football League Division Two decider sees Aughnamullen and Carrickmacross go head-to-head under lights in Inniskeen on Tuesday.
By cshalvey Thu 26th Sep
