The Ulster SFC Final dominates the schedule this weekend, but there are also many club games spread throughout the next week, including the SHC semi-finals on Thursday and a Reserve Championship Final on Saturday.
Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Final
Carrickmacross v Castleblayney, Thursday, 7.45, Clontibret
Inniskeen v Truagh, Thursday, 7.45, Monaghan
Castleblayney and Inniskeen will expect to set up a sixth consecutive SHC Final meeting when they contest semi-finals on Thursday evening.
Blayney, who won last year’s decider before going on to lift the Ulster Club JHC title, take on Carrickmacross in Clontibret. The holders have seven wins from seven to their name in the Senior Hurling League, having already won the Development League, and they have already had two comprehensive wins over their semi-final opponents. Carrick, who had to work hard to see off Monaghan Harps in their championship quarter-final, are fourth in the league and also reached the DHL semis, but they will need a huge performance to put it up to Blayney.
An experienced Blayney team could be able to call on a huge number of county players likes Peter and Mark Treanor, Stephen Lambe, Niall Garland, Fergal Rafter, Deaglán Crowe, Brian Flanagan, Paddy Finnegan, Hugh Byrne, Tony Forde and Cormac McNally, while Carrick will need Éanna and Aonghus Mac Suibhne, Kevin Crawley, Jamie Guinan and Jason O’Rourke on top form.
Meanwhile, Inniskeen are up against Truagh at Gavan Duffy Park.
Inniskeen have become a heavyweight of Monaghan hurling in the last five years, contesting a string of county finals and winning two, and they are second in the SHL, having lost just once to Castleblayney while beating Truagh twice. Truagh continue to push clear of the rest of the chasing pack and as well as reaching the DHL Final, where they lost to Blayney, they are third in the SHL and they cruised through their SHC quarter-final against Clontibret. Inniskeen ran out comprehensive winners in this fixture last year, before losing the final, while Truagh went on to win the shield.
Inniskeen will be looking to the likes of Ronan, Paul, Colm and Dónal Meegan and Pauric Dowdall to lead their challenge, while current county manager Trevor Hilliard could also feature. Conor McKenna, Conor Boyle, Conor McGinnity, Cathal McAnespie and Niall Coyle could play key roles for Truagh.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship Crawley Cup Final
Carrickmacross v Donaghmoyne, Saturday, 7.00, Blackhill
Donaghmoyne defend the Crawley Cup title in the final against Carrickmacross in Blackhill on Saturday evening.
Carrickmacross have had a tough route to the final, edging past Corduff by a point and fellow neighbours Killanny by two, while Donaghmoyne, who won this championship last year, cruised to this stage by putting big scores past Doohamlet and Truagh. Donaghmoyne are second in Division 2A of the RFL, with Carrick having finished top of Division 2B.
Niall Garland, Gary Woods, Fergal Keenan, Conor Finnegan and David Wilson could play key roles for Donaghmoyne, with Aaron Jones, Aaron Lynch, Conor Duffy and Kevin O’Hanlon eligible for Carrick.
Eurotech Junior Football League leaders Rockcorry are at home to an improving Blackhill side on Saturday, while their nearest challengers, Killanny and Seán McDermotts, both have away games. Killanny face the team who beat them in their last JFC game, Aghabog, while the Seáns, who made a disappointing early exit from the championship last weekend, play Oram. Éire Óg host Scotstown a week after their neighbours knocked them out of the JFC, while Toome – on the back of an impressive JFC result – are away to Killeevan.
Latton face Clontibret in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A on Friday evening, needing to win to draw level with the O’Neills in the race to qualify for the semi-final against Truagh. The winners of Saturday’s Division 1B game between Monaghan Harps and Castleblayney will go into the final, with the losers facing a semi-final against Ballybay, who host Emyvale in their last group game. Aughnamullen need to beat Tyholland to overtake their rivals in the relegation battle, while a draw would be enough for the north-Monaghan side to stay up. Division 2A leaders Doohamlet host Seán McDermotts on Monday, while a draw against Aghabog would be enough for Clones to advance to the Division Three semi-final, with their opponents needing a win to jump into third place.
The Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division One quarter-finals are down for decision on Tuesday evening. Holders and favourites Donaghmoyne are away to Seán McDermotts, while Magheracloone make the short trip to Carrickmacross, St. Patrick’s host Clontibret and Truagh face Monaghan Harps. Corduff and Toome host Na Mullaí Sarsfields and Aughnamullen respectively in the Division Two League Cup, while the Division Two Shield fixtures are Cremartin v Emyvale and Inniskeen v Clones. The Division Three Cup games are Killanny v Latton and Castleblayney v Patrick Emmets, while in the Division Three Shield, it’s Doohamlet v Tyholland and Emerald Sarsfields v Rockcorry.
The Under-21 Football semi-finals take place on Friday evening. Magheracloone and Donaghmoyne have home advantage against Truagh and Scotstown respectively in Division One, while Emyvale and Monaghan Harps host Corduff and Carrickmacross in Division Two.
There are semi-finals in all four divisions of the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-16 Football Championship on Thursday, as well as games in Divisions Two to Five of the Under-14 Football League on Saturday and one U-14 Division Four fixture on Tuesday. Cootehill won a high-scoring Under-16 Hurling League game against East Cavan Gaels to join three other teams at the top of the table ahead of a full round on Monday, when there is also a full schedule in the Under-12 Hurling League.
By cshalvey Sat 18th Jul
