Monaghan’s Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A campaign ended with a home defeat against Fermanagh on Sunday. Hugh Byrne was in good form in front of the posts for Monaghan, with his scores including a goal, but Monaghan were unable to catch up after conceding an unanswered 1-4 in the space of ten first-half minutes.
There was better news for the Monaghan ladies footballers, who moved to the top of the National League Division One with a win in Donegal. Niamh Kindlon top-scored with 2-4 and Cora Courtney also found the net as John Morrison’s side returned to winning ways.
Monaghan’s minor footballers started their Ulster Minor Football League Group B campaign with a 1-11 to 1-9 defeat against Down on Saturday, when seven Barry McGinn points and a late Michael Bannigan goal weren’t enough, while the minor ladies lost to Cavan on Sunday.
Inniskeen fell just short in their bid to win the Quinn’s Corner Ulster Club Intermediate Football League, losing a high-scoring final against Dungannon Thomas Clarkes by the narrowest of margins on Sunday.
The domestic Senior, Intermediate and Junior football leagues began over the weekend. Clontibret started the Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League with an eight-point win in Latton on Saturday evening, inspired by goals from Ryan McGuigan (two) and Brian Greenan. Defending champions Scotstown got up and running in 2014 with a six-point win over Monaghan Harps on Sunday, with Orin Heaphey getting the goal and their four county men – Darren and Kieran Hughes, Rory Beggan and Shane Carey – all among the points. Currin led Magheracloone at half-time on their return to senior, but ended up losing by five, while Christopher McGuinness hit a brace of goals to lead Ballybay to a comfortable win over 14-man Doohamlet.
Tyholland were the big winners on the opening weekend of the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League. Last year’s championship runners-up hit the last three points – two from top scorer Dermot Coyle and one by Ryan McKenna – to edge out newly-relegated Carrickmacross on Sunday, but the other of last year’s demoted teams (Rockcorry) made a winning start by the narrowest of margins in Cremartin. Donaghmoyne hit three second-half goals to cruise to victory against Clones, while 2013 Ulster JFC winners Emyvale battled their way to a narrow win over Corduff in the only game on Saturday.
Killanny made an impressive start to the Eurotech Junior Football League with an eight-point win away to 2012 JFC winners Drumhowan on Sunday, while Killeevan also got off to a flyer with a double-scores success against Oram. Aughnamullen were held to a draw by Aghabog, while Toome, who had a goal from Gary Wilson, hit a late equaliser to share the spoils with Scotstown, who hit the net twice through Matthew McCague and Ruairí Sheehan.
Seán McDermotts had a one-point win away to Inniskeen in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Two on Friday evening.
By cshalvey Sun 23rd Mar
