Previews

Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1A

Aghabog v Killanny, Sunday, 2.00, Aughnamullen

The JFC preliminary-round winners go head-to-head in Aughnamullen on Sunday.

Aghabog came through an entertaining opener against Éire Óg, while Killanny edged a low-scoring battle against Toome. Third-placed Killanny are six points ahead of their opponents in the JFL, but Aghabog have two games in hand on them and they claimed a fine win away to the south-Monaghan side back in April.

Shane and Seán O’Brien, Gary McBride and Damian Smyth are key players for Aghabog, who can also call on young guns Fergal and Tyler O’Hanlon, while Killanny will need big performances from Adam Kieran, Ronan and Tiernan Duffy, Daryl Traynor and Cian Wakely.

Killeevan v Oram, Sunday, 6.15, Clontibret

Blackhill v Seán McDermotts, Sunday, 7.45, Clontibret

The weekend’s JFC schedule finishes with a double-header in Clontibret on Sunday evening.

Part one of that is between Killeevan and Oram. Killeevan have been struggling in the league and are yet to win a game, although they went close when losing by just a point to Oram, whose four wins in eight have all come by the minimum margin.

Oram will be looking for Pauric Graham, Ryan McGuinness, Deaglán and Cathal Crowe to lead the way, while Kevin McGinn, Noel Smith, Ciarán Burns and Killian Mooney could play big parts for Killeevan.

That is followed by the meeting of possible contenders Blackhill and Seán McDermotts.

Blackhill have lost the last two JFC Finals, while 2013 JFL winners Seán McDermotts fell back into the junior ranks last year. The Seáns are currently second in the league, six points ahead of Blackhill, who are in a share of fourth. The Threemilehouse side defeated the mid-Monaghan club by a point in their clash last month.

Damien Larkin, Brian McQuaid, Paddy Kieran and Noel Rice are among the main men for the Seáns, with Colin Woods, Ryan, Dónal and Ciarán Courtney and Dermot Daly expected to be prominent for Blackhill.

County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League leaders Scotstown are away to bottom-of-the-table Donaghmoyne on Sunday, while Inniskeen and Monaghan Harps also have lengthy trips to Truagh and Magheracloone respectively and the other two games are local derbies: Ballybay v Latton and Castleblayney v Clontibret. There is another clash of rivals between Donaghmoyne and Inniskeen on Wednesday night.

Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League table-toppers Emyvale take on neighbours Tyholland on Friday evening, while Carrickmacross (who currently share second place) also have a local derby against Corduff and Aughnamullen can move back into the top four if they get at least a draw at home to Currin. The other team currently sharing second place, Doohamlet, are away to struggling Clones, with Cremartin bidding to continue their improved form when they play Drumhowan.

There are no games in the Eurotech Junior Football League over the weekend due to the championship action, but there is one re-fixture on Wednesday: Scotstown v Aghabog, which was previously abandoned due to a serious injury to Aghabog player Séamus McPhillips.

Blackhill have the chance to return to the top of the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 2B when they host Killanny on Wednesday. Emyvale have two Division Three games in the next few days; at home to Monaghan Harps on Sunday and away to second-placed Killeevan on Wednesday.

The Minor Football Leagues resume after the exam break this week. The leagues have now been split into Cup and Shield competitions, with the former beginning on Tuesday evening. Donaghmoyne and Seán McDermotts host Truagh and Magheracloone respectively in Division One, while Na Mullaí Sarsfields and Aughnamullen have home advantage against Toome and Corduff in Division Two and Killanny travel to Currin to face Patrick Emmets in Division Three.

The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions continue at pace this week. Under-12 Football Leagues continue over the weekend, followed by a full round in the Under-14 Hurling League on Monday, while the Under-16 Football League Division Two resumes with one game on Tuesday. Féile Peil na nÓg takes place in the south east this weekend, with Monaghan to be represented by Division One Championship winners Castleblayney and Division Two champions Donaghmoyne.