The county senior hurlers and Under-21 footballers take centre stage this weekend.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A
Tyrone v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Omagh
Monaghan’s senior hurlers begin life under new manager Trevor Hilliard with Sunday’s NHL opener against Tyrone at Healy Park.
Last year’s captain Hilliard has taken charge of the county hurlers, with a back-room team consisting of Pearse Doherty, Kevin Maloney and Peter McGuinness, and players like Stephen Lambe and Ronan Meegan have returned to the panel after being absent for a few years. Fergal Rafter and Niall Garland have also come into the fold after impressing in Castleblayney’s run to an All-Ireland Club JHC semi-final, while Hilliard’s fellow Inniskeen men Dónal and Colm Meegan are due to join the hurlers after the conclusion of Monaghan’s Under-21 football campaign.
Monaghan will be determined to get off to a good start, but they face a tough test against their near neighbours. After finishing in mid-table in Division 3A last year, Monaghan needed to win a play-off against Sligo to retain their Nicky Rackard Cup status, while in contrast, Tyrone claimed the third-tier championship for the first time, just months after lifting the Division 3B league title. Tyrone have one of the most consistent score-getters around in Damian Casey, with Conor and Seán Óg Grogan, Tiernan Morgan and Gary Fox other key players, although Mark Winters and Justin Kelly are likely to miss out through injury.
Shamrock Cup Round Three
Monaghan v Antrim, Friday, 7.45, Inniskeen
Monaghan will attempt to book their place in the Under-21 Shamrock Cup Final when they take on Antrim under the lights of Páirc Grattan on Friday night.
After reaching the shield semi-finals of the Hastings Cup, where they lost to Kerry, Monaghan started the Cremartin-run tournament with a comfortable win over Louth, before falling to a disappointing defeat against Tyrone last Friday night. Antrim were heavily beaten by Tyrone, before also being edged out by Louth.
With no senior match this weekend, Finbarr Fitzpatrick may be able to give some playing time to Ryan Wylie and Ryan McAnespie, whose inclusion would boost a team that has been led to date by the likes of Dónal Meegan, Conor McCarthy, Kevin Loughran, Alan McCahey and Dessie Ward. The progress of St. John’s to the Ulster Club U-21 semi-finals has deprived Antrim of the services of the likes of Conor Johnston and Locky McCurdy, so they will need the likes of Dermot McAleese, Gareth George, Ruairí Scott, Ruairí McCann and Matthew Fitzpatrick available. Monaghan will expect to maintain their 100% record in home games so far this year and set up a rematch with Tyrone in the final.
By cshalvey Fri 13th Feb
