The Senior Football Championship continues with another two replays this weekend, while the Intermediate Football Championship semi-finals are also down for decision on Saturday.
Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 2A 2nd Replay
Ballybay v Clontibret, Friday, 8.15, Inniskeen
Ballybay and Clontibret will once again bid for a semi-final place in the SFC in their third meeting under the lights of Páirc Grattan on Friday night
After drawing in Castleblayney a fortnight ago, even extra-time couldn’t separate these teams in Scotstown last Saturday. The lead changed hands a number of times, but it looked that Clontibret had done enough when they led by four points late in extra-time, only for 1-1 by Colin Malone to rescue the Pearse Brothers. Ballybay had started the championship with a hard-earned win over Latton, continuing their recent return to form, while Clontibret battled past Magheracloone. Ballybay beat Clontibret in the 2012 county final, but the O’Neills have contested another two deciders since; reclaiming the title last October. Clontibret are currently joint-third in the SFL, four points ahead of Ballybay, while it’s honours even in these teams’ league meetings this year, both having been won by the home team.
Clontibret’s chances rest on Ulster All-Stars Conor McManus, Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey and Conor Boyle, along with the likes of Colum Greenan and Conor Lavelle. Ballybay have five Monaghan seniors – Drew and Ryan Wylie, Paul Finlay, Christopher McGuinness and Thomas Kerr – fit and ready and Dessie Ward came off the bench last week after an injury absence.
Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 2B 2nd Replay
Latton v Magheracloone, Saturday, 5.00, Castleblayney
Latton and Magheracloone contest their second SFC back-door replay in Castleblayney on Saturday.
Two meetings, both going to extra-time, have as yet been unable to produce a winner between these teams, so they renew rivalries once more. Latton needed two late frees from Owen Coyle to draw level at the end of the 60 minutes last Friday night, but they were on the brink of advancing in the extra 20 until a David Kirk ’45 gave Magheracloone another chance. Latton were edged out in their SFC opener by local rivals Ballybay, while Magheracloone recovered from losing to Clontibret when they knocked Inniskeen out. The teams both have 14 points in the league and there is nothing to separate them from their SFL head-to-heads either, as both were won by the home team.
Latton will need Owen and Kieran Duffy, Owen Lennon, Owen Coyle and Aidan Farmer to lead the way, with Tommy Freeman, James Ward, Gavin Doogan, Alan McCahey, Alan Kieran and Paudie McMahon crucial for Magheracloone.
* Due to the Greenfield Foods SFC games going to second replays, Monaghan GAA have decided to reduce the admission prices to these two games at the weekend. Prices for adults will now be only €5 compared to €8 the usual price. This applies to the Ballybay v Clontibret game in Inniskeen on Friday night and the Latton v Magheracloone game on Saturday in Castleblayney.
McElvaney Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Finals
Carrickmacross v Tyholland, Saturday, 2.00, Clontibret
Cremartin v Doohamlet, Saturday, 3.30, Clontibret
The IFC semi-finals take place as a double-header in Clontibret on Saturday, starting with Carrickmacross v Tyholland.
Carrick have cruised through to this stage with convincing wins over Drumhowan and Corduff, while Tyholland have taken the difficult route here. The north-Monaghan side lost to Doohamlet in the first round, before beating Drumhowan, Currin (after a replay) and Emyvale. Carrick have had a much better league; sitting joint-top of the table on 20 points, 13 ahead of their opponents, who they defeated by a point in their most recent meeting back in April.
Carrick’s strengths mainly lie up front, where they can call on the likes of Stephen Gollogly, Kevin O’Hanlon and Cillian Cromwell, with Peter O’Hanlon and Gary and Ryan McEnaney other key players. Tyholland will need Dermot Coyle, Karl O’Connell, Ronan McNally, Shane Treanor and Gary McQuaid on top form if they are to make a fourth IFC Final since 2010.
Next is the mid-Monaghan derby between Cremartin and Doohamlet.
Like Tyholland, Cremartin have recovered from a first-round defeat – against Currin – to reach the semi-finals with wins over Clones (after extra-time), Aughnamullen and Corduff, with the latter seeing them come from ten points down to hit a late winner. 2010 and 2012 IFC winners Doohamlet finished strongly to beat Tyholland in their opener and they went on to beat Emyvale in a replay. Doohamlet started well in the league but recently slipped out of the top four for the first time, being overtaken by Cremartin. Doohamlet won by six points at Shamrock Park back in April, but Cremartin have been steadily improving since then.
Cremartin will be looking for big performances from Johnny McGuigan, Niall Flanagan, Barry Kerr, Barry Carragher and Mark Magee, while Colin and Jamie Walshe, Barry McGinn, Barry McBennett and Niall Connolly are among the main men for Doohamlet.
There is a derby between Castleblayney and Inniskeen in the County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League on Saturday.
There is one game in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Saturday, when Drumhowan and Corduff (who are both currently four points clear of ninth-placed Tyholland) go head-to-head. Joint-leaders Aughnamullen travel to third-placed Emyvale for a floodlit game on Wednesday night.
The Eurotech Junior Football League continues on Saturday. It’s top versus bottom when Killanny travel to Killeevan, while Rockcorry will bid to repeat their JFC semi-final win over Toome, the other beaten championship semi-finalists Scotstown host Oram and Aghabog face Éire Óg.
The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile football competitions came to a close with Wednesday’s Under-14 Football League Division One Final, which was won by Castleblayney. The Silver Hill Foods Under-14 Hurling League Shield Final between Truagh and Cootehill takes place on Friday evening at Gavan Duffy Park, Monaghan.
By cshalvey Fri 18th Sep
