The Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship again takes centre stage this weekend.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1A
Aghabog v Oram, Saturday, 6.00, Drumhowan
Aughnamullen v Éire Óg, Saturday, 7.30, Drumhowan
Two teams who have struggled to date this year will hope to give themselves a lift when they clash in the first game of Saturday evening’s double-header at McKeown Park.
Aghabog and Oram are currently the bottom two in the table on three and four points respectively, having won just three games out of 16 between them. Oram did manage a high-scoring win over Killeevan last Saturday, while Aghabog go into this one on the back of five straight defeats. Oram cruised past Aghabog on their way to a semi-final appearance last year, but they have been without a number of established players this year, including top scorer Pauric Graham, who is in New York.
Stephen McBride, Chrissie and Ryan McGuinness and Rory Murphy could play key roles for Oram, with Gary McBride, Seán O’Brien and Shane Brady key to Aghabog’s chances.
Aughnamullen will attempt to build on their good start to the year when they take on Éire Óg at 7.30pm.
Aughnamullen, who were relegated last year after six campaigns in intermediate, are just one point off the top of the junior league after winning seven and drawing one of their first nine games. Éire Óg, whose only championship win last year came against Scotstown, have had mixed form, winning four games and losing five. Aughnamullen ran out comfortable winners when they hosted Éire Óg in the league back in April and they will expect to repeat that result.
Aughnamullen will be looking for big performances from Pete and Sam Dooney, Shane Conlon, Colm Flanagan and Seán Sheridan, while Éire Óg will need Paddy Croarkin, Marc McBride, Dermot Gleeson and Michael Tierney on top form if they are to cause an upset.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Preliminary Round Replay
Drumhowan v Toome, Sunday, 2.30, Cremartin
After drawing last Friday night, Drumhowan and Toome replay their preliminary-round clash at Shamrock Park on Sunday.
A draw was a fair result at the end of a very evenly-matched encounter last week and it is expected to again go down to the wire this time. Drumhowan have won this competition three times since 2006, most recently in 2012 before being relegated last year, while Toome reached the 2009 final, only to lose to eventual Ulster JFC winners Emyvale. Toome have started the JFL well, taking 11 points from eight games to sit third, four points and three places ahead of Drumhowan.
Gavin Flanagan, Gary Wilson, Alan Lambe and Liam McCooey are big players for Toome, who could restore Mattie O’Reilly and Seán McMahon to the starting team, while Drumhowan are dependent on the likes of Colm Lambe, Kevin and Kieran Mooney, Anthony Mulligan and David Millar and they will be hoping that Darren Duffy is fit after he limped off in the drawn game.
The Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship starts with the first round of group games. Holders Castleblayney will expect to get off to a winning start when they face Carrickmacross on Thursday, while the north-Monaghan derby between Monaghan Harps and Truagh has been rescheduled for Friday. Clontibret v Inniskeen has been postponed.
There are quarter-finals in all three Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championships spread out over the next number of days. Castleblayney host Cremartin in the O’Duffy Cup on Saturday, while Sunday’s games see Tyholland travel to defending champions Clontibret, last year’s runners-up Truagh go to Latton and Ballybay face Scotstown. The two remaining last-eight ties in the Crawley Cup take place with Carrickmacross v Doohamlet (Sunday) and Aughnamullen v Inniskeen (Wednesday), while the last McKeown Cup quarter-final on Wednesday sees Toome and Clontibret battle for a last-four game against Killanny. The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Leagues resume on Wednesday, with Emyvale v Drumhowan (Division 1B) and two Division Three games: Aghabog v Currin and Truagh v Clones.
There is one Eurotech Junior Football League game on Sunday, when Blackhill have home advantage against Killeevan.
The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-12 Football Leagues begin with games in all six divisions on Saturday. There is also action in the Under-14 Football League and Championship, while the Under-12 Hurling League continues on Monday.
By cshalvey Fri 6th Jun
