Previews

Monaghan’s senior hurlers and minor footballers are in action on Saturday, while the week’s club scene is dominated by action in the reserve and juvenile competitions.

Ulster Minor Football Championship Quarter-Final

Monaghan v Tyrone, Saturday, 4.45, Newry

Monaghan face a tough test as they get their defence of the Ulster Minor Football Championship underway against Tyrone in Newry on Saturday.

Monaghan, of course, came from behind to edge out Tyrone in unforgettable fashion to bridge a 68-year gap in last year’s final, but they are a much-changed team for this campaign. Key forwards Fearghal McMahon, Conor McCarthy and Ryan McAnespie, who between them accounted for 65% of Monaghan’s MFC scores last year, moved on to the Under-21 set-up, although Barry McGinn, who hit two goals in the Ulster final, is still around and is now captain. Frank Brady’s side lost to Down and Armagh in their opening two games and although they finished the group stage with a win over Cavan, they still went into the shield section, where they cruised past Antrim, before falling to a heavy defeat against Cavan in the final.

Tyrone won four out of five league games on their way to the final, with comprehensive defeats of Antrim, Fermanagh, Derry and Down in the semi-finals, although they lost narrowly to Donegal in the decider. Mickey Donnelly’s outfit could be without key forwards Conor McKenna and Lee Brennan after they went off injured last Sunday, but they were impressive against Down when they had ten scorers. David Mulgrew is another doubt for the Red Hands, but Rhys Quinn and Paul O’Neill are expected to be fit and they will also be able to call on Ronan Nugent, Fintan McClure and Enda McGarrity.

Monaghan have their own injury concerns over David McAlister, Conor Duffy and Shane Treanor. Francis Maguire and James Mealiff will need to support McGinn in the scoring stakes, while Mikey Murnaghan and Barry Kerr are other key players.

Nicky Rackard Cup Relegation Play-Off

Monaghan v Sligo, Saturday, 2.30, Ballinamore

Monaghan’s senior hurlers are in action on Saturday, when they can secure their Nicky Rackard Cup status for 2015 with victory in the relegation play-off against Sligo in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim.

Monaghan picked up a couple of good results in the Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A this year, but they finished the campaign on a low after losing their last two games and heavy defeats against Roscommon and Donegal ended their Nicky Rackard Cup hopes. Sligo lost all three of their NHL Division 3B games and although they took Tyrone to extra-time in their Rackard Cup opener, they surrendered tamely to Louth last time out.

Hugh Byrne was Monaghan’s top scorer in the league with 2-38 but missed the Roscommon and Donegal defeats, increasing the need for the likes of Conor Boyle, Brian McGuigan and Martin Murphy to get on the scoresheet. Trevor Hilliard, Éanna Mac Suibhne and Peter Treanor are other central figures. Gary Cadden, Kevin Gilmartin and Gary Waldron should lead the way for Sligo, who will hope to have star man Keith Raymond back for this game. The losers on Saturday will get another chance to avoid demotion in a play-off against the winners of the Lory Meagher Cup.

Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Preliminary Round

Blackhill v Killeevan, Saturday, 7.00, Drumhowan

Blackhill will hope to launch another strong JFC bid when they take on Killeevan on Saturday.

Blackhill went all the way to the final last year, taking eventual Ulster JFC winners Emyvale to a replay, while Killeevan were knocked out early on. Blackhill have taken eight points from their first seven league games this year, with Killeevan on six points from eight matches. The sides have yet to meet in 2014, but Blackhill ran out eight-point winners at the same stage of the championship 12 months ago.

Philip Donnelly, Colin Woods, Ryan and Ciarán Courtney, Dermot Daly and Michael Geehan should lead Blackhill’s challenge, while Noel Smith, Kevin McGinn, Gerard Graham and veteran Ian Larmer are among the main men for Killeevan.

Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League Final

Clontibret v Inniskeen, Thursday, 7.30, Aughnamullen

The DHL Final takes place in Aughnamullen on Thursday evening between Clontibret and Inniskeen. Clontibret finished second in the table before beating Castleblayney in the semi-finals, while Inniskeen ended up fourth after a topsy-turvy campaign only to go on and beat Truagh last Thursday.

There are two Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship McKeown Cup quarter-finals on Friday evening. Defending champions Monaghan Harps are at home to Clones, while Emyvale travel to Killanny. Currin have conceded their tie with Truagh. There is also a Crawley Cup quarter-final between holders Aughnamullen and Inniskeen on Sunday.

The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Leagues continue on Sunday. The top two in Division 1A, Clontibret and Scotstown, are up against Monaghan Harps and Magheracloone respectively, while Latton meet Truagh. Division 1B leaders Cremartin are at home to Emyvale, with nearest challengers Castleblayney and Ballybay going head-to-head and strugglers Drumhowan up against Tyholland. Donaghmoyne have the chance to move clear at the top of Division Two when they host Rockcorry, while Seán McDermotts and Doohamlet host Carrickmacross and Éire Óg respectively.

The RFL action continues on Wednesday, with Latton playing Magheracloone in Division 1A, Aughnamullen hosting Corduff in Division Two and three Division Three fixtures: Blackhill v Currin, Emyvale v Aghabog and Monaghan Harps v Truagh.

The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-12 Football Spring League Finals take place in Cloghan on Saturday, with one game on Friday evening. There is also action in the Under-16 and Under-14 Football Leagues.