Previews

Monaghan’s county hurlers are in championship action on Saturday, in what is also a busy week of club fixtures.

Nicky Rackard Cup Round 1

Monaghan v Longford, Saturday, 5.00, Clones

Monaghan’s senior hurlers start their Nicky Rackard Cup campaign with a home game against Longford in Clones on Saturday. Monaghan go into this championship on the back of a progressive spring, which saw them reach the Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A Final.

Monaghan went through the Division 3A group games without losing and although their unbeaten record under new manager Trevor Hilliard ended in the final against Tyrone, they could take plenty of positives from their run. Saturday’s visitors to St. Tiarnach’s Park are Longford, who also reached a league final (Division 3B), only to lose to Warwickshire, when the Leinster side’s chances were badly hit by red cards for Cathal Mullane and Paddy Corcoran.

Monaghan needed to win a play-off last year to stay in the third tier, while Longford were promoted back to the Nicky Rackard after winning the Lory Meagher Cup.

Ronan Meegan (0-36) and Stephen Lambe (4-17) were in prolific form for Monaghan throughout the league and their availability is a great boost for the county. Peter and Mark Treanor, Éanna Mac Suibhne, Deaglán Crowe and Niall Garland are other key players for Hilliard’s charges. Eoin Donnellan, Martin Coyle, Karl Murray, Cathal Mullane and Corcoran should lead the way for Longford, who have been without key forwards Joe O’Brien and Gareth Ghee so far this year but are hoping to have the former available.

It’s also a busy weekend on the club scene.

The two unbeaten teams in the County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League clash on Saturday evening when Scotstown’s bid for a sixth consecutive win takes them to Monaghan Harps. There is another local derby between Castleblayney and Ballybay, while Truagh travel to Magheracloone and Clontibret host Donaghmoyne. There is also a game on the Bank Holiday Monday, when Latton have home advantage against Inniskeen.

Emyvale put the only 100% record in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on the line when they host Carrickmacross on Saturday evening, while their nearest challengers Doohamlet and Aughnamullen are up against Corduff and Drumhowan respectively and Currin continue to search for their first win away to Tyholland.

The Eurotech Junior Football League continues on Thursday when joint-leaders Éire Óg make the long trip to Killanny. Sunday’s fixtures are Seán McDermotts (currently top on score difference) v Scotstown, Toome v Aghabog and Killeevan v Blackhill, while Rockcorry will attempt to return to winning ways when they go to Oram on Monday.

The Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League continues on Thursday with Dungannon v Truagh, Monaghan Harps v Carrickmacross and Castleblayney v Clontibret. Carrickmacross can go joint-top of the Minor Hurling League if they beat Castleblayney on Friday and they are back out on Sunday against Truagh, while the current top two, Inniskeen and Monaghan Harps, cross swords.

Minor Football League Division One joint-leaders Donaghmoyne and Magheracloone face St. Patrick’s and Seán McDermotts respectively on Tuesday, with Clontibret at home to Scotstown and Truagh meeting Carrickmacross. MFL Division Two table-toppers Toome host Emyvale, with Aughnamullen, Inniskeen and Corduff at home to Cremartin, Clones and Na Mullaí Sarsfields respectively. The top two clash in Division Three when Killanny take on Patrick Emmets, while the other fixtures are Castleblayney v Rockcorry, Doohamlet v Tyholland and Emerald Sarsfields v Latton.

The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A resumes on Wednesday evening, when three of the teams currently tied at the top are in action. Two of those, Clontibret and Latton, square up against each other, while Truagh are away to Cremartin. It’s a similar story in Division 1B, where two of the three teams sharing first place (Castleblayney and Monaghan Harps) meet and the other (Ballybay) play away to Emyvale. The other game is Tyholland v Aughnamullen. Division 2A joint-leaders Donaghmoyne, Doohamlet and Seán McDermotts are up against Rockcorry, Drumhowan and Éire Óg respectively, while there are south-Monaghan derbies between Corduff and Killanny and Inniskeen and Carrickmacross in Division 2B. There is also a local affair in Division Three: Aghabog v Killeevan on Friday.

There is action in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-16 Football Leagues and Under-14 Football and Hurling Leagues, as well as the Under-12 Spring League Finals in Cloghan on Saturday.