Previews

Inniskeen Captain Matthew McKenna and Donaghmoyne Captain Francis Markey ahead of the IFC Final 2014

The IFC Final takes top billing in another busy weekend of club fixtures.

McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Final

Donaghmoyne v Inniskeen, Sunday, 3.30, Clontibret

Old rivals Donaghmoyne and Inniskeen go head-to-head in Sunday’s McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Final.

The south-Monaghan teams have both taken the direct route to the final. Donaghmoyne were drawn in the preliminary round, where they won an exciting clash with Carrickmacross, before also coming through close games against Emyvale and Cremartin to reach the semi-finals, where they cruised past Rockcorry. Inniskeen had fairly straightforward wins over Seán McDermotts and Clones and they produced a commanding second-half performance to knock Corduff out in the last four.

Donaghmoyne have been regular contenders in recent years only to continually fall short in the latter stages of both competitions, but with a bunch of good young players coming through and former county star Rory Woods having returned from New York, they have found another gear under Noel Marron in 2014. Woods has been a very effective focal point to their attack, which also features the talents of Pádraig Donaghy, Darren Coleman and Jonathan McCrossan. Francis Markey could be joined by Ciarán Daly at midfield, while Christopher Deery (who missed the semi-final), Fergal Keenan and Francis McBride are central players at the back. The Fontenoys have enjoyed at success at minor and U-21 levels in the last 12 months and they are now bidding to add another significant milestone to their progress by returning to senior for the first time since 2007.

Inniskeen are hugely dependent on their full-forward line of Paul, Ronan and Dónal Meegan, who have between them accounted for more than 80% of their championship scores to date, with the eldest, Paul, averaging almost nine points per game. Gerard McArdle and Fergal Duffy give the Grattans strength and physicality at midfield, with the former also capable of playing at full-forward, while Matthew McKenna is a driving force whether from half-back or centre-field, with Colm Meegan and Anthony Keenan key men in defence. The Grattans last played senior football in 2011, when they fell to a second relegation in three years, having won the 2010 Intermediate League in between.

Both of these clubs have won the IFC three times and will be attempting to join Carrickmacross and Monaghan Harps at the top of the roll of honour. Inniskeen contested four finals between 1994 and 2005 – winning in 2000 and ’05 – while Donaghmoyne, whose last success came in 1996, lost the 2008 final to Ballybay.

AIB Ulster Club Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Castleblayney v Con Magees, Sunday, 1.45, Dungannon

Castleblayney bid for a place in the Ulster Club JHC when they take on Antrim side Con Magees in Dungannon on Sunday.

Blayney, who regained the Monaghan title from Inniskeen this year, had a facile win over Cootehill in their Ulster quarter-final last Sunday and they are now within touching distance of a first final appearance in this competition since they won it in 2005. Glenravel-based Con Magees saw off Rasharkin to win the Antrim JHC and they edged out Carryduff from Down by the narrowest of margins last weekend.

Blayney have been without Brian McGuigan and Hugh Byrne of late and doubt also surrounds Niall Garland’s involvement due to Donaghmoyne’s involvement in the IFC Final, but they can still call on an array of current and former county players including Mark and Peter Treanor, Fergal Rafter, Deaglán Crowe, Paddy Finnegan, Jim McHugh and Tony Forde. Con Magees are set to be minus Paul Hughes and James Scullion, but Niall Donnelly, Stephen Acheson, Conor Donnelly and Declan McBride should play key roles.

Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling Championship Final

Carrickmacross v Monaghan Harps, Saturday, 2.30, Aughnamullen * Note change of venue

Carrickmacross and Monaghan Harps contest the MHC Final at the changed venue of Aughnamullen on Saturday.

Neither side enjoyed success in the league earlier this year, where Carrick just missed out on the top four and the Harps lost to eventual winners Cootehill in the semi-finals, but it has been a different story in the championship. Carrick powered past Castleblayney in their semi-final, while the Harps were convincing winners against Clontibret.

Both teams feature members of the Monaghan minor hurling team that reached the All-Ireland ‘C’ Final against Mayo. Ronan Curran and Neasán and Micheál Mac Suibhne are big players for Carrick, while the Harps can call on Tiarnán Bramley, Ciarán McQuaid, Conor Flynn, Ciarán Cassidy, Reece Treanor, Ruairí Forde, Cathal Power and Mark Murphy.

Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three Final

Blackhill v Truagh, Friday, 8.00, Emyvale

Two teams looking to make up for previous final defeats go head-to-head in the RFL Division Three decider under lights in Emyvale on Friday night.

Blackhill have had a torrid time in finals in the last two years, losing reserve league and championship deciders in 2013, along with the JFC Final, which they also fell short in against Drumhowan just last month. Truagh, meanwhile, edged out Blackhill on their way to the McKeown Cup decider this year, only to lose to Killanny. Blackhill have gone unbeaten through the league so far, including a five-point win over Truagh. They put Toome to the sword in the semi-finals, while Truagh got their own back on Killanny.

James Daly, Éamon Byrne, Gerard McArdle, Ciarán Costello and Stephen Courtney should play key roles for Blackhill, while Truagh will be looking to Christopher McAnenly, Brendan and Aaron Treanor and Darren and Christopher Todd to lead their challenge.

The County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League continues with a full round of games over the weekend. Last weekend’s championship finalists are in action on Saturday, with winners Clontibret away to Castleblayney and runners-up Scotstown at home to Doohamlet. League leaders Ballybay travel to Currin on Sunday, while Latton and Monaghan Harps host Truagh and Magheracloone respectively.

Cremartin must beat Emyvale in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Saturday to retain any chance of avoiding relegation, while Tyholland make the long trip to Corduff.

The final round of the Eurotech Junior Football League takes place on Sunday. Toome will secure the last place in the semi-finals if they win away to Éire Óg, but any slip-up would open the door for championship winners Drumhowan, who are at home to Aghabog. A win for Blackhill at table-toppers Aughnamullen would see the JFC runners-up claim a home semi-final, with Killanny poised to overtake them if they beat Oram. The other game is a basement battle between Scotstown and Killeevan.

The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile year ends with the Under-16 Football Championship Division One Final Replay between Monaghan Harps and Truagh in Emyvale on Monday evening.