Previews

Nicky Rackard Cup Round One

Monaghan v Roscommon, Saturday, 2.30, Inniskeen

Monaghan begin their Nicky Rackard Cup campaign against Roscommon at Páirc Grattan on Saturday.

Monaghan finished fourth in the Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A after beating Roscommon and Louth, but losing to Longford, Donegal and Fermanagh. Roscommon reached the final where they lost to Donegal, but they avenged that defeat – and their loss to the same opposition in last year’s Nicky Rackard decider – in the preliminary round last Saturday.

Monaghan will be looking for big performances from Peter and Mark Treanor, Trevor Hilliard, Éanna Mac Suibhne, Brian McGuigan and free-taker Hugh Byrne, while Gerry and Robbie Fallon, Shane Curley, Ronan O’Meara and Micheál Kelly are key players for Roscommon.

There is a busy week ahead in the local leagues. The County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League resumes on Friday evening, with games between Doohamlet and Monaghan Harps, Clontibret and Magheracloone and last year’s promoted teams Truagh and Currin. The top two, Scotstown and Ballybay, cross swords on Wednesday evening, while Truagh travel to Inniskeen to play Magheracloone, Doohamlet make the short spin to Castleblayney, Currin host Latton and Monaghan Harps face Clontibret in a warm-up for their championship encounter later this month.

Carrickmacross and Clones have the chance to close the gap on Donaghmoyne at the top of the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League when they meet on Friday, while Corduff make the long journey to Tyholland, Emyvale entertain Cremartin and Rockcorry go to Threemilehouse to play Seán McDermotts. Leaders Donaghmoyne have a home game against Tyholland on Wednesday, with Clones, Corduff, Cremartin and Rockcorry at home to Seán McDermotts, Carrickmacross, Inniskeen and Emyvale respectively.

Killanny will expect to continue their winning start to the Eurotech Junior Football League when they host Oram on Wednesday, while two of their nearest challengers, Blackhill and Aughnamullen, cross paths. Elsewhere, Aghabog, Killeevan and Toome have home games versus Drumhowan, Scotstown and Éire Óg respectively.

The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championships begin this weekend. Ballybay, Clontibret, Latton and Monaghan Harps host Magheracloone, Emyvale, Drumhowan and Castleblayney respectively in the O’Duffy Cup preliminary round on Sunday. Also on Sunday, the Crawley Cup preliminary-round games are Aughnamullen v Corduff and Rockcorry v Carrickmacross, while there is also a quarter-final between Éire Óg and Seán McDermotts. The McKeown Cup starts on Saturday with preliminary games between Aghabog and Toome and Truagh and Blackhill.

The Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League resumes on Thursday evening with games between Carrickmacross and Truagh and Inniskeen and Monaghan Harps. The Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling League also continues over the weekend, with Clontibret travel to Cootehill on Friday and both sides in action again on Sunday, away to Monaghan Harps and Carrickmacross respectively, while Truagh face Castleblayney.

The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-14 Football Championship Division One Final sees Aughnamullen and Carrickmacross go head-to-head in Donaghmoyne on Saturday evening, while there are also games in the Under-16 and Under-14 Football Leagues throughout the week.

The last round of the McElvaney Recycling Minor Football Leagues before the exam break takes place on Tuesday. Runaway Division One leaders Donaghmoyne are at home to Monaghan Harps, while in-form Carrickmacross host Scotstown and Scotstown play St. Patrick’s.