Previews

Monaghan’s minor men and senior ladies are in action this weekend, while there is also plenty of action on the club scene.

Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship Quarter-Final

Monaghan v Tyrone, Saturday, 7.00, Athletic Grounds

This Saturday, it’s the turn of Monaghan’s minor footballers to attempt to defend their Ulster title when they take on Tyrone in their rescheduled quarter-final in Armagh.

Monaghan will be underdogs against a Tyrone side who impressed in reaching the Ulster minor league final, before winning their championship opener against Down in convincing fashion. Monaghan haven’t played a competitive match since April’s Ulster shield final loss to Cavan and this game also follows soon after the end of the Leaving Cert exams for many of Frank Brady’s panel.

Monaghan can still call on Barry McGinn, David McAlister, Mikey Murnaghan and Shane Treanor (injuries allowing) from the team that pipped Tyrone in last year’s final, along with other panellists from last year like Seán McMahon and Dermot Gleeson. Key forwards Conor McKenna and Lee Brennan are expected to be passed fit for Tyrone, whose other key players include Ronan Nugent, Fintan McClure and Cormac O’Hagan.

Ulster Ladies Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

Monaghan v Cavan, Saturday, 4pm, Crossmaglen

Monaghan begin their bid for a fifth Ulster Ladies SFC title in a row when they take on competition newcomers Cavan on Saturday.

Monaghan, who cruised to victory against Tyrone in last year’s provincial decider, were edged out in a high-scoring NFL Division One semi-final against Dublin, while Cavan finished fifth in Division Two.

Monaghan are without Caoimhe Mohan and Eileen McKenna, but they should still be able to call on the likes of Sharon and Cora Courtney, Ciara and Aoife McAnespie, Amanda Casey, Cathriona McConnell and Gráinne McNally. Brónagh Sheridan, Aisling Doonan and Gráinne Smith are key players for Cavan.

There is a round of ‘star’ games without county players in the County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League over the weekend, starting with Castleblayney v Truagh on Friday evening and Currin v Magheracloone on Saturday. The top two, Ballybay and Scotstown, have local derbies away to Doohamlet and Monaghan Harps on Sunday, while Clontibret host Latton.

Cremartin host Clones in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Friday, with Sunday’s games seeing joint-leaders Donaghmoyne and Carrickmacross face Corduff and Emyvale respectively and Rockcorry travelling to Inniskeen.

Aghabog have home advantage against Killanny in the Eurotech Junior Football League on Saturday, while on Sunday there is a derby between Oram and Toome, as well as the clash of Scotstown and Blackhill.

The Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship continues with Castleblayney looking to maintain their blistering start when they travel to Monaghan Harps and the other two unbeaten teams – Truagh and defending champions Inniskeen – going head-to-head, while Carrickmacross take on Clontibret.

The last quarter-final in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship McKeown Cup takes place on Tuesday, when Toome host Clontibret.

The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Division 1B continues with Drumhowan having local clashes with Cremartin (Saturday) and Ballybay (Tuesday), while in Division Two, it’s Aughnamullen v Seán McDermotts on Monday and Inniskeen v Éire Óg on Tuesday. Second plays third in Division Three on Tuesday when Blackhill visit Killanny.

The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile action spread across the week consists of games in the Under-14 and Under-12 Football Leagues, the Under-12 Hurling League and the first round of the Under-16 Hurling League.

The festival of hurling that is Féile na nGael is being hosted by Ulster this year and it comes to Monaghan on Friday and Saturday. Monaghan Harps, who won their division last year, are hosting Bray Emmets, with a number of games taking place at Gavan Duffy Park over the weekend.