There was heartbreak for Monaghan’s senior ladies footballers in Sunday’s All-Ireland final against Cork at Croke Park. In a game where the teams were never separated by more than four points, Monaghan were right in the hunt throughout and with Caoimhe Mohan scoring two great points, they were one up heading towards the end of the first half, only for a Valerie Mulcahy goal to send Cork in leading by 1-6 to 0-6. Points by top scorer Cathriona McConnell and Laura McEnaney, either side of a converted penalty by goalkeeper Linda Martin, got Monaghan off to a flyer in the second half, but they could only add another point to their tally, playing into the wind. Cork gradually got on top and although McConnell’s fourth free kept Monaghan ahead, Juliet Murphy and Mulcahy kicked the crucial scores that won an eighth title in nine years for Cork.
Scotstown are through to the Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Final for the second time in three years after they dethroned Ballybay in Saturday’s first semi-final at Clones. Paul Finlay hit Ballybay’s entire first-half total of 1-5 to see them go in level with a Scotstown side who had hit the opening goal through Conor McCarthy, before the league leaders stepped it up a few notches, with Shane Carey netting twice in the second half among eight scorers, meaning that a Christopher McGuinness goal was a mere consolation for last year’s winners Ballybay.
Clontibret and Monaghan Harps will have to replay their semi-final this Friday night in Emyvale after an exciting finish to their drawn match. Clontibret led by two points after a low-scoring first half and they looked set to advance when Conor McManus fired to the net for the third consecutive championship game, only for the Harps to come back, inspired by a Shane Smyth major. Clontibret twice edged ahead in the dying minutes, the last time through Martin Corey in added time, only for Fearghal McMahon to earn the Harps another chance.
Latton are now in a share of third place in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League after they came from behind in Carrickmacross on Sunday to stretch their winning league run to five games, while Doohamlet’s survival in senior ranks was confirmed when they drew with Rockcorry.
Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League leaders Truagh were held to a draw by fellow championship semi-finalists Donaghmoyne on Sunday morning. The race for second place is set to go down to the wire after Currin got the better of Corduff on Saturday night, with Inniskeen hammering Inniskeen the following morning. Elsewhere on Sunday, Drumhowan drew with Tyholland, while goals by Kevin Brennan and Darren Bishop gave Cremartin victory against Clones.
Killanny’s five-point win over Scotstown on Sunday morning ensured that they finished top of the Eurotech Junior Football League, a point ahead of Blackhill, who got a walkover from Éire Óg. Seán McDermotts and Oram, who got the points handed to them by Killeevan and Aghabog respectively, completed the top four, while bottom-of-the-table Toome also conceded to Emyvale. The semi-final pairings are Killanny v Oram and Blackhill v Seán McDermotts; both on October 12.
Like in the championship, Carrickmacross proved too strong for Truagh in the GRM Minor Football League Division One semi-final on Saturday, while Doohamlet’s minors are also through to their second final of the year in Division Three after they defeated Castleblayney in their league semi.
Monaghan Harps bounced back from their league final defeat to win an exciting Gerry’s Under-16 Hurling Championship Final against Carrickmacross on Saturday.
By cshalvey Tue 1st Oct
