Three Monaghan senior teams are in action in a busy weekend.
Allianz National Football League Division One
Monaghan v Mayo, Sunday, 2.30, Clones
Monaghan bid to get back to winning ways in the NFL when they welcome Mayo to Clones on Sunday.
Monaghan started their campaign with wins over Roscommon and Down, before losing narrowly to Dublin in an entertaining game at Croke Park last Saturday. Mayo are yet to get their first NFL win under Stephen Rochford after falling short against Cork, Dublin and Donegal, but they have shown signs of returning to the form that has made them one of the most consistent teams in the country over the last number of years.
Monaghan fell to a heavy defeat in Castlebar 12 months ago in a game where they finished with 13 men, while this is their first time to host Mayo since a last-round game in 2011, where a high-scoring win at Inniskeen wasn’t enough to save the hosts from relegation to Division Two.
The Monaghan team named for this game shows one change from last weekend, with Daniel McKenna replacing the injured Kieran Hughes. The in-form Conor McManus, Darren Hughes, Colin Walshe and Drew and Ryan Wylie give Malachy O’Rourke’s side an experienced spine, even in the absence of some veteran players. Mayo, who are slowly returning to full strength, have two changes from their absorbing round-three clash in Ballybofey, with Chris Barrett and Jason Doherty in for Michael Hall and injured captain Keith Higgins. Aidan O’Shea, Lee Keegan, Diarmuid O’Connor, Colm Boyle, Tom Parsons and Kevin McLoughlin are among the main men for the five-in-a-row Connacht champions.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Colin Walshe, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Kieran Duffy, Fintan Kelly, Karl O’Connell; Neil McAdam, Darren Hughes; Shane Carey, Dermot Malone, Thomas Kerr; Owen Duffy, Daniel McKenna, Conor McManus (Capt.).
Subs: Mark Keogh, Conor Boyle, Niall McKeown, Paudie McKenna, Dessie Mone, Mark Thornton, Gavin Doogan, Pádraic Keenan, Ryan McAnespie, Conor McCarthy, Barry McGinn.
Mayo: Rob Hennelly; Brendan Harrison, Ger Cafferkey, Chris Barrett; Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle, Shane Nally; Tom Parsons, Jason Gibbons; Diarmuid O’Connor, Aidan O’Shea, Kevin McLoughlin; Evan Regan, Jason Doherty, Conor O’Shea.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A
Monaghan v Louth, Sunday, 1.00, Castleblayney
Monaghan need a win in Sunday’s NHL derby against Louth to get their Division 3A campaign on track.
Five-point defeats against Tyrone and Roscommon mean that Monaghan must get going soon if they are to maintain any chance of reaching the final for the second consecutive year. Louth lost narrowly to the Rossies before escaping from Warwickshire with a one-point victory.
Trevor Hilliard’s side will need Mark and Peter Treanor, Stephen Lambe, Fergal Rafter and Niall Garland to lead the way if they are to stay in contention, while Louth will be looking for big performances from the likes of Liam Dwan, Diarmuid Murphy and Shane Callan.
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division One
Cork v Monaghan, Saturday, 7.30, Mourneabbey
Monaghan’s ladies make the long trip to Mourneabbey to face Cork on Saturday evening, on the back of their first win of the year last Sunday.
Monaghan followed defeats against Galway, Armagh and Dublin by winning their local derby against Tyrone. Meanwhile, Cork are level in the table as they adjust to the post-Éamonn Ryan era. Cork, who have won ten of the last 11 All-Ireland titles, have fallen to narrow losses to Mayo, Kerry, and Dublin, while also claiming a comfortable win over Tyrone.
Monaghan are without some key players, but can still call on others such as Cora and Sharon Courtney, Gráinne McNally, Therese Scott, the McAnespies and Ellen McCarron. Orla Finn has been prolific for Cork, who will also be hoping to have Briege Corkery, Ciara O’Sullivan, Rena Buckley and the recently returned Bríd Stack on form.
By cshalvey Sat 5th Mar
