The SFC semi-finals and the start of the Ulster club championships dominate this weekend’s schedule.
Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals
Castleblayney v Scotstown, Saturday, 5.00, Clontibret
Clontibret v Monaghan Harps, Sunday, 3.30, Scotstown
The SFC semi-finals are down for decision this weekend, starting with Castleblayney v Scotstown on Saturday in Clontibret.
Scotstown are within touching distance of a third consecutive county final after wins over Inniskeen, Truagh and Monaghan Harps. Blayney fell to a heavy defeat against the Harps in the first round, but they have recovered to knock out Donaghmoyne, Truagh and Ballybay. Scotstown have had the much more impressive league campaign, putting them top of the table, although Blayney, despite being eighth in the standings, won away to their old rivals back in May. These teams also met at this stage last year, when Scotstown had a comfortable win.
Shane Carey and Conor McCarthy have hit 1-26 between them so far in the SFC for Scotstown, with Brendan McElroy and Ciarán Hanratty on 3-23 for Blayney. Scotstown will also be looking for big performances from Darren and Kieran Hughes and Dónal Morgan, while Dermot and Fergal Malone and Barry Hanratty are other key players for Blayney.
Clontibret and Monaghan Harps meet in Scotstown on Sunday.
Holders Clontibret beat Magheracloone in the first round and then got past Ballybay after two replays, while the Harps have beaten Castleblayney and Magheracloone, either side of a loss to Scotstown. There isn’t much to separate these teams on league form, where the Harps are two points ahead, with Clontibret winning their only meeting to date. They also met at this stage two years ago, when Clontibret won after a replay.
Clontibret’s chances rest on county men Conor McManus, Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey and Conor Boyle, along with the likes of Colum Greenan and Conor Lavelle, while the Harps will need Neil McAdam, Conor Galligan, Dónal Hahessy, Fearghal McMahon and Kevin Loughran on top form.
Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Three Final
Emerald Sarsfields v Patrick Emmets, Sunday, 1.45, Scotstown
The MFC Division Three Final is Sunday’s curtain-raiser at Scotstown.
This game is between two amalgamated teams, with Emerald Sarsfields made up of Blackhill and Oram and Patrick Emmets consisting of Aghabog and Currin. Patrick Emmets finished second in the league, with their six wins including a comprehensive defeat of Emerald Sarsfields. They went on to reach the league final, losing to Killanny, while Emerald Sarsfields won the shield competition. Emerald Sarsfields defeated Rockcorry and Castleblayney to qualify for the championship final, with Patrick Emmets cruising past Latton and edging through a high-scoring semi-final against Doohamlet.
Emerald Sarsfields can call on one of Blackhill’s starting wing-forwards from their run to the JFC Final in James Daly, along with the likes of Stephen Irwin, Thomas Geehan and Ryan Maguire. Tyler O’Hanlon, Cameron O’Leary and Colm McCaffrey should be to the fore for Patrick Emmets.
Ulster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Final
Castleblayney v Creggan, Sunday, 3.30, Castleblayney
A busy weekend for Castleblayney continues when their senior hurlers host Creggan Kickhams in an Ulster Club IHC quarter-final on Sunday.
This is the clash of the last two Ulster JHC winners, as Creggan lifted the junior title in 2013, followed a year later by Blayney, who now move back into the provincial intermediate grade after retaining their Monaghan SHC title by defeating Inniskeen. Blayney have been in dominant form in their own county throughout this year and will be determined to carry that into Ulster.
Creggan, who went on to win the 2014 All-Ireland JHC, could be able to call on the likes of Conor and Oran McCann and Conor Small, while Blayney will need big games from their county contingent, which includes Mark and Peter Treanor, Stephen Lambe, Niall Garland and Fergal Rafter.
Ulster Club Junior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final
Truagh v Seán Mac Cumhaill, Sunday, 1.45, Castleblayney
The curtain-raiser to that Blayney’s Ulster IHC game on Sunday sees Truagh take on Donegal runners-up Seán Mac Cumhaills in the Ulster Club JHC at St. Mary’s Park. Truagh, who retained the Monaghan SHC Shield by defeating Carrickmacross, will hope to have Conor Boyle, Conor McKenna, Aidan Coyle, Damian McCarron and Niall Cadden on top form. Their opponents from Ballybofey club lost their county final to five-in-a-row winners Burt by just a single point and have players of the calibre of Ciarán Mathewson, Lee Henderson and Martin O’Reilly.
Magheracloone and Donaghmoyne clash in Inniskeen in the County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League on Friday evening, while Sunday’s game sees Inniskeen host Latton go in search of the win they need to maintain their fading hopes of avoiding relegation.
IFC finalists Carrickmacross and Doohamlet are both in action in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Sunday against the teams they beat in the championship semi-finals. Carrick take on Tyholland, who need a win to boost their survival hopes, while Doohamlet’s derby against Cremartin sees them bid to stay above their neighbours in the race for the top four.
Six days after drawing the JFC Final, Blackhill have conceded their Eurotech Junior Football League games against Oram, with Rockcorry’s derby v Aghabog to go ahead, while Toome and Seán McDermotts make the journeys to Scotstown and Killanny. Éire Óg host Killeevan on Sunday.
By cshalvey Sat 3rd Oct
