Two Monaghan senior teams are in knock-out All-Ireland championship action on Saturday, while the weekend’s club games include two in the JFC and one RFL Final.
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Dublin v Monaghan, Saturday, 6.00, Croke Park
Monaghan take on the might of Dublin at Croke Park on Saturday evening hoping to book an All-Ireland SFC semi-final place for the first time since 1988.
Wins over Tyrone and Armagh (after a replay) saw Monaghan through to another Ulster final clash with Donegal, but they were unable to retain the provincial title, before they bounced back last Saturday to battle past Kildare after extra-time for a first championship win at Croke Park since 1930. Meanwhile, All-Ireland champions Dublin have powered through to this stage, with convincing wins over Laois, Wexford and Meath giving them a fourth consecutive Leinster crown.
Monaghan have never beaten Dublin in their three championship clashes – the last of which was back in 1923 – although they have put it up to their vaunted opponents in their modern-day league meetings, even if the Dubs inflicted a rare Clones defeat on Monaghan in 2011. Monaghan have named an unchanged team for this game, while Dublin have Jonny Cooper back from injury, with Eoghan O’Gara also recalled and Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion dropping out.
That reflects the huge number of options available to Dublin manager Jim Gavin, whose main men include Stephen Cluxton, James McCarthy, Michael Darragh MacAuley, Paul Flynn, Kevin McManamon, Diarmuid Connolly and the Brogan brothers. Monaghan will need every player involved on top of their game, particularly Drew Wylie, Colin Walshe and Dessie Mone at the back, Darren Hughes in midfield and Paul Finlay, Kieran Hughes, Christopher McGuinness and Conor McManus up front.
Dublin: Stephen Cluxton (Capt.); Michael Fitzsimons, Rory O’Carroll, Philly McMahon; James McCarthy, Jonny Cooper, Nicky Devereux; Michael Darragh MacAuley, Cian O’Sullivan; Paul Flynn, Kevin McManamon, Diarmuid Connolly; Alan Brogan, Eoghan O’Gara, Bernard Brogan.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Conor Boyle, Drew Wylie, Colin Walshe; Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey, Fintan Kelly; Dick Clerkin, Darren Hughes; Paudie McKenna, Paul Finlay, Kieran Hughes; Thomas Kerr, Christopher McGuinness, Conor McManus (Capt.).
Subs: Gerard McCaffrey, Ryan Wylie, Kieran Duffy, Conor Galligan, Karl O’Connell, Gavin Doogan, Stephen Gollogly, Pádraig Donaghy, Owen Duffy, Jack McCarron, Shane Carey.
TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship Qualifier
Monaghan v Tyrone, Saturday, 4.00, Longford
Monaghan’s senior ladies will attempt to get their championship campaign back on track when they play Tyrone at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday.
Monaghan were chasing a fifth consecutive Ulster title and they beat Cavan in the semi-finals, but they lost to Armagh in the decider. They now have a second chance to claim an All-Ireland quarter-final place in this clash with old rivals Tyrone, who also lost to Armagh, before seeing off Kildare.
Monaghan will be looking for big performances from Sharon Courtney, Christina Reilly, Ciara and Aoife McAnespie, Gráinne McNally, Ellen McCarron and Therese Scott, while Gemma Begley, Niamh O’Neill, Neamh Woods and Cathy Donnelly are vital to Tyrone’s chances of overturning their poor recent record against Monaghan.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 3B
Drumhowan v Killanny, Friday, 8.00, Inniskeen
The first of the weekend’s two JFC games sees Drumhowan and Killanny cross swords at Páirc Grattan on Friday night.
Drumhowan lost to Toome after a replay in the preliminary round, but qualifier wins over Éire Óg and Oram have kept their hopes alive. Killanny have yet to bring their impressive league form from this year into the championship and their opening-round replay win at the expense of Scotstown was followed by defeat at the hands of Aughnamullen. Killanny are top of the JFL, 11 points clear of fifth-placed Drumhowan (who have two games in hand), but it’s honours-even from their two meetings. Killanny ran out comprehensive winners in round one, but Drumhowan ripped up the form book in May, inflicting what is so far Killanny’s only loss of the league.
Killanny will need Andy Callan, Daryl Traynor, Steven McMahon, Eddie Markey and Conor Vernon on top form, while David Millar, Darren Duffy, Kevin and Kieran Mooney, Anthony Mulligan are crucial for Drumhowan, who will be hoping that Colm Lambe is fit to start after he was restricted to a late cameo against Oram.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 3B
Aghabog v Scotstown, Sunday, 6.00, Smithborough
One of the bottom two teams in the JFL will claim a JFC semi-final place (barring a draw) in this game on Sunday evening.
Both of these teams have struggled in the league this year, but they are still in the hunt in the championship. Aghabog made a winning start to the championship against Oram, but were second-best against Blackhill. Scotstown made no impact at junior level last year and they are currently propping up the league table – a point behind Sunday’s opponents, against whom they picked up their only win to date – but they only lost narrowly to front-runners Killanny in a first-round replay, before getting a first championship victory against Toome last time out.
Aghabog will be looking for big performances from Shane and Seán O’Brien, Gary McBride, Shane Brady and Damian Smyth, while Paul Sherlock, Seán Mohan, James Hamill and Matthew McCague will be central to Scotstown’s chances.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1B Final
Castleblayney v Cremartin, Friday, 7.30, Blackhill
Castleblayney will attempt to bounce back from their O’Duffy Cup Final defeat when they play Cremartin in the RFL Division 1B decider on Friday.
Blayney’s championship bid was ended by Scotstown last Friday night, but they now have the chance to atone for that result and secure a quick return to Division 1A. Cremartin won their first meeting with the Faughs this year on their way to finishing second in the standings, but table-toppers Blayney have beaten them twice since that, including a one-sided O’Duffy Cup quarter-final.
Cremartin can call on the likes of Kevin and Ryan McVicar, Cathal Atkinson and Josh McWilliams, but Keith Hill, David McMahon, Aaron and Ronan McNamara and Niall Duffy should have enough to lead Blayney to victory.
The Under-21 Division Two League Final between Donaghmoyne and Killeevan on Friday evening has been postponed due to a death in the Donaghmoyne club.
The Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division One semi-finals are down for decision on Tuesday evening, with favourites Donaghmoyne up against in-form St. Tiarnach’s at Gavan Duffy Park and Scotstown fancied to see off Magheracloone in Blackhill. The Division Two semi-finals are also on; namely Clontibret v Truagh in Emyvale and Cremartin v Doohamlet in Drumhowan.
The County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions resumes with a full round of games on Wednesday evening. Leaders Ballybay are at home to Monaghan Harps, while their nearest challengers Clontibret and Scotstown travel to Truagh and Currin respectively. Elsewhere, Doohamlet and Latton have home advantage against Magheracloone and Castleblayney.
Rockcorry will attempt to end their long losing streak in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League when they host Seán McDermotts on Sunday.
Drumhowan and Aghabog turn their attentions from championship back to the Eurotech Junior Football League with games against Killeevan and Toome respectively on Wednesday evening.
There are a couple of Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League semi-finals on Sunday, with Doohamlet hosting Aughnamullen in Division Two and Blackhill hosting Toome in Division Three.
The Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League continues on Thursday evening: Carrickmacross v new county champions Castleblayney, shield winners Truagh v SHC runners-up Inniskeen. There is also a game between Carrickmacross and Clontibret on Sunday.
Killanny are away to St. Patrick’s in the last group game of the McElvaney Recycling Minor Football League Division One, while the last round in Division Three is as follows: Aughnamullen v Patrick Emmetts, Inniskeen v Latton, Seán McDermotts v Castleblayney and Emerald Sarsfields v Corduff.
In the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, the Under-16 Football Championships take centre stage on Thursday, while there are a number of games in the latter stages of the Under-12 Football Leagues spread throughout the week.
By cshalvey Fri 8th Aug
