Sunday is county final day at St. Tiarnach’s Park and there are several other important games over the weekend.
Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Final
Monaghan Harps v Scotstown, Sunday, 3.00, Clones
North-Monaghan rivals Monaghan Harps and Scotstown go head to head in the SFC Final on Sunday.
Scotstown are at this stage for the third time in a row and the fourth year out of five. After losing to Latton in the 2011 final, Scotstown ended their 20-year wait for a title when they beat Clontibret in 2013, before losing to the same opposition 12 months ago. The Harps are in the final for the first time in 24 years and the last time they met their near-neighbours at this stage was back in 1980, when Scotstown were kingpins of Monaghan and Ulster club football. The Harps took Clontibret to a replay in their 2013 semi-final, before eventually being edged out.
Scotstown have had an impressive run to the final, defeating Inniskeen, Truagh, Monaghan Harps and Castleblayney in convincing fashion. The Harps started with a good win over Castleblayney and although they then lost to Scotstown, they have bounced back to knock out Magheracloone and Clontibret.
Scotstown have a strong last line of defence in three-time All-Star-nominated goalkeeper Rory Beggan, whose kick-outs and long-range free-taking can be an asset for his team. Mark Duffy, Damien McArdle, Emmet Caulfield and Paul Sherlock have been fixtures in the Scotstown defence, along with Kieran Hughes, who has played a roving role from centre half-back, while Fergal McPhillips and Pádraig Keenan will also hope to be involved.
Francis Caulfield and James Turley form a strong midfield partnership. Versatile captain Dónal Morgan, Ross McKenna and Dermot McCrudden have been regular starters as half-forwards for Scotstown, while up front, Darren Hughes is an effective target-man, with good support from the pacy Conor McCarthy and the accurate Shane Carey. Orin Heaphey and the vastly experienced Brian McGinnity and David McCague are among the options Mattie McGleenan and co. are likely to have on the bench.
Ashley White mans the goals for the Harps, behind a defence led by team captain Conor Galligan and another player with county experience in David Hughes. Niall Hahessy, Nicholas Scott, Gareth Treanor and 2013 Ulster MFC-winning captain Kevin Loughran have also been fixtures in the Harps back-line, with John Mulligan and Niall Treanor featuring as substitutes. Neil McAdam and Stephen Driver key men at midfield for the Harps, with Peter Coyle and Aodhán Óg McAnespie also providing options, while Fearghal McMahon, Dónal and Liam Hahessy, Nicholas Treanor, Shane Smyth, Gary White, Michael Galligan, Éimhín Morahan have all been involved in attack.
Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division One Final
Donaghmoyne v Truagh, Sunday, 1.00, Clones
Sunday’s schedule in Clones gets underway with the MFC Final between Donaghmoyne and Truagh.
Donaghmoyne are attempting to retain the Feargal O’Hanlon Cup, having already successfully defended their league title. Donaghmoyne survived a scare in their championship quarter-final against Seán McDermotts, which the holders won after a replay. St. Patrick’s (the Ballybay and Drumhowan amalgamation that won the U-16 championship in 2013) also put it up to Donaghmoyne in their semi-final, but again the favourites were up to the task. Truagh needed extra-time to get through a high-scoring quarter-final against Monaghan Harps and they then sprung a surprise against Magheracloone in the last four.
Donaghmoyne haven’t lost all year, finishing top of the league and going on to retain that title with a remarkable comeback to deny Magheracloone in the final. Truagh made into the Cup section of the league after the split, but they were unable to make much impact there and their two meetings with Donaghmoyne in 2015 have been one-sided. Truagh reached the U-16 Championship Division One Final last year and they also won the MFL Division Two.
Donaghmoyne have a star forward in David Garland, who hit 2-5 in this fixture last year, along with fellow county minors Stephen Finnegan, Niall Keenan, Shane Garland and Ronan McDonald, as well as the likes of Aaron Courtney and Ryan Mohan. Truagh will need big performances from James McKenna, Matthew Flood, Aaron and Ryan Mohan and Oran McElligott if they are to again upset the odds.
Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League Final
Castleblayney v Inniskeen, Saturday, 4.30, Clontibret
Castleblayney will attempt to complete another Monaghan senior hurling double when they take on Inniskeen in the league final on Saturday.
These teams have contested the last six SHC Finals, with Blayney holding a four-two advantage after their latest victory in August. The teams’ league meetings this year resulted in one win each as they finished joint-top, before Blayney eased past Carrickmacross in the semi-finals, with Inniskeen overcoming a stiff test from Truagh. Blayney were unable to progress in the Ulster Club IHC, losing to Creggan from Antrim, but they will still be fancied for this one.
Blayney’s hugely experienced team is full of current and former county players, such as Mark and Peter Treanor, Brian McGuigan, Hugh Byrne, Fergal Rafter, Niall Garland, Stephen Lambe and Deaglán Crowe. 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.
Clontibret and Castleblayney clash in the County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League on Sunday.
There are four games in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Saturday. Tyholland must win in Drumhowan to cling onto their hopes of avoiding relegation, while Currin can secure their status if they beat already-relegated Clones. IFC winners Doohamlet are away to league leaders Aughnamullen, while beaten finalists Carrickmacross take on Cremartin, who must win to maintain their hopes of making the semi-finals.
The last round of the Eurotech Junior Football League takes place on Sunday, with just two games going ahead. Killanny can finish top if they win away to Oram, while the other game sees Seán McDermotts host Killeevan.
By cshalvey Sat 17th Oct
