Previews

A busy weekend is dominated by the start of the Senior Football Championship, which has all ten teams in action.

Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round

Currin v Magheracloone, Saturday, 6.00, Clontibret

Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Round 1A

Scotstown v Truagh, Saturday, 7.30, Clontibret

The SFC throws in with a double-header in Clontibret on Saturday evening. Currin will hope to repeat their SFC opening-game heroics of 2012 when they challenge Magheracloone in the first game.

Currin famously shocked Scotstown in 2012 and although they were relegated later that year, they bounced back into senior football by winning the Intermediate Football League. Despite being perennial contenders, Magheracloone have been unable to add to their sole county title in 2004 and they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Monaghan Harps last year. The Mitchells have won three of their six league games so far this year, including a five-point opening-round defeat of Currin, whose only win to date came against Latton last week.

Damien Freeman is among a few veterans yet to feature in 2014 for Magheracloone, while county man Gavin Doogan is out injured, but they can still call on Tommy Freeman and James and Pete Ward, as well as young players like Killian Rudden and Alan McCahey. Currin will need big performances from Jack McCarron, Dick Clerkin, Philip O’Callaghan and Ciarán and Enda McCaffrey.

The second part of Saturday’s double-bill is the most highly anticipated game of the weekend, with SFC holders Scotstown clashing with their neighbours and current All-Ireland IFC champions Truagh.

Scotstown were impressive winners of a first county title since 1991 last October and they will be confident of launching a strong title defence this summer, especially having won four of their first six SFL games, with their only defeat so far coming with an understrength team in Doohamlet last Sunday. Truagh recovered from their 2012 relegation to win the county IFC last year, before also claiming Ulster and All-Ireland intermediate titles and they have settled well into the top flight, winning three of their opening five matches.

Both teams have doubts over key players with hand injuries – namely Scotstown’s Kieran Hughes and Truagh’s Paudie McKenna. Darren Hughes, Shane Carey, Francis Caulfield and Conor McCarthy are other central figures for Scotstown, who are without a couple of other players, most notably the injured Dónal Morgan, who was Man of the Match in last year’s county final. Truagh are missing their own All-Ireland final Man of the Match in Daniel McKenna, increasing the need for big displays from Christopher McKenna, Niall Coyle, Adam Treanor and John McCarron.

Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Round 1A

Ballybay v Castleblayney, Sunday, 2.00, Aughnamullen

Another of this year’s senior front-runners, Ballybay, play Castleblayney on Sunday afternoon.

2012 champions Ballybay had their reign ended by eventual winners Scotstown in the semi-finals last year, while Blayney were the first team to be knocked out after losing to Clontibret and Magheracloone. Ballybay are top of the SFL at the minute with 10 points, while Blayney, who have played one game less are five points and five positions lower. The Pearse Brothers have held the edge over the Faughs in recent times, as they have already beaten them this year and they won their last SFC meeting in 2011.

Ballybay can call on five players who have featured for the county seniors this year in Paul Finlay, Drew and Ryan Wylie, Christopher McGuinness and Thomas Kerr, while Blayney will need Dermot Malone, Martin McElroy, Ciarán and Barry Hanratty and Cormac Brady on top form if they are to upset the odds.

Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round

Doohamlet v Latton, Sunday, 5.45, Castleblayney

Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Round 1A

Clontibret v Monaghan Harps, Sunday, 7.15, Castleblayney

The weekend’s SFC action concludes with another double-header at the redeveloped St. Mary’s Park on Sunday evening.

First up in Blayney is a derby between Doohamlet and Latton. There is nothing to separate the teams so far this year, as they currently occupy eighth place in the SFL table with three points each. They also had similar championship records in 2013, when they both beat Carrickmacross before exiting on the same day when Doohamlet lost to Magheracloone and Scotstown proved too strong for Latton.

Latton’s build-up has been hit by Owen Lennon’s ankle injury, while they will be hoping that Owen Duffy and Edmund Lennon are fit to join the likes of Kieran Duffy, Owen and Shane Coyle and Aidan Farmer. All-Star Colin Walshe is the driving force for Doohamlet, who have brought through some promising young players like county minor captain Barry McGinn, Barry McBennett, Conor Marray and Jamie Walshe, who could give them an edge.

The last game is a repeat of last year’s two-game SFC semi-final between Clontibret and Monaghan Harps.

Clontibret needed a replay in that duel to eventually battle through to the final, where they lost to Scotstown in their second decider defeat since they last won the Mick Duffy Cup in 2010. The O’Neills recently beat the Harps again in the league to help them move into a share of second place, ahead of their opponents, who are currently in mid-table.

Despite losing All-Star forward Conor McManus to a serious injury, Clontibret have been in good form and they still have the likes of Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey, Conor Boyle, Brian Greenan and Aodh Curran to lead their challenge. Conor Galligan, Fearghal McMahon and Kevin Loughran are key players for the Harps.

Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling League Final

Cootehill v Truagh, Sunday, 12.00, Gavan Duffy Park

Cootehill’s attempt to retain the Monaghan Minor Hurling League title sees them contest the final against Truagh in Monaghan on Sunday.

Cootehill defeated Truagh Harps in the decider a year ago and after finishing in third place in the table, they overcame Monaghan Harps in last Sunday’s semi-final, while joint-table-toppers Truagh were too strong for Clontibret.

Truagh have a Monaghan senior hurler in Conor Boyle, who scored 11 points against Donegal in the Nicky Rackard Cup last Saturday, with Noel Flood another big player for them. Caoimhín Carney, Adam and Joshua Crowe and Enda Shalvey are among the main men for Cootehill.

There is also action in the Intermediate and Junior Football Leagues over the weekend.

Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League table-toppers Carrickmacross are away to Cremartin on Sunday, while nearest challengers Donaghmoyne will bid to return to winning ways in their home game against Seán McDermotts. The other two teams in the top four, Clones and Emyvale, go head-to-head, with Corduff up against Rockcorry and Tyholland travelling to Inniskeen. There is another round on Wednesday evening, including local derbies between Carrickmacross and Inniskeen and Emyvale and Tyholland, as well as Clones v Corduff, Rockcorry v Donaghmoyne and Seán McDermotts v Cremartin.

Eurotech Junior Football League leaders Killanny make the long trip to Scotstown on Sunday, while Éire Óg have home advantage against Killeevan. Saturday’s games see second-placed Aughnamullen host Toome, Oram face Drumhowan and Blackhill meet Aghabog. Killanny play again on Wednesday at home to Drumhowan and Scotstown journey to Toome.

After the senior clubs begin their championship campaigns, they return to County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League duty on Wednesday evening. Front-runners Ballybay make the short trip to Latton, while joint-second-placed Scotstown and Clontibret clash in a repeat of last year’s county final, Monaghan Harps entertain Truagh, Castleblayney take on Magheracloone and Doohamlet go to Scotshouse to play Currin.

The Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League semi-finals take place on Thursday evening, with Clontibret and Truagh at home to Castleblayney and Inniskeen respectively.

There are games in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-14 Football Leagues spread from Friday through to Monday, as well as Under-16 Football League action on Thursday evening.