Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A
Monaghan v Longford, Sunday, 2.00, Inniskeen
Monaghan begin their NHL 2014 campaign at home to newly-promoted Longford at Páirc Grattan on Sunday.
Monaghan needed a stirring comeback to pip Tyrone and maintain their Division 3A status in a relegation play-off after a testing league run last year, while Longford escaped from the basement when winning the Division 3B Final against Sligo.
Monaghan are set to be without Mickey McHugh, but Trevor Hilliard, Peter Treanor, Éanna Mac Suibhne and Brian McGuigan should be available. Eoin Donnellan, Joe O’Brien, John Newman and Declan Tanner should lead Longford’s challenge. This should give Monaghan a good chance to make a winning start.
Ladies National Football League Division One
Cork v Monaghan, Sunday, 12.30, Mallow
Monaghan’s ladies footballers make the long journey to take on their old rivals Cork in their second NFL game of the year on Sunday.
Monaghan have a decent record against Cork in the league, including a win at Inniskeen last year, but they have found the Rebelettes to be unstoppable in the latter stages of the championship; losing All-Ireland finals in 2011 and 2013. Cork have started the year in familiar winning form by beating Mayo and Donegal, while Monaghan’s delayed start to the campaign saw them ease past Laois last Sunday.
Defending champions Cork will be looking for big performances from the likes of Valerie Mulcahy, Briege Corkery, Geraldine O’Flynn, Ann Walsh, Bríd Stack and Ciara O’Sullivan, while Monaghan, who are still without some regulars, will be led by Cathriona McConnell, Sharon Courtney, Therese and Gráinne McNally, Ciara and Aoife McAnespie and Caoimhe Mohan, who is in line to return after missing the Laois game.
Shamrock Cup Round Three
Monaghan v Tyrone, Sunday, 2.00, Cloghan * Note change of venue
Monaghan will attempt to keep their defence of the Shamrock Cup alive when they take on Tyrone on Saturday.
After winning their opener against Louth, Monaghan fell to a surprise defeat against Antrim last Saturday, although they were without their four county seniors for that one and they should be able to recall Conor Boyle, Thomas Kerr, Ryan Wylie and Pádraic Keenan for this one alongside the likes of Johnny McGuigan, David Freeman and Cillian Cromwell. Darren McCurry (currently starring for Tyrone’s seniors), Daniel McNulty, Enda McGahan and Michael Cassidy could play key roles for the visitors.
Ulster Club Under-21 Football Championship Quarter-Final
Truagh v St. Pat’s, Cullyhanna, Sunday, 12.45, Creggan
Fresh from their All-Ireland Club IFC victory, Truagh enter the Ulster Under-21 club tournament in Creggan, Co Antrim for the first time on Sunday.
Truagh, who cruised to victory against Scotstown in the Monaghan Under-21 Division One Final, should be able to call on seven senior players who featured at Croke Park: namely Daniel, Paudie, Christopher and Seán McKenna, Adam Treanor, John McCarron and Eoghan Kelly. Cullyhanna had a similarly comfortable victory against Crossmaglen to secure their second Armagh Under-21 title in three years and they have strong players like Aidan Nugent, Conor Connolly, Pearse Casey and Kieran McCooey.
Monaghan teams have an underwhelming record in the Creggan Kickhams competition, although Emerald Sarsfields, who beat Truagh in the 2012 county final, reached last year’s semi-finals, where they lost narrowly to eventual winners Bryansford and Truagh have the ability to get over what is set to be a stern test from St. Pat’s.
*UPDATE: The Ulster Colleges MacRory Cup quarter-final between St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan and St. Pat’s, Maghera is OFF until Friday, February 21.
Inniskeen will attempt to make it three consecutive wins in Group B of the Quinn’s Corner Ulster Club Intermediate Football League on Saturday when they host Ballymaguigan from Derry, while Doohamlet are away to Armagh side Sarsfields in the Ulster Club SFL Group A on Sunday.
By cshalvey Sat 15th Feb
