The Junior Football League Final and semi-finals in the Senior and Intermediate Football Leagues are all on the schedule on a busy Sunday afternoon.
Eurotech Junior Football League Final
Killanny v Rockcorry, Sunday, 2.30, Drumhowan
The JFL Final in Drumhowan takes top billing on Sunday.
Killanny and Rockcorry have already secured promotion, but there is still the not insignificant matter of the Dr. Ward Cup to play for. Killanny had an underwhelming championship campaign, failing to build on an opening win over Toome, but they have won 16 out of 19 league games, including a semi-final defeat of Blackhill. Rockcorry, of course, already have the championship title secured and an Ulster Club semi-final to look forward to on Sunday week, but they will be keen to emulate the famous team of 1982 by completing a Monaghan junior double. They edged a high-scoring semi-final shoot-out against Seán McDermotts.
Tiernan and Ronan Duffy, Conor and Michael Vernon, Adam Kieran, Gavin and Daryl Traynor, Peter Dooley and Cillian Leegan should play key roles for Killanny, while Rock will once again be looking to the players who have led their championship run, such as Fergal McGeough, Mark McGuirk, Niall McKeown, Noel Carroll, Mark and Keith Daly and Mark Thornton.
County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League Semi-Finals
Monaghan Harps v Truagh, Sunday, 2.30, Monaghan
Scotstown v Magheracloone, Sunday, 2.00, Scotstown
The SFL semi-finals also take place this Sunday.
Scotstown’s confidence will be high as they turn their attentions from the Ulster Club championship back to their bid for a third consecutive league title when they host Magheracloone, who edged Clontibret out for fourth place with wins over the O’Neills and Monaghan Harps in the last two rounds. Scotstown, who beat Magheracloone in the 2013 SFL Final, have already done the double over their opponents this year.
Darren and Kieran Hughes, Conor McCarthy, Dónal Morgan, James Turley and Rory Beggan have been in fine form for Scotstown, while Magheracloone will be looking for Tommy Freeman, Gavin Doogan, James Ward, Paudie McMahon and Allan Kieran to lead their challenge.
The other game is a north-Monaghan derby between Monaghan Harps and Truagh at Gavan Duffy Park.
The Harps, who lost out to Scotstown in the championship final, were second to the county champions for most of the league and ended up in that position to gain home advantage for this encounter. Truagh exited the SFC in early September, but went through their last four games unbeaten to finish third. The first game between these sides this year was a draw, while the Harps won by a goal on home soil.
Neil McAdam, Conor Galligan, Stephen Driver, Fearghal McMahon and Kevin Loughran are key players for the Harps, with Daniel and Christopher McKenna, John McCarron, Rory Treanor and Niall Feely crucial to Truagh’s chances, particularly in the absence of Paudie McKenna.
Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League Semi-Final
Carrickmacross v Doohamlet, Sunday, 2.00, Carrickmacross
The second IFL semi-final is also on Sunday, with Carrickmacross hosting Doohamlet in a repeat of the IFC decider.
Doohamlet, who also took three points from the teams’ league meetings, finished strongly in Castleblayney last month to claim their third IFC title since 2010 and they have subsequently qualified for Sunday week’s Ulster semi-final. Carrick’s last-round win over Aughnamullen (who have already qualified for the final) saw them finish top.
Carrick will need big performances from Stephen Gollogly, Peter O’Hanlon, Gary and Ryan McEnaney, Cillian Cromwell and Conor Duffy, while Colin Walshe, Barry McGinn, Barry McBennett have been in top form recently for Doohamlet.
Ulster Club Ladies Intermediate Football Championship Final
Donaghmoyne B v Glenelly, Sunday, 2.30, Killyclogher
Donaghmoyne ladies will attempt to complete a remarkable Ulster championship double when their second team contest the IFC Final against Glenelly at Killyclogher on Sunday.
It’s a return to the venue where Donaghmoyne regained the senior title last weekend and they will be gunning to take more silverware back with them. Having won the Monaghan IFC, three years after claiming county and Ulster junior titles, Donaghmoyne got a bye through the provincial quarter-finals, before seeing off Down’s St. John Bosco. Tyrone side Glenelly have impressed on their way to this final, running up big scores against Lissummon (Armagh) and Lisnaskea (Fermanagh).
Donaghmoyne could feature the likes of Arlene Keenan, Áine McElroy, Annmarie Burns, while Siobhán Sheerin, Fiona Marie Devlin and Aisling O’Kane should play key roles for Glenelly.
Ulster Club Ladies Junior Football Championship Final
O’Neill Shamrocks v Steelstown, Sunday, 1.00, Killyclogher
Sunday’s curtain-raiser in Killyclogher sees O’Neill Shamrocks bid for the Ulster JFC title.
The Clontibret/Cremartin side have had qualified for this final in some style with wins over Cavan’s Drumgoon and Fermanagh side Brookeborough, while Derry-city club Steelstown have knocked out Mullaghbawn (Armagh), Trillick (Tyrone) and Buncrana (Donegal).
Danica Tavey Morgan hit a huge tally of 3-11 against Brookeborough and will be central to O’Neill Shamrocks, along with the likes of Michelle Kerr, Niamh Tibby and Niamh Emma and Áine Doherty, Aoife Lafferty, Megan Devine, Ciara McGurk and Katie Henderson should be to the fore for Steelstown.
Before all that, Inniskeen represent Monaghan in the Paul McGirr Ulster Under-16 Football Championship in Dromore, Co Tyrone on Saturday at 12 noon. Andrew and Aidan Woods, Séamus Kindlon, Pauric McGahon and Ciarán McNulty are key players for Inniskeen, who won the Monaghan championship with a victory over neighbours Carrickmacross.
Meanwhile, Monaghan Masters (Over-40s) contest the All-Ireland Shield Final against Westmeath in Drumlish, Co Longford on Saturday at 1.15.
By cshalvey Fri 6th Nov
