Monaghan’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Tyrone on Saturday looms large on this week’s schedule, but there are also several club games on the agenda, including finals in the SHC and reserve football competitions.
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Monaghan v Tyrone, Saturday, 4.00, Croke Park
Monaghan will attempt to build on their recent Ulster SFC success when they take on Tyrone in the first of Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final double-header at Croke Park.
Wins over Cavan, Fermanagh and Donegal earned Monaghan a second Ulster title in three years and their reward was a fifth SFC tie since 2010 against Tyrone, who went 25 years unbeaten in the championship against their neighbours until being beaten in Clones last summer. Monaghan will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their 2013 quarter-final defeat and make a first All-Ireland semi-final since 1988.
Tyrone were once again edged out of the Ulster championship by Donegal, but wins over Limerick, Meath, Tipperary and Sligo have earned them a 10th All-Ireland quarter-final appearance in Mickey Harte’s 13 years in charge.
Monaghan have named an unchanged team for Saturday, with Christopher McGuinness being included in the substitutes the only difference to the panel. Tyrone have made one change, which sees Cathal McCarron return at corner-back in place of Rory Brennan.
Monaghan will need Karl O’Connell, Dessie Mone, Ryan Wylie and Vincent Corey to continue their good form in defence, while they will also hope for a big game from Owen Lennon at midfield and Kieran and Darren Hughes in support to Conor McManus up front. Darren McCurry, Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly, the hugely experienced Seán Cavanagh and newcomer Mark Bradley have been the main creative forces for Tyrone, who bring momentum into this game after scoring 40 points in their last two games.
A similarly tense, close game to the usual clashes of these teams can be expected on Saturday, with Monaghan determined to overturn the 2013 result.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Colin Walshe, Vincent Corey, Ryan Wylie; Dessie Mone, Neil McAdam, Karl O’Connell; Owen Lennon, Fintan Kelly; Kieran Duffy, Darren Hughes, Owen Duffy; Dermot Malone, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus (Capt.).
Subs: Cian Mohan, Drew Wylie, Conor Boyle, John McCarron, Dick Clerkin, Paul Finlay, Stephen Gollogly, Shane Carey, Thomas Kerr, Ryan McAnespie, Christopher McGuinness.
Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Aidan McCrory, Ronan McNamee, Cathal McCarron; Ronan McNabb, Joe McMahon, Peter Harte; Colm Cavanagh, Mattie Donnelly; Tiernán McCann, Mark Bradley, Conor Meyler; Darren McCurry, Seán Cavanagh, Connor McAliskey.
Subs: Michael O’Neill, Lee Brennan, Rory Brennan, Conor Clarke, Richard Donnelly, Danny McBride, Conal McCann, Justin McMahon, Pádraig McNulty, Ronan O’Neill, Barry Tierney.
All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship
Cavan v Monaghan, Saturday, 5.15, Kingspan Breffni Park
Monaghan’s ladies are also in action on Saturday evening away to Cavan.
Monaghan avenged last year’s Ulster final loss to Armagh in this year’s semi-final, but they fell short against Donegal last time out. Cavan, who saw their NFL Division Two bid ended by Donegal, were edged out of the provincial series by a point against Tyrone, but they had a resounding win over Down last time out.
Monaghan have lost experienced players like Niamh Kindlon, Christina Reilly, Therese Scott, Amanda Casey and Yvonne Connell this year, but they can still call on Sharon and Cora Courtney, Cathriona McConnell, Gráinne McNally, Ellen McCarron, Ciara and Aoife McAnespie and Laura McEnaney. Aisling Doonan (who hit 3-10 against Down), Róisín O’Keefe, Rosie Crowe and Catríona Smith are big players for Cavan, who have Brónagh Sheridan
Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Final
Castleblayney v Inniskeen, Sunday, 3.30, Clontibret
Castleblayney and Inniskeen meet in the Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday for the sixth year in a row. Blayney hold the edge (three-two) in the five deciders the teams have contested since 2010, which was Inniskeen’s first time to win the championship.
Blayney are in their 17th consecutive county final and are chasing a 14th title since 1999. These teams have continued their dominance this year, as they sit joint-top of the Senior Hurling League, having gone unbeaten against all other teams. Inniskeen’s only defeat to date came in a one-sided game in Blayney, but they got one over on the holders at Páirc Grattan at the end of last month. Blayney have also already won the Development Hurling League. The teams got byes to the semi-finals in the knock-out championship, where Blayney crushed Carrickmacross in a one-sided game and Inniskeen overcame a tougher test from Truagh.
Blayney’s hugely experienced team is full of current and former county players. Brian McGuigan, Hugh Byrne, Fergal Rafter, Niall Garland and substitute Stephen Lambe hit a huge 5-22 between them in the semi-final, while Mark Treanor, Deaglán Crowe, Paddy Finnegan, Cormac McNally, Brian Flanagan and a returning Peter Treanor should also play key roles. Dónal and Ronan Meegan are the main scoring threats for Inniskeen, who will also be looking for big performances from the likes of Martin Murphy, Trevor Hilliard, Colm Meegan and Pauric Dowdall.
Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Final
Carrickmacross v Truagh, Sunday, 1.45, Clontibret
Truagh and Carrickmacross clash in Sunday’s curtain-raiser in Clontibret; the SHC Shield Final.
It’s a second final of the year for Truagh, who reached the Development League decider, where they lost to Blayney. The north-Monaghan side are third in the SHL, two points ahead of Carrick, who they defeated in a high-scoring game in June. Truagh put up a decent showing in their SHC semi-final, where Inniskeen eventually proved too strong, while Carrick, who are bringing through some of their minor teams from the last couple of years, were put to the sword by a rampant Castleblayney.
Conor McKenna, Conor Boyle, Niall Cadden, Cathal McAnespie and Aidan Coyle should play key roles for Truagh, while Éanna and Aonghus Mac Suibhne and Jason O’Rourke are among the main men for Carrick, who were without county players Kevin Crawley and Jamie Guinan last time out. Truagh will fancy their chances of retaining the shield.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship McKeown Cup Final Replay
Clones v Killeevan, Sunday, 2.30, Smithborough
Neighbours Clones and Killeevan go head-to-head in the McKeown Cup Final Replay in Smithborough on Sunday.
The teams couldn’t be separated the first time out in late June, when wasteful finishing by Killeevan saw them fail to make their possession count, so they now have to meet for a second time. These clubs’ senior teams have struggled this year, with Clones bottom of the IFL and Killeevan yet to pick up a point in the JFL, but their reserves have been faring better. Killeevan finished top of the RFL Division Three to make the league final, while Clones just missed out on a semi-final place. Clones got a bye to the championship semi-finals, where they edged out Monaghan Harps, while Killeevan had a similarly narrow win in their quarter-final derby against Aghabog, before getting a walkover from Toome at the semi-final stage.
Clones should be able to call on the likes of James McElwain, Emmet McEntee, Cian O’Connor, Ethan Audley and Darragh Graham, while Killeevan will be relying on county minors Killian Mooney and Ciarán Burns, along with experienced players like Ian Larmer and Vincent Martin.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1B Final
Ballybay v Monaghan Harps, Sunday, 2.30, Tyholland
The RFL Division 1B Final between Ballybay and Monaghan Harps is also down for decision on Sunday in Tyholland.
The Harps, who were relegated from Division 1A last year, went straight through to the final by topping the table, helped by a win over Ballybay, who finished third before turning over Castleblayney in the semi-final.
Clontibret are away to Latton in the County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League on Friday evening.
Cremartin host Aughnamullen respectively in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Friday.
Rockcorry can return to the top of the Eurotech Junior Football League if they win away to Scotstown on Sunday, but Seán McDermotts could overtake them again if they can see off neighbours Éire Óg on Wednesday.
The Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division One semi-finals are down for decision on Tuesday evening. Carrickmacross is the venue for the clash of holders Donaghmoyne and 2013 U-16 double winners St. Patrick’s, while in-form Magheracloone will be favourites against Truagh in Clontibret.
The Minor Football Leagues also continue on Tuesday, including Aughnamullen v Na Mullaí Sarsfields and Toome v Corduff in the Division Two Cup. The Division Two Shield fixtures are Clones v Emyvale and Inniskeen v Cremartin, while in the Division Three Cup, it’s Castleblayney v Killanny and Patrick Emmets v Latton. In the Division Three Shield, Doohamlet and Tyholland have home advantage against Emerald Sarsfields and Rockcorry respectively.
Castleblayney set their sights back on the Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League on Thursday with a home game against Clontibret, while Carrickmacross and Truagh meet in a repeat of Sunday’s shield final.
The first two Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-12 Football League finals are down for decision: Drumhowan v Truagh in the Division Two Shield in Clontibret on Friday and Cremartin v Latton in the Division Two Cup in Aughnamullen on Sunday, while there are also several semi-finals down for decision, as well as the Under-12 Hurling League Shield Final between Carrickmacross and Truagh on Monday. The Under-14 Football Leagues resume with games in all divisions on Thursday.
By cshalvey Fri 7th Aug
