The JFL semi-finals are on this Sunday and there is also SFL and IFL action over the weekend.
Eurotech Junior Football League Semi-Finals
Killanny v Blackhill, Sunday, 2.00, Killanny
Rockcorry v Seán McDermotts, Sunday, 2.00, Rockcorry
The JFL semi-finals are down for decision on Sunday.
After winning their last five games to finish top, Killanny have home advantage against JFC runners-up Blackhill, who also reached the league final last year. Killanny had an underwhelming championship campaign, but they lost just three of their 18 league group games. Blackhill got through to yet another final, only to lose out to Rockcorry after a replay. Both games between these teams so far were close contests, producing one win each.
Tiernan and Ronan Duffy, Conor and Michael Vernon, Gavin and Daryl Traynor and Cillian Leegan should play key roles for Killanny, while Blackhill will be looking for the likes of Ryan and Dónal Courtney, Colin Woods, Michael Geehan and Hugh Byrne to lead their challenge.
The other semi sees Rockcorry continue their bid for a Monaghan junior double when they host Seán McDermotts.
Two weeks after winning the championship, Rock now have the twin targets of the league and the Ulster Club JFC, which they will enter on November 1. The Seáns made a disappointing, early exit from the JFC, but they edged out Blackhill to finish third in the table. The Seáns have won in Rockcorry this year, but that came back in April and they later lost by five points in the reverse fixture.
Mark McGuirk, Niall McKeown, Noel Carroll, Fergal McGeough, Mark and Keith Daly and Mark Thornton are among the main men for Rock, while the Seáns will need Damien Larkin, Brian McQuaid, Patrick Kieran, James Treanor, Niall Kearns and Noel Rice on top form if they are to upset the form book.
The race for semi-final places in the County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League should be clearer by the end of this weekend. Clontibret can secure a semi-final place if they beat Magheracloone on Saturday, as can Truagh when they face relegated Donaghmoyne on Sunday, while beaten SFC finalists Monaghan Harps can put one foot in the semi-finals if they win at home to Latton. Before all that, new championship winners Scotstown face Castleblayney in Cloghan on Friday night.
The last round of the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League is also down for decision, with the battle to avoid relegation the main item on the agenda. Five points from their last three games have seen Tyholland overtake Drumhowan, who they defeated last Saturday. A win at home to Doohamlet on Sunday would be enough to keep Tyholland up, with Drumhowan needing to win in Emyvale and hope the other result goes their way in order to avoid returning to junior. Elsewhere, the top two clash when Carrickmacross host Aughnamullen, while Cremartin face Currin. Corduff travel to already-relegated Clones on Saturday.
By cshalvey Fri 23rd Oct
