Monaghan’s senior ladies contest an Ulster final on Sunday, while a busy schedule of club games includes two Under-21 deciders and four JFC games.
Ulster Ladies Senior Football Championship Final
Monaghan v Donegal, Sunday, 3.15, Clones
Monaghan’s senior ladies will attempt to follow in the footsteps of the county’s senior men by regaining the Ulster title against Donegal in Clones on Sunday.
A week after the men claimed a second provincial SFC in three years, the ladies will look to return to the top of Ulster football, having seen their bid for a fifth consecutive title fall short against Armagh last year. Monaghan got their own back on Armagh in their semi-final earlier this month, following a National League campaign that saw them miss out on a Division One top-four finish. Donegal, who lost the NFL Division Two Final against Armagh, had a facile win over Down in their championship opener, before also easing past Tyrone last time out.
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, Ciara and Aoife McAnespie and Laura McEnaney. Geraldine McLaughlin, Yvonne McMonagle have hit a combined 9-29 for Donegal, who will also need Amber Barrett and Aoife McDonnell on top form.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 2B
Killanny v Scotstown, Sunday, 1.30, Castleblayney
Oram v Toome, Sunday, 3.00, Castleblayney
The first of Sunday’s two JFC double-headers is a pair of qualifier games in Castleblayney.
League leaders Killanny edged their JFC preliminary-round game against Toome, only to lose out to Aghabog, while Scotstown fell just short against Rockcorry, before knocking out neighbours Éire Óg. After losing two of their first three JFL games, seven straight wins have seen Killanny shoot to the top of the table, with that run including a comfortable defeat of Scotstown, who have just four points to their name. Scotstown took Killanny to a replay last year, however, and they eventually went further than their opponents by reaching the semi-finals.
Peter Dooley, Ronan and Tiernan Duffy, Conor Vernon, Cian Wakely and Daryl Traynor should play key roles for Killanny, while Francis Maguire, Cian and Seán Mohan, Brendan Boylan and Ross McKenna could lead Scotstown’s challenge.
Next up is the local derby between Oram and Toome.
Oram’s only game in the championship so far saw them end up on the wrong end of a shock result against Killeevan, while Toome were able to put a narrow loss to Killanny behind them to upset the odds against Seán McDermotts last time out. Toome have won just twice in the league this year and they were unable to field against Killeevan last week, but one of those results came away to Sunday’s opponents and they will be focused on repeating that.
Pauric Graham, Ryan McGuinness, Aaron Molloy and Lorcan Keenan can play key roles for Oram, but Gavin Flanagan, Gary Wilson, Stephen Lambe, Mattie O’Reilly, Seán McMahon and Frank Connolly could lead Toome through.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 2A
Aghabog v Rockcorry, Sunday, 5.30, Scotstown
Blackhill v Killeevan, Sunday, 7.00, Scotstown
The first two JFC semi-final places are up for grabs in Scotstown on Sunday evening, starting with another clash of neighbours, Aghabog and Rockcorry.
Aghabog already have two JFC wins under their belts, having seen off Éire Óg and Killanny, while Rock finished strongly to squeeze past Scotstown. The teams have yet to meet this year, but Rock, who suffered two consecutive relegations after getting promoted to senior for the first time at the end of 2012, have the better league form, despite falling to only their second defeat last weekend against Blackhill, which allowed Killanny to overtake them at the top.
Shane and Seán O’Brien, Tyler and Fergal O’Hanlon and Damian Smyth should be to the fore for Aghabog, while Rock, despite the absence of Fergal McGeough, can still call on the likes of Mark and Keith Daly, Noel Carroll, Mark McGuirk and Paul and Niall McKeown.
Blackhill, who lost the JFC Final in 2013 (after a replay) and 2014, as well as last year’s league decider, will be favourites to see off Killeevan in the last game of the weekend. Blackhill have already beaten Killeevan twice this year and they take a six-game unbeaten run into this one, having also turned over Rockcorry in the JFL last Saturday and Seán McDermotts in their championship opener. Killeevan put their league woes behind them to shock Oram in the JFC, but they will need another step-up to deal with Blackhill.
Blackhill will be looking to Ryan, Dónal and Ciarán Courtney, Colin Woods and Michael Geehan to lead the way, while Killeevan will need big performances from Noel Smith, Kevin McGinn, Ciarán Corr, Ciarán Burns and Killian Mooney to have a chance of another upset.
Under-21 Football Division One Final
Donaghmoyne v Magheracloone, Friday, 7.45, Killanny
Donaghmoyne and Magheracloone contest the Under-21 Football Division One Final in Killanny on Friday night.
Donaghmoyne, who are backboned by last year’s minor double winners and last year’s Under-21 Division Two champions, got a walkover from Corduff in their quarter-final, before they convincingly dethroned Scotstown at the semi-final stage. Magheracloone, who have lost two MFC Finals and one Under-21 decider since 2013, won a high-scoring derby against Carrickmacross and went on to cruise past Truagh in their last-four clash.
Donaghmoyne can call on the likes of Mikey Murnaghan, David Garland, David Wilson, Johnny McCrossan, Fergal Keenan and Ronan McDonald, while Alan McCahey, Alan Kieran, Killian Rudden, Michael Metzger and Pádraig McMahon are among the main men for Magheracloone.
Under-21 Football Division Two Final
Carrickmacross v Emyvale, Friday, 7.45, Drumhowan
The Division Two Final sees Carrickmacross and Emyvale go head-to-head in Drumhowan.
Carrickmacross lost a high-scoring Division One quarter-final against Magheracloone, but have reached this stage with wins over Killeevan and Monaghan Harps, while Emyvale, who exited Division One by losing to neighbours Truagh, edged a Division Two semi-final against Corduff.
Carrick, who won a minor top-flight double in 2013, will carry the favourites’ tag, with a team featuring the likes of Aaron Lynch, Niall Loughman, Conor Duffy, Aaron Jones, Jack Ogle and Paddy Larney. Emyvale could be able to field players from their 2012 MFL Division Two-winning team such as David McAlister, Colin Hughes and Daithí Colton, despite the absence of county senior Ryan McAnespie.
Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division One holders Donaghmoyne have to travel to Threemilehouse for their quarter-final replay against Seán McDermotts, a week after they drew after extra-time. The Division Two semi-finals are between Clones and Corduff and Emyvale and Toome, while the last-four ties in Division Three are Castleblayney v Emerald Sarsfields and Doohamlet v Patrick Emmets.
The Minor Football League Division One Cup continues with a game between St. Patrick’s and Truagh on Tuesday, while there is also action in the Division One Shield: Clontibret v Monaghan Harps and Scotstown v Carrickmacross.
There are a number of Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League semi-finals down for decision this week, starting on Friday, when Truagh host Latton for the right to play Scotstown in the Division 1A Final. The Division 1B and 2A semi-finals between Castleblayney and Ballybay and Donaghmoyne and Seán McDermotts respectively take place on Sunday, while Wednesday’s semis are Corduff v Blackhill (Division 2B) and Monaghan Harps v Aghabog (Division Three).
The Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League top two meet when Inniskeen host Castleblayney on Thursday.
By cshalvey Fri 24th Jul
