The JFC Final starts a busy few weeks of championship deciders on Sunday, while before that, the IFC semi-finals take centre stage on Saturday.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Final
Blackhill v Drumhowan, Sunday, 4.00, Inniskeen
Two teams used to this stage cross swords in Sunday’s JFC Final at Páirc Grattan. Drumhowan lifted the Packie Boylan Cup with their 2012 final win over Emyvale, while Blackhill faced the same opposition this time last year, when they lost after a replay.
Unlike 12 months ago, Blackhill have taken the direct route to the final with wins over Killeevan, Toome (after a replay), Aghabog and Scotstown. Drumhowan lost to Toome in a preliminary-round replay, but have recovered to knock out Éire Óg, Oram, Killanny and Aughnamullen.
Blackhill can call on several of the players who spearheaded the Emerald Sarsfields amalgamation with Oram that won an Under-21 Division One title in 2012, although the captain of that team and one of the leading lights of last year’s JFC run, Philip Donnelly, has been unavailable in 2014. Michael Geehan has stepped up in Donnelly’s absence, landing 4-10 in their last three championship games, while the dependable Colin Woods and lively Ryan and Ciarán Courtney are also capable of chipping in on the scoreboard, as is Dermot Daly, who should return from injury alongside Éamon Byrne at midfield. Dónal and Anthony Courtney and Ryan Craig anchor the Blackhill defence.
Colm Lambe is their main marksman up front, but he has plenty of support from the likes of Kevin and Kieran Mooney and David Millar. They also have a very settled midfield partnership, where Anthony Mulligan has been ever-present, joined by John Paul O’Neill for every game of the championship except the semi-final. Liam McGuirk and the pacy Darren Duffy are key players in defence, along with the versatile Niall Mooney, while Enda Duffy has kept four clean sheets on the way to the final.
Drumhowan did lose a few players in recent years, but they still have an experienced side, with 15 of the 16 that featured in the 2012 final having also been involved in the current campaign. It’s easily forgotten at this stage that, on the back of being relegated from intermediate, Drumhowan made a nightmare start to 2014, taking just one point from their first five JFL games, but Kevin Carragher’s side have recovered enough to sit just outside the top four at time of writing and they have, of course, shown their best form in the championship. Blackhill have been consistent throughout the year, with two wins over Drumhowan helping them secure a league semi-final place with a few games to spare.
Blackhill won the Junior Football Championship four times between 1932 and 1952, but they have yet to manage a fifth success, which has seen them fall behind Drumhowan, Cremartin and Emyvale in the roll of honour. Drumhowan have won the title five times since 1960 and have the chance now to become the first team to win a sixth if they can continue their superb record in championship finals.
McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Finals
Corduff v Inniskeen, Saturday, 1.30, Castleblayney
Donaghmoyne v Rockcorry, Saturday, 3.00, Castleblayney
The IFC semi-finals are down for decision in Castleblayney on Saturday, with the clash of Corduff and Inniskeen first up.
Inniskeen have taken the direct route to the semi-finals with wins over Seán McDermotts and Clones, while Corduff recovered from a surprise first-round loss to Cremartin by beating Carrickmacross, Emyvale and Clones.
Keith McEnaney, Jason Hand, Pádraic Keenan, Brendan McNally, Ciarán Brennan, Declan Larkin and Gerry Mee give Corduff strength in various sectors, while Inniskeen are very dependent on Paul, Ronan and Dónal Meegan for scores, with Matthew McKenna and Gerard McArdle other key men.
The league games between these teams this year both produced one-sided home wins, but the only thing certain about this game is that it will be much closer. Inniskeen currently top the table, but they will need to be on top of their game to progress to a first IFC Final since 2005.
After that, it’s Donaghmoyne v Rockcorry.
Donaghmoyne, who have seen off Carrickmacross, Emyvale and Cremartin, have been consistent contenders in intermediate in recent years, but haven’t made the IFC decider since 2008. Rock have won just four of their last 33 league games – one in 18 in senior last year and three out of 15 in an injury-hit 2014 IFL campaign – but they have put three IFC wins back to back against Seán McDermotts, Tyholland and Cremartin. Rock were promoted to senior for the first time in 2012, but their stay there was brief and they now need to win the championship to avoid a second consecutive relegation.
Rory Woods, Pádraig Donaghy, Darren Coleman, Francis Markey, Christopher Deery and Darren McElroy should play key roles for Donaghmoyne, while Rock will need big performances from the IFC’s top two scorers in Mark Daly and Fergal McGeough, as well as Niall McKeown, Noel Carroll and Damien Matthews if they are to continue their unlikely run.
Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Three Final
Corduff v Latton, Sunday, 2.00, Inniskeen
Sunday’s curtain-raiser sees Corduff and Latton contest the MFC Division Three Final.
Corduff scored a massive 9-15 when putting Emerald Sarsfields to the sword in the preliminary round, before edging out Seán McDermotts at the quarter-final stage. The south-Monaghan men needed a replay in their semi-final against Killeevan, but they took their second chance in style, running up 6-15. Latton have seen off Patrick Emmets, Inniskeen and Aughnamullen to reach today’s final, which will see them attempt to complete a double just under three weeks after their league win.
Corduff won by a point when they went to Latton in round five of the league in late April and they topped the table, only to fall to a surprise semi-final defeat against Castleblayney.
Corduff manager Adrian Burns said preparations had been difficult due to injuries but expects to have everyone available for Sunday. Having watched Latton win the league final, he agreed with his team captain Mark Treanor that “They have some good players, especially in midfield and the forward line”, adding that his side were disappointed to have missed out in the league, but “we live and learn and move on”, agreeing that they will be determined to take some silverware from the year.
Latton mentor Christopher Brady said: “It’s a big chance for the club to take a first (minor) double, but Corduff will be hard hitting and fast moving we expect a very tough game. We’re unbeaten now in three months, so we’re full of confidence and there’s nothing to say that we can’t win this game.” Captain Stephen McCabe added “It’s going to be a tough battle; Corduff had the upper hand on us in the first league game, so we won’t take anything for granted.”
Latton’s star man is county minor McCabe, with the support of Thomas Lynch, Eugene McGeough and Dáire Quinn, while Corduff will be looking for big performances from the likes of Mark Treanor, Gavin McEnaney, Fergal Hanratty and Matthew Connolly.
Clontibret and Monaghan Harps battle it out on Sunday for the right to meet Carrickmacross in the Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling Championship Final.
The County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League continues on Sunday with local derbies between Scotstown and Truagh and Doohamlet and Castleblayney, who are back in action on Wednesday evening with a home floodlit game against Currin.
The battle for semi-final places in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League heats up in Sunday’s game between Clones and Carrickmacross. Cremartin v Emyvale has been postponed due to the sad death of Willie Flannery, father of Emyvale players John and Michael.
Scotstown host Oram in the Eurotech Junior Football League on Sunday.
Aughnamullen will attempt to complete a Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-16 Football Division Two double when they play Carrickmacross in the league final on Saturday, while Toome and Patrick Emmets contest the Division Three decider on Sunday, when there are also semi-finals in the Under-14 Hurling League.
By cshalvey Sat 27th Sep
