Monaghan’s ladies will attempt to follow in the footsteps of the men by qualifying for the Ulster final on Sunday. The week’s schedule of club games includes the start of the Senior Hurling Championship.
Ulster Ladies Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Armagh v Monaghan, Sunday, 3.15, Kingspan Breffni Park
Monaghan will attempt to avenge last year’s Ulster Ladies SFC Final defeat against Armagh when they take on the same opposition in Sunday’s semi-final in Cavan.
Monaghan’s bid for a fifth consecutive Ulster championship was ended by Armagh in Clones almost exactly a year ago, but they will be determined to regain that title in Peter Clarke’s first attempt as manager. Monaghan failed to reach the semi-finals of the NFL Division One, while Armagh won Division Two in some style, crushing Donegal in the final, as they continue to progress under the guidance of James Daly.
Monaghan have lost experienced players like Niamh Kindlon, Christina Reilly, Therese Scott, Amanda Casey and Yvonne Connell, but they can still call on Sharon and Cora Courtney, Cathriona McConnell, Gráinne McNally, Ellen McCarron and Ciara and Aoife McAnespie, while Caoimhe Mohan is back after missing last year’s provincial championship. Caroline O’Hanlon, Aimee Mackin, Aoife McCoy, Fionnuala McKenna and Kelly Mallon are central players for Armagh.
Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals
Clontibret v Truagh, Thursday, 8.00, Monaghan
Carrickmacross v Monaghan Harps, Thursday, 8.00, Castleblayney
The SHC gets underway with two quarter-finals on Thursday, July 9.
Clontibret and Truagh contest a repeat of last year’s shield decider at Gavan Duffy Park. Truagh won that shield game after losing to Inniskeen in the SHC semi-finals, while Clontibret had been beaten by eventual winners Castleblayney in the last four. Truagh have also had two four-point wins over their opponents in this year’s SHL, helping them sit third in the table behind the big two of Blayney and Inniskeen, while they also reached the final of the Development League, where they lost to Blayney. Clontibret have just four points to their name in the SHL.
Conor McKenna, Conor Boyle, Conor McGinnity, Cathal McAnespie and Niall Coyle could play key roles for Truagh, while Shane McNally, Feargal O’Dowd and Fergal and Kieran Greenan are among the main men for Clontibret.
The other game is in Castleblayney between Carrickmacross and Monaghan Harps.
Carrick are currently fourth in the SHL, having earlier finished second in the DHL before losing to eventual winners Blayney in the semi-finals. The Harps didn’t enter the SHL this year, but they did manage to draw with Carrick in the DHL. Both teams will be calling on some players from their minor teams, who contested the MHL Final, which the Harps won after a replay.
Éanna and Aonghus Mac Suibhne, Kevin Crawley and Jamie Guinan should be to the fore for Carrick, with Raymond Lee, Tiarnán Bramley, Cathal Power and Conor Flynn likely to play important parts for a youthful Harps team.
The Eurotech Junior Football League continues with a full round over the weekend, starting with Killanny v Toome on Saturday. Leaders Rockcorry are away to Scotstown, who they edged out in the championship last week, on Sunday, while Killeevan and Oram also repeat their JFC clash seven days after the former got their first win of the year. There is also a local derby between Seán McDermotts and Éire Óg, before the last game of the weekend sees Blackhill host Aghabog.
O’Duffy Cup winners Magheracloone are away to Clontibret in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A on Sunday, before the Mitchells host Latton on Wednesday, when the other game is a top-of-the-table clash between Scotstown and Truagh. Division 1B joint-leaders Castleblayney and Monaghan Harps face Aughnamullen and Emyvale respectively on Sunday, with Ballybay up against Tyholland. Division 2A front-runners Doohamlet are at home to joint-second-placed Seán McDermotts on Wednesday, while the other main contenders, Donaghmoyne, are away to Éire Óg and Rockcorry play Drumhowan. Corduff can return to the top of Division 2B if they win away to neighbours Carrickmacross on Sunday, when the bottom two, Inniskeen and Truagh, also square up. Division Three leaders Clones make the short trip to Aghabog on Wednesday.
The first two Under-21 Division One quarter-finals take place on Friday evening and both are south-Monaghan affairs between Magheracloone and Carrickmacross and Donaghmoyne and Corduff.
There is a full programme of Minor Football League action on Tuesday evening. Magheracloone and Donaghmoyne will both bid to build on winning starts to the Division One Cup when they go head-to-head, while St. Patrick’s enter the competition with a home game against Seán McDermotts. The Division One Shield gets underway with Carrickmacross v Clontibret and Monaghan Harps v Scotstown, while the Division Two Shield fixtures are Emyvale v Inniskeen and Clones v Cremartin. Latton meet Castleblayney in the Division Three Cup, with Tyholland v Emerald Sarsfields and Rockcorry v Doohamlet starting the Division Three Shield. There is also one game in the Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Two, where Na Mullaí Sarsfields take on Killanny in the preliminary round at Smithborough.
This week’s Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile fixtures include two Under-14 Football Championship Finals on Saturday. Aughnamullen and Éire Óg, who won last Thursday’s semi-finals against Killanny and Ballybay respectively, will contest the Division Three decider after the Division Five Final between Doohamlet and Patrick Emmets (Aghabog and Currin). Also in Under-14 football, there are full rounds in Divisions One and Two on Saturday. There are quarter-finals in all four divisions of the Under-16 Football Championships on Thursday, while the Under-16 and Under-12 Hurling Leagues continue on Monday.
By cshalvey Fri 3rd Jul
