With the holiday break over, it’s a busy week of club fixtures, featuring action in the JFC, MFC, SHC, SFL, IFL and JFL.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1B
Drumhowan v Éire Óg, Friday, 8.00, Scotstown
It’s last-chance saloon time for Drumhowan and Éire Óg in the JFC on Friday night.
Éire Óg were well beaten by Aughnamullen in their championship opener, while Drumhowan took Toome to a replay and extra-time, before eventually falling away. Drumhowan had a four-point win when the teams met in the league last month, part of an upturn in form which has seen the mid-Monaghan men overtake the Smithborough side by a point in mid-table.
David Millar, Darren Duffy, Kevin and Kieran Mooney, Colm Lambe and Anthony Mulligan are key players for Drumhowan, while Éire Óg will hope Paddy Croarkin is available to lead their challenge along with the likes of Darach McCluskey, Marc McBride, Ryan Sherlock and Dermot Gleeson.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1A Replay
Blackhill v Toome, Saturday, 6.00, Clontibret
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1B
Killeevan v Oram, Saturday, 7.30, Clontibret
The JFC continues with a double-header in Clontibret on Saturday evening. First up is the replay between Blackhill and Toome.
The sides drew last month and now have to lock horns again with a Round 2A place up for grabs. It’s a third game already in the competition for Toome, who needed a replay plus extra-time to get past Drumhowan in the preliminary round, where last year’s runners-up Blackhill had it much easier against Killeevan. Blackhill are currently third in the league, three points and one place ahead of Toome, who have a game in hand.
Blackhill will be looking to Colin Woods, Ryan, Dónal and Ciarán Courtney and Dermot Daly to show the way, while Toome’s big guns include Gavin Flanagan, Liam and Stephen McCooey, Stephen Lambe and Mattie O’Reilly.
The second game is a back-door clash between Killeevan and Oram.
Killeevan lost out to Blackhill in their first match, while Oram finished with 13 men as they were beaten by Aghabog. Both teams have struggled for the most part in the league so far, as they each sit on six points. Oram rattled in six goals when they got the better of Killeevan last month.
Oram, who have been without key forward Pauric Graham this year, will need big performances from Ryan McGuinness, Cathal and Deaglán Crowe and Lorcan Keenan, while Killeevan are dependent on the likes of Kevin McGinn, Noel Smith, Gerard Graham and Vincent Martin.
The Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship resumes on Thursday night. Last year’s finalists Castleblayney and Inniskeen both go in search of a fourth straight win when they take on Truagh and Carrickmacross respectively, while Clontibret face Monaghan Harps.
The Maguire Transport Minor Football Championships get underway with preliminary-round games on Tuesday evening. Division One leaders Donaghmoyne have a home tie against Doohamlet, while St. Tiarnach’s (Clones and Éire Óg) visit Carrickmacross, St. Patrick’s (Ballybay plus Drumhowan) host Truagh, Cremartin entertain Emyvale and Magheracloone make the short journey to Killanny. In Division Three, it’s Corduff v Emerald Sarsfields (Blackhill and Oram) and Latton v Patrick Emmetts (Currin and Killeevan).
There is a full round in the County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League on Sunday. Leaders Ballybay host one of the teams who share second place, Clontibret, while their other nearest challengers Scotstown are at home to Castleblayney. Elsewhere, Latton and Magheracloone renew their rivalry, Currin meet Monaghan Harps and Doohamlet travel to Truagh.
The Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League also has star games over the weekend, starting with Friday night’s game between Rockcorry and Tyholland. Co-leaders Donaghmoyne, Carrickmacross and Inniskeen are all in action on Sunday against Emyvale, Seán McDermotts and Clones respectively, while Corduff take on Cremartin.
There is just one fixture in the Eurotech Junior Football League, with second-placed Aughnamullen at home to Scotstown.
The Under-21 Football Leagues begin on Friday night. In Division One North, it’s Monaghan Harps v Truagh and Emyvale v Scotstown, while in Division One South, it’s Killanny v Magheracloone and Carrickmacross v Castleblayney. Clones face Latton in Division Two North, with Inniskeen up against Donaghmoyne in Division One South.
There is a full round in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A on Wednesday evening, with Latton, Truagh and Clontibret at home to Monaghan Harps, Scotstown and Magheracloone respectively. Aghabog play Killanny in Division Three on Sunday, while Clones challenge Emyvale on Wednesday.
In another busy week in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, focus centres on the Under-16 and Under-14 Football Leagues and the Under-16 and Under-12 Hurling Leagues.
By cshalvey Thu 10th Jul
