With the championship finals all played, this weekend is a bit quieter than the last few, although two MFL Finals will still be played on Saturday, as well as some important SFL and IFL games on Sunday.
GRM Minor Football League Division One Final
Carrickmacross v Monaghan Harps, Saturday, 3.00, Oram
Carrickmacross will bid to complete a minor football Division One double when they take on Monaghan Harps in the league final on Saturday.
Carrick have been the team to beat all year, losing just two of their league games to finish top of the table, before beating Truagh in the semi-finals. They also won the championship, finishing strongly to see off Magheracloone in the final. Monaghan Harps, who lost to Carrick in their only meeting this year so far, came second in the league and beat Magheracloone in the semi-finals, avenging their defeat against the Mitchells at the same stage of the MFC.
Carrick will again be looking to the likes of Kevin and Stephen O’Hanlon, Niall Loughman, Aaron Lynch, Aaron Jones and Fergal Lonergan to lead the way, while the Harps will need big performances from Fearghal McMahon, Kevin Loughran, Evan Morahan, Mustafa Gamal, Carl Foentjies and Niall Treanor.
GRM Minor Football League Division Two Final
Donaghmoyne v Killanny, Saturday, 3.00, Inniskeen
A minor football double is also up for grabs for Donaghmoyne when they face fellow south-Monaghan side Killanny in the MFL Division Two decider on Saturday.
Donaghmoyne hit four goals to win the championship final against Cúchulains Sarsfields last Sunday and they also beat Killanny on their way to taking third place in the league, before seeing off St. Patrick’s in a high-scoring semi-final. Killanny, who lost to Cúchulains Sarsfields in the championship semi-finals, ended up in a three-way tie for fourth in the league. They lost their first play-off against St. Pat’s, but took their second chance against Cremartin and went on to pip the table-topping Aughnamullen and Toome amalgamation to reach this stage.
Donaghmoyne have a well-balanced team featuring Mikey Murnaghan, Ciarán Martin, Niall and Fergal Keenan, David and Shane Garland and Ronan McDonald, with Adam and Andrew Kieran, Shane Grimes, Conor Vernon, Robert Berg and Conor Russell the main men for Killanny.
The last round of the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League takes place on Sunday. Magheracloone can book their semi-final place if they get at least a draw away to Latton, but if they lose it could bring their opponents back into it, as well as Clontibret, who are at home to Rockcorry. Monaghan Harps can secure home advantage for the semi-final if they win in Doohamlet.
There is a crucial game in the battle for fourth place in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Sunday, when Donaghmoyne host Corduff knowing that if they win they will be through to the semi-finals, but a win for the visitors would see them overtake the Fontenoys. Championship winners and league leaders Truagh are away to third-placed Inniskeen, while IFC runners-up Tyholland travel to Clones and relegated Drumhowan complete their league campaign against Cremartin.
Ulster Club Ladies Senior Football Championship Final Replay
Donaghmoyne v Termon, Saturday, 2.00, Trillick
Donaghmoyne again bid to win a third consecutive Ulster Ladies SFC title when they take on Donegal champions Termon in the replay of the final.
These teams clashed in the final last year when Donaghmoyne won and a similar result looked likely when the All-Ireland champions led by six points at half-time, but Termon scored four goals to turn the game around and it took two late points by Cathriona McConnell to give Donaghmoyne a 1-14 to 4-5 draw. Donaghmoyne earlier saw off a determined challenge from Emyvale to make it 11 Monaghan titles in a row and they breezed through to another Ulster final with convincing wins over Carrickmore and St. Paul’s, Belfast. Termon, who are the only team to beat Donaghmoyne in the Ulster championship in recent years when they won the 2010 final, are in their third final in four years after an easy victory over Cavan’s Lacken and a tight game against Carrickcruppen (Armagh).
Donaghmoyne can call on a number of players who helped Monaghan to within a score of an All-Ireland title last month, including McConnell, Sharon and Cora Courtney, Amanda Casey, Eileen McElroy and Linda Martin, along with the in-form Majella Woods, who hit 0-10 last Saturday. The free-scoring Geraldine McLaughlin is the key player for Termon, who also need big games from Róisín and Niamh Friel and Maureen O’Donnell. Another close game is in prospect, but getting such a tough test last weekend should stand to Donaghmoyne and that could give them an edge.
Just a week after winning the Monaghan Final after a replay against Truagh Harps, Clontibret enter the Ulster Minor Hurling Championship this Saturday, when they play Fermanagh champions Lisbellaw in Ballinascreen at 12.30pm. This quarter-final is the first game of the 2013 tournament and Clontibret will again be looking to the likes of Killian Lavelle, Aodh Curran, Ryan O’Neill, Dáire McKeown and Darragh Hughes to play central roles and they will also hope that Michael O’Dowd is available.
By cshalvey Fri 25th Oct
