It’s a big weekend for the county teams and there are also a number of club fixtures down for decision.
Allianz National Football League Division One
Monaghan v Dublin, Sunday, 3.00, Clones
Monaghan will attempt to secure a place in the NFL semi-finals when they welcome Dublin to Clones on Sunday.
Monaghan followed an opening-round win over Tyrone with defeats at the hands Cork and Mayo that had many tipping them for relegation, but a fine run of form in the last three games against Donegal, Derry and Kerry has seen them shoot up the table into second place. Dublin lost to Cork and Kerry either side of a win over Donegal, before being held to a draw by Tyrone, but they put Mayo to the sword in Castlebar and finished strongly to win a dour battle with Derry last Saturday night to sit third. That leaves them within touching distance of a semi-final place, which would see Jim Gavin’s side aim for a third consecutive Division One title. Monaghan are also chasing a third league success in as many years after claiming Division Three and Two honours in 2013 and 2014.
Dublin were the last team to beat Monaghan in a National League game at St. Tiarnach’s Park back in 2011 and the 2013 Sam Maguire Cup winners also put Malachy O’Rourke’s side to the sword in last August’s All-Ireland quarter-final.
Monaghan have named an unchanged team for Sunday and they will be hoping that the likes of Conor McManus, Darren Hughes, Dessie Mone, Drew and Ryan Wylie, Fintan Kelly and Karl O’Connell can continue their good form. Dublin have made one change from the Derry win, with James McCarthy in for Philly McMahon. Their vastly experienced team is led by players such as Stephen Cluxton, Rory O’Carroll, Michael Darragh MacAuley, Paul Flynn, Diarmuid Connolly and Bernard Brogan, while Dean Rock has been leading the scoring stakes this year.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Fintan Kelly, Vincent Corey, Karl O’Connell; Neil McAdam, Darren Hughes; Dessie Mone, Paul Finlay, Owen Duffy; Dermot Malone, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus (Capt.).
Subs: Enda Duffy, John McCarron, Paddy McGuigan, Ryan McAnespie, Paudie McKenna, Dick Clerkin, Gavin Doogan, Thomas Kerr, Shane Carey, Stephen Gollogly, Daniel McKenna.
Dublin: Stephen Cluxton (Capt.); Jonny Cooper, Rory O’Carroll, Eoin Culligan; James McCarthy, John Small, Jack McCaffrey; Michael Darragh MacAuley, Tomás Brady; Paul Flynn, Diarmuid Connolly, Ciarán Kilkenny; Kevin McManamon, Dean Rock, Bernard Brogan.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A Final
Monaghan v Tyrone, Saturday, 3.00, Keady
Monaghan contest the NHL Division 3A Final against Tyrone in Keady, Co Armagh on Saturday.
Both teams take unbeaten records into this game, with Tyrone having won all four games against Louth, Roscommon, Fermanagh and Fingal since these neighbours drew in the opening round, while Monaghan beat the former three while also drawing with the north-Dublin side…
Damian Casey has been in prolific form for Tyrone with 1-48, while Seán Óg Grogan has hit five goals in his last three games and Matthew Mulgrew, Tiernan Morgan, Conor McNally and Aidan Kelly are other key players. Ronan Meegan (0-30) and Stephen Lambe (3-13) top the scoring charts for Monaghan, who will also be looking for big performances from Peter and Mark Treanor, Éanna Mac Suibhne and Niall Garland as they seek to complete an unbeaten first league campaign under Trevor Hilliard.
Ulster Minor Football League Group A
Cavan v Monaghan, Saturday, 12.00, Breffni Park
Monaghan will be looking to finish their Ulster MFL Group A campaign with a first win when they travel to Cavan to play on Breffni Park’s 3G pitch on Saturday.
Defeats against Down and Armagh mean that Monaghan’s only hope of progressing is via the shield, while Cavan are in an identical position after narrow losses against the same teams.
Monaghan will hope to be able to recall the likes of David Garland and Barry Kerr and they will also be looking for big performances from Micheál Bannigan, Barry Conor Marray and Conor Duffy. Conor Brady, Dáire McEnroe and Darragh Gannon have been central players for Cavan, who could recall their contingent from the MacRory Cup-winning St. Patrick’s College, who lost their Hogan Cup semi-final last Saturday.
The Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League begins on Thursday, when the fixtures are Truagh v Monaghan Harps, Carrickmacross v Castleblayney and Clontibret against new entrants Dungannon, as does the Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling League on Sunday, with games between Castleblayney and Carrickmacross once again and Truagh and Inniskeen.
There is one game in the County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League next Wednesday, when Inniskeen mark their return to the top flight by making the short trip to Castleblayney.
There are also three Eurotech Junior Football League games on Wednesday, when Aghabog, Toome and Oram are at home to Blackhill, Killanny and Killeevan respectively.
Saturday is a busy day in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Leagues. Division 1A joint-leaders Clontibret and Truagh are up against Magheracloone and Scotstown respectively, with Cremartin facing Latton, while the Division 1B fixtures are Aughnamullen v Castleblayney and Tyholland v Ballybay. Division 2A front-runners Doohamlet are away to Seán McDermotts, with Donaghmoyne and Rockcorry facing Éire Óg and Drumhowan respectively. Corduff and Carrickmacross contest a Division 2A local derby on Friday night, before Killanny host leaders Blackhill on Saturday. Division Three table-toppers Killeevan face neighbours Aghabog on Saturday, while Monaghan Harps and Emyvale meet Clones and Toome respectively.
The Minor Football Leagues continue on Tuesday evening. Donaghmoyne and St. Patrick’s will attempt to maintain their winning runs in Division One when they host Seán McDermotts and Carrickmacross respectively, while Clontibret face Truagh and Magheracloone travel to play Monaghan Harps. There are local derbies all around in Division Two between Aughnamullen and Corduff, Inniskeen and Toome and Na Mullaí Sarsfields (Éire Óg & Killeevan) and Clones at Smithborough. After a false start last week, Division Three belatedly gets underway with the amalgamated teams Patrick Emmets (Currin/Aghabog) and Emerald Sarsfields (Blackhill/Oram) away to Latton and Doohamlet respectively.
The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions are picking up pace, with the Under-14 Football Championships beginning on Thursday evening. There are also some Under-14 Football League games on Thursday, followed by Under-12 Football Spring League action on Saturday and Under-14 Hurling League on Monday.
By cshalvey Fri 3rd Apr
