The JFC Final and the last two SFC quarter-finals take centre stage this weekend.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Final
Blackhill v Rockcorry, Sunday, 3.00, Clontibret
Blackhill and Rockcorry will be hoping to end long waits for a championship title when they contest Sunday’s Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Final in Clontibret.
Blackhill won the JFC four times between 1932 and 1952 and added an IFC title 12 months later, but they haven’t added to that list, despite reaching this final in the last two years, while Rock’s sole Junior Championship victory came in 1982. Blackhill are attempting to take the next step after losing JFC Finals to Emyvale (after a replay) in 2013 and Drumhowan 12 months ago, as well as last year’s JFL decider against Aughnamullen.
These teams have taken the direct route to this final. Blackhill edged out Seán McDermotts in Round 1A, before claiming comfortable wins against Killeevan and Scotstown to make it through to another decider. Rock also had a narrow win in their opener against a strong challenge from Scotstown and they went on to have convincing victories over Aghabog and Toome.
Both clubs have also been towards the top of the league table all year, booking semi-final places with a few rounds to spare. Blackhill took three points off Rock via a draw on home soil and a win in the return fixture.
Aaron Kenny has established himself in the Blackhill defence, where Ryan and Dónal Courtney continue to play key roles, along with Shane Courtney, Gerard McArdle and Hugh Byrne, who has pushed forward to good effect to kick eight points from play in the championship. Dermot Daly, Anthony Courtney and Éamon Byrne, who captains the team, will line out around midfield, with Michael Geehan, Darren and Colin Woods and Jason Finnegan expected to get the scores.
James Daly’s pace is another asset for Blackhill, whose manager David Lennon may again call the likes of Philip Donnelly and Andrew Burns in off the bench. Goalkeeper Michael Shevlin kept two clean sheets en route to the final, as did his opposite number Jamie Smith.
Captain Niall McKeown anchors the Rock defence alongside Conor McGeough and Colin Quinn, with the half-back line of Stephen McGuirk, Keith Daly and Johnny Reilly adept at both defending and attacking. Mark Daly and Mark Thornton make up a strong midfield pairing – both capable of getting on the scoresheet – with Paul McKeown, Martin Carroll and the strong-running Noel Carroll set to be the half-forwards. Lorcan Smyth, Fergal McGeough and Mark McGuirk make up a dangerous full-forward line.
This final has a recent history of close contests, including draws in 2010 and 2013, with the 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014 titles being decided by an average margin of less than two points.
Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 3B
Ballybay v Castleblayney, Saturday, 3.00, Scotstown
Magheracloone v Monaghan Harps, Saturday, 4.30, Scotstown
The last two SFC semi-final places are up for grabs in a double-header in Scotstown on Saturday, starting with a derby between Ballybay and Castleblayney.
Ballybay began the SFC with a narrow win over Latton and the last three weeks has seen them involved in a saga with Clontibret, which they eventually lost in a low-scoring second replay. Blayney fell to a heavy defeat against Monaghan Harps in the first round, but they have bounced back with wins over Donaghmoyne and Truagh. Just a point separates these teams in the SFL, where Blayney pulled away from the relegation zone with a vital win over Inniskeen last Saturday, but Ballybay have won both head-to-heads, including a comprehensive victory last month.
Ballybay will be looking for big performances from Drew and Ryan Wylie, Paul Finlay, Christopher McGuinness and Thomas Kerr and they will also hope that Dessie Ward is fit to play some part, while Dermot and Fergal Malone, Brendan and Martin McElroy and Ciarán Hanratty are among the main men for Blayney.
Next up is Magheracloone v Monaghan Harps.
Magheracloone lost to Clontibret in a keenly-contested first-round game, but wins over Inniskeen and Latton (the latter after two replays) keeps them in the running. The Harps started with a win over Blayney, before losing to Scotstown.
Tommy Freeman has been in prolific form for Magheracloone, who also have James and Peter Ward, Gavin Doogan and Alan Kieran playing well, while Neil McAdam, Conor Galligan, Dónal Hahessy, Fearghal McMahon and Kevin Loughran are central for the Harps.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A Final
Scotstown v Truagh, Friday, 8.00, Emyvale
North-Monaghan rivals Scotstown and Truagh contest the RFL Division 1A Final on Friday night in Emyvale.
The teams finished joint-top of the league after both took 15 points, with Scotstown advancing straight through to the final due to their superior head-to-head record, as they had two comprehensive wins over Truagh, who won the semi-final against Latton back in July. Scotstown also edged out their neighbours in the O’Duffy Cup on their way to the championship final, where they lost to Magheracloone.
Emmet Caulfield, Fergal McPhillips, Dermot McCrudden, Ross McKenna, Orin Heaphey and Francis Maguire should play key roles for Scotstown, with Shane Treanor, Eoghan Kelly, Niall Rooney and Daniel Finnegan potentially central to Truagh’s chances.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 2A Final
Donaghmoyne v Doohamlet, Friday, 8.00, Inniskeen
The RFL Division 2A Final is also down for decision on Friday night, when championship winners Donaghmoyne and Doohamlet clash in Inniskeen.
Doohamlet finished top of the league, two places and three points ahead of Donaghmoyne, who won their semi-final away to Seán McDermotts by the narrowest of margins. Donaghmoyne had a comprehensive win over their opponents on their way to retaining the Crawley Cup and they are now aiming to win this league decider at the third time of asking, having lost to Aughnamullen last year and Emyvale the year before.
Donaghmoyne could be able to call on the likes of Niall and David Garland, Ronan McDonald, Colm Connolly, Fergal Keenan and Stephen Finnegan from their SFC team, while Doohamlet could feature some of the players who have helped them qualify for the IFC Final, such as Barry McBennett, Conor Marray, Damien Ward, Johnny Duffy and Gavin King.
The County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League continues on Sunday, with leaders Scotstown away to ninth-placed Inniskeen and Clontibret hosting Truagh in the bid to move clear into third.
IFC finalists Carrickmacross can draw level with Aughnamullen at the top of the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League (for 24 hours, at least) if they beat Emyvale on Saturday. There are three key games in the relegation battle on Sunday, particularly the clash of Currin and Tyholland, while Drumhowan are away to leaders Aughnamullen and Corduff at home to championship finalists Doohamlet.
Aghabog host Toome in the Eurotech Junior Football League on Sunday
By cshalvey Fri 25th Sep
