Hurling takes centre stage this weekend on the county and club scene, but there are also a number of club football games.
Nicky Rackard Cup Quarter-Final
Monaghan v Donegal, Saturday, 3.00, Clones
Monaghan’s senior hurlers will attempt to qualify for the Nicky Rackard Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2011 when they host Donegal on Saturday.
Both of these teams have stuck four goals past Longford in the last two weeks. Monaghan hit 4-10 with 14 men at Saturday’s venue of St. Tiarnach’s Park, while Donegal racked up 4-21 away to 14-man Longford last time out. 2013 winners Donegal had lost their opener against Tyrone, just a fortnight after beating their neighbours in an Allianz Hurling League Division IIB relegation/promotion play-off replay. Monaghan were no match for Roscommon in Round 2A last Saturday in only their second loss of 2015; the other being the Division IIIA League Final against Tyrone.
Monaghan will need Ronan Meegan, Stephen Lambe, Mark and Peter Treanor, Éanna Mac Suibhne and Niall Garland at the top of their game if they are to upset the odds against a Donegal team powered by the likes of Danny Cullen, Ciarán Mathewson (scorer of 1-16 against Longford), Ronan McDermott and Seán McVeigh in the absence of injured forward Lee Henderson.
Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling League Final
Carrickmacross v Monaghan Harps, Sunday, 12.00, Clontibret
There is some early silverware up for grabs in Sunday’s MHL Final between Carrickmacross and Monaghan Harps at Clontibret.
Carrick went through the group stage unbeaten, including a one-point win over the Harps, who finished second and were given a walkover by Inniskeen in last Sunday’s scheduled semi-final. Carrick won the MHC Final between these teams last year after they shared the U-16 league and championship titles in 2013.
Carrick are set to be without star player Ronan Curran due to a knee injury, but they can still call on county minors like Patrick Bermingham and Patrick Mitchell, as well as the likes of Oisín Wilcox and Jack Marron. The Harps have their own injury absentee in Dylan McAree, but they have a large county contingent of Cathal Power, Conor Flynn, Reece Treanor, Ciarán Cassidy, Ruairí Forde, Mark Murphy, Nathan O’Donoghue and Anthony Greenan.
There are star games in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football Leagues over the weekend. County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League table-toppers Scotstown have home advantage against Magheracloone on Sunday, while Truagh host Ballybay, Clontibret take on Latton and Donaghmoyne continue their search for a first win against neighbours Castleblayney. Inniskeen and Monaghan Harps meet on Tuesday night.
The three joint-leaders of the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League are all in action, with Carrickmacross at home to Clones and Doohamlet and Emyvale away to Drumhowan and Currin respectively. The other IFL fixtures are Aughnamullen v Cremartin and Corduff v Tyholland.
There is one game in the Eurotech Junior Football League on Saturday evening, when Oram host Scotstown before the mid-Monaghan club’s Up For The Match fundraiser. JFL leaders Rockcorry face Toome on Sunday, while the three teams a point behind – Éire Óg, Killanny and Seán McDermotts – are up against Aghabog, Killeevan and Blackhill respectively.
The first Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship Crawley Cup quarter-final takes place on Wednesday evening between Éire Óg and Truagh. Before that, Monaghan Harps and Emyvale contest the first game of the RFC McKeown Cup on Saturday.
The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A continues on Wednesday, with co-leaders Scotstown and Clontibret at home to Latton and Cremartin respectively. Division 1B joint-leaders Monaghan Harps host Aughnamullen on Wednesday, while Tyholland make the short trip to Emyvale. The two teams at the top of Division 2A, Donaghmoyne and Doohamlet, are away to Seán McDermotts and Rockcorry respectively, while in Division 2B, the top two of Carrickmacross and Blackhill go head-to-head, with Inniskeen at home to Corduff.
The Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League continues on Thursday evening, with leaders Dungannon away to Carrickmacross. The teams currently sharing third place, Castleblayney and Clontibret, travel to Monaghan Harps and Truagh respectively.
The action continues in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile football and hurling competitions.
By cshalvey Sat 16th May
