Previews

Monaghan’s senior and minor footballers are in action in an Ulster championship semi-final double-header at St. Tiernach’s Park on Saturday evening.

Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

Monaghan v Armagh, Saturday, 7.00, Clones

Monaghan will attempt to set up a repeat of last year’s Ulster SFC Final against Donegal when they take on Armagh in this semi-final.

After securing a second consecutive promotion in the Allianz National Football League and winning the Division Two Final against Donegal, Monaghan ended a 26-year wait for a SFC win over Tyrone two weeks ago. Armagh were relegated to Division Three, but they had a good win over Cavan in their Ulster quarter-final. Monaghan beat Armagh at the Athletic Grounds in March and they also comfortably won the last Ulster SFC clash between the counties back in 2010.

Malachy O’Rourke has named an unchanged Monaghan team for Saturday’s game, with Gavin Doogan a welcome inclusion in the list of substitutes. Drew Wylie, Colin Walshe, Dessie Mone and Fintan Kelly have been in fine form in defence for Monaghan, while Dick Clerkin’s impressive showing last time out was enough for him to keep his place at midfield beside Darren Hughes and up front it will be Conor McManus and Kieran Hughes who lead the line.

The pre-match melee last time out means Armagh look set to be without Andy Mallon, Kieran Toner and Brendan Donaghy unless they successfully take their appeals further in the coming days, while Caolán Rafferty is also reportedly out with a broken hand. Paul Grimley’s side will need big performances from the likes of Jamie Clarke, Aaron and Tony Kernan, Ciarán McKeever, Stefan Campbell and Kevin Dyas.

A typically hard-fought Ulster SFC encounter is on the cards in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Tickets are still available from www.tickets.ie and in local SuperValu and Centra shops.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Drew Wylie, Colin Walshe; Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey, Fintan Kelly; Dick Clerkin, Darren Hughes; Ryan Wylie, Christopher McGuinness, Paudie McKenna; Dermot Malone, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus (Capt.).

Subs: Gerard McCaffrey, Conor Boyle, Conor Galligan, Karl O’Connell, Gavin Doogan, Paul Finlay, Stephen Gollogly, Thomas Kerr, Pádraig Donaghy, Jack McCarron, Owen Duffy.

Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship Semi-Final

Monaghan v Armagh, Saturday, 5.00, Clones

Before the senior game, the minors of Monaghan and Armagh also go head-to-head for a place in an Ulster final against Donegal.

After ending a 68-year Ulster MFC drought last July, Monaghan put an underwhelming league campaign behind them to stun Tyrone in their rescheduled championship opener last Saturday. Armagh, who edged a two-point win when the sides met in the Ulster MFL on their way to a semi-final defeat against Donegal, qualified for this stage with a convincing victory over Cavan last month.

Monaghan still have Barry McGinn, David McAlister, Mikey Murnaghan and Shane Treanor from the class of 2013 and David Garland and Barry Kerr can also play key roles. Conor Cullen, Oisín O’Neill, Caolán McConville, Ryan Hughes and Shane Conlon are among the main men for Armagh in what is a difficult game to predict, with both counties attempting to qualify for their fourth provincial decider since 2008.

With the break now on for club adult fixtures, the focus is on the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, with action in the Under-16 and Under-12 Hurling Leagues and the Under-16, Under-14 and Under-12 Football Leagues. There are also Under-14 Football Championship Finals between Clontibret and Corduff in Drumhowan on Thursday evening (Division Three) and Aghabog and Toome in Cremartin on Saturday (Division Four).

Meanwhile, Féile Peil na nÓg takes place in Connacht, with Monaghan represented by first-time Division One championship winners Aughnamullen, as well as runners-up Carrickmacross.