Monaghan’s senior men and ladies and minor hurlers all have their final league group games over a busy weekend.
Allianz National Football League Division Two
Monaghan v Galway, Sunday, 2.00, Clones
Monaghan host Galway in round seven of the Allianz NFL knowing that any sort of positive result will be enough to book a place in the final, as well as a second consecutive promotion.
Monaghan had a win (v Meath), a draw (v Down) and a defeat (v Donegal) in their first three games of this campaign, but back-to-back victories over Louth, Armagh and Laois have them almost qualified with a game to spare. Galway lost their first three games against Meath, Donegal and Laois, but wins over Down and Armagh, either side of a draw with Louth, have lifted them out of the relegation zone.
Galway beat Monaghan in their last meeting two years ago, but left Clones empty-handed on their last visit in 2011.
Monaghan’s Under-21 players are again available after their Ulster semi-final defeat on Wednesday night, but Malachy O’Rourke has named the same team that saw off Laois. Conor McManus, Kieran Hughes and Jack McCarron have been in good form in attack for Monaghan, while Dessie Mone, Fintan Kelly and Colin Walshe are going well further back.
Galway will be going all-out for a result to secure their Division Two status, with Laois and Armagh just behind them. Despite the loss of Michael Meehan, Galway have dangerous forwards in Seán Armstrong, Paul Conroy, Michael Martin, Danny Cummins and former Kildare All-Star James Kavanagh. They also have a double-All-Ireland Under-21-winning midfield duo of Thomas Flynn and Fiontán Ó Curraoin, while Finian Hanley and Gary O’Donnell anchor the defence, alongside the attack-minded Gareth Bradshaw.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Drew Wylie, Fintan Kelly; Colin Walshe, Vincent Corey, Dessie Mone; Dick Clerkin, Gavin Doogan; Karl O’Connell, Jack McCarron, Pádraig Donaghy; Dermot Malone, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus (Capt.).
Subs: Gerard McCaffrey, Conor Galligan, Ryan Wylie, Martin McElroy, Owen Lennon, Peter O’Hanlon, Paul Finlay, Shane Carey, Stephen Gollogly, Christopher McGuinness, Darren Hughes.
Galway: Tom Healy; Dónal O’Neill, Finian Hanley, Joss Moore; Gareth Bradshaw, Gary O’Donnell, Paul Varley; Fiontán Ó Curraoin, Thomas Flynn; Michael Lundy, Eddie Hoare, James Kavanagh; Michael Martin, Paul Conroy (Capt.), Seán Armstrong.
Ulster Minor Hurling League Division Two
Monaghan v Cavan, Saturday, 1.45, Cloghan * Please note change of venue
Monaghan’s minor hurlers will attempt to return to winning ways when they also meet Cavan on Saturday at St. Tiernach’s Park.
Monaghan began with a comprehensive win over Louth, but an understrength team lost to Tyrone last Saturday, so they are behind Cavan, who have beaten both Louth and Tyrone. If available, Monaghan will be depending on the likes of Conor Boyle, Ronan Curran, Jamie Dooley, Micheál and Neasán Mac Suibhne, Ryan O’Neill, Noel Flood and Tiarnán Bramley to lead their challenge, with Joshua Crowe, Seán Keating and Caoimhín Carney central to Cavan’s plans. The teams will be very aware of each other’s strengths due to their regular recent meetings and the fact that Cavan clubs Cootehill and St. Felim’s have competed in Monaghan underage competitions, so a close game is on the cards.
Ladies National Football League Division One
Mayo v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Ballina Stephenites
Monaghan travel to Ballina on Sunday to take on Mayo in their last group game of the NFL Division One.
After beating Cork, Laois and Tyrone and drawing with Donegal, Monaghan’s unbeaten run came to an end against Kerry last time out. Mayo are in mid-table, having won three of their six games (against Donegal, Laois and Tyrone) and lost the other three to Kerry, Dublin and Cork.
Monaghan will be looking for big performances from Niamh Kindlon, Cathriona McConnell, Sharon and Cora Courtney, Ellen McCarron and Aoife McAnespie, while Mayo, who need to win to preserve their semi-final hopes, will hope to have chief scorer Cora Staunton back after she missed their last match against Kerry, with Fiona McHale, Yvonne Byrne and Claire Egan other key players.
It’s a busy weekend in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Leagues. There is a local derby on Friday evening in Division 1A between Scotstown and Truagh, while Monaghan Harps play Latton and on Sunday, it’s Magheracloone v Clontibret in Corduff. There are two local clashes in Division 1B on Saturday – Cremartin v Castleblayney and Ballybay v Drumhowan – while Tyholland make the similarly short journey to Emyvale on Sunday. There are also derby matches all around in Division Two on Saturday: Seán McDermotts v Éire Óg; Aughnamullen v Rockcorry; Doohamlet v Oram; Carrickmacross v Corduff and Donaghmoyne v Inniskeen. The Division Three fixtures are spread across the weekend, with Emyvale up against Clontibret on Friday, Toome and Clones hosting neighbours Blackhill and Currin on Saturday and Monaghan Harps and Truagh having home games against Killanny and Aghabog on Sunday.
There are two games in the Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League on Thursday evening, with Clontibret facing Castleblayney and Inniskeen making the short trip to Carrickmacross. The Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling League starts on Sunday, with Castleblayney, Monaghan Harps and Truagh hosting Clontibret, Cootehill and Carrickmacross respectively.
The McElvaney Recycling Minor Football Leagues continue on Tuesday evening. The third round in Division One sees early front-runners Donaghmoyne and Scotstown host St. Patrick’s and Carrickmacross respectively, while Killanny travel to Monaghan Harps. Division Two also gets underway, with the fixtures being Clontibret v St. Tiarnach’s (Clones and Éire Óg); Emyvale v Toome; Doohamlet v Magheracloone and Truagh v Cremartin. In Division Three, Aughnamullen, Corduff, Killeevan, Seán McDermotts and Emerald Sarsfields have home advantage against Inniskeen, Castleblayney, Latton, Patrick Emmetts and Tyholland.
On the Gerry’s Prepared Veg.-sponsored juvenile scene, the Under-16 Football Leagues begin on Thursday evening, while there are games in the Under-14 Football League and Championship over the weekend, as well as the Under-14 Hurling Championship Final between Castleblayney and holders Monaghan Harps on Monday evening.
* Please note that Monaghan’s Ulster Minor Football League Group B game against Cavan has been postponed until next Saturday, April 12.
By cshalvey Fri 4th Apr
