A busy weekend features the start of the club championships and a final for the county minor hurlers.
Ulster Minor Hurling League Division Two Final
Monaghan v Cavan, Sunday, 12.00, Drumhowan
Monaghan take on Cavan in the Ulster MHL Division Two Final at Drumhowan on Saturday.
Both teams effectively got a bye to this final after Louth withdrew from the competition, while they were knocked out of the Shield section of the Ulster MHC at the semi-final stage; Monaghan by Donegal, Cavan by Tyrone.
Monaghan will be looking to the likes of Cathal Power, Dylan McAree, Luke McKenna and Niall McManus to lead their challenge.
Monaghan’s U-17 hurlers continue their Celtic Challenge campaign with a local derby away to Cavan on Wednesday evening. Monaghan have fallen to narrow defeats against Louth and Longford ahead of this clash with Cavan.
Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 1A
Magheracloone v Monaghan Harps, Saturday, 7.00, Aughnamullen
The SFC gets underway on Saturday evening with Magheracloone v Monaghan Harps in Aughnamullen.
Just a point separates these teams in the league. Magheracloone saw a three-game unbeaten streak ended by the narrowest of margins in Truagh last Saturday, while the Harps ended a three-match losing run with a win over Scotstown to overtake the Mitchells, who they knocked out of the 2015 championship on their way to the final.
Magheracloone have a mix of experience in the likes of Tommy Freeman, Gavin Doogan and James Ward and youth such as Allan Kieran and Alan McCahey. Suspension adds Neil McAdam to the list of absentees for the Harps, who will need Conor Galligan, Kevin Loughran, Liam and Niall Hahessy and Stephen Driver on form.
Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round
Doohamlet v Scotstown, Sunday, 1.30, Castleblayney
Carrickmacross v Latton, Sunday, 3.15, Castleblayney
There are two SFC double-headers down for decision on Sunday, the first of which is in the preliminary round at Castleblayney.
First up, Scotstown start their title defence against Doohamlet. These teams are currently in a three-way tie for second place in the SFL with Doohamlet’s taking their 2015 Intermediate double-winning form into the senior grade.
Under-21 star McGinn is the focal point of the Doohamlet attack and his likely absence through injury will increase the importance of Colin and Jamie Walshe and Barry McBennett to the O’Neills. Conor McCarthy, Shane Carey, James Turley, Dónal Morgan and Francis Caulfield should lead the way for Scotstown, with Darren and Kieran Hughes are suspended for Scotstown after they were sent off in the Ulster Club Final last November.
That game is followed by the meeting of Latton and Carrickmacross, who currently occupy the SFL relegation places.
Latton have managed to earn just three points so far, while Carrick’s opening-round victory at Latton was their only positive result until they edged Ballybay last Sunday. Carrick’s last trip to this Sunday’s venue was their 2015 IFC Final loss to Doohamlet.
Latton‘s challenge is spearheaded by Owen and Kieran Duffy, Owen Coyle and Hugh McElroy, while Carrick will need Stephen Gollogly, Peter and Kevin O’Hanlon, Gary McEnaney and James Conlon on top of their game.
Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 1A
Ballybay v Clontibret, Sunday, 5.15, Scotstown
Castleblayney v Truagh, Sunday, 7.00, Scotstown
Scotstown is the venue for the evening double-bill that starts with the renewal of rivalries between Ballybay and Clontibret.
These teams need no introductions as they met three times in last year’s championship, with Clontibret finally emerging from the low-scoring second replay to book a place in the last four. It was similarly close in their league clash where Ballybay won by a point to help them top the table for a couple of weeks until recent defeats against Magheracloone and Carrickmacross saw them overtaken by Clontibret, whose visit to Pearse Park was their only loss to date.
Both sides can call on a number of current and former county men. All-Star Conor McManus is joined by Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey and Conor Boyle on the Clontibret team, with Drew and Ryan Wylie, Paul Finlay, Thomas Kerr and Christopher McGuinness key to Ballybay’s chances.
Last up in the SFC is Castleblayney v Truagh.
Blayney dumped Truagh out of the running in a surprisingly one-sided Round 2B tie last year, but the north-Monaghan men will be determined to avoid a repeat of that this time around. Truagh go into this game with back-to-back wins behind them, leaving them two points ahead of the Faughs in the league.
Ciarán Hanratty has been in scoring form for Blayney, with Dermot Malone and Barry Hanratty other key players, along with Martin and Brendan McElroy (if available). Truagh will be relying on players like Daniel, Christopher and Paudie McKenna and Adam Treanor.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1A
Corduff v Seán McDermotts, Saturday, 5.15, Inniskeen
The JFC starts on Saturday evening with a double-header in Inniskeen.
The first game is the meeting of top versus bottom. Seán McDermotts have a 100% record after five games, while Corduff have yet to claim a point since their decision to enter a junior team.
Shane Malone and Shane McNally are among those eligible for Corduff, while the Seáns can call on Damien Larkin, Niall Kearns, Mark Keogh, Noel Rice and Adam O’Driscoll as they look to improve on a disappointing 2015 championship.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Preliminary Round
Blackhill v Clones, Saturday, 7.00, Inniskeen
Also at Páirc Grattan on Saturday evening is the clash of Blackhill and Clones.
Clones have found their feet in recent weeks after a stuttering start that followed their relegation, while perennial contenders and last year’s runners-up Blackhill have won all three of their games so far, the last of which was almost three weeks ago.
Clones, who will also be looking for big performances from county man Fintan Kelly, Adrian Alford, James Mealiff, Darragh Holland and Eoin McQuaid, while Ryan, Dónal and Anthony Courtney, Colin Woods and Michael Geehan could play key roles for Blackhill.
The Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League continues with a full round of games on Sunday at 12.30pm. Leaders Donaghmoyne are at home to Emyvale, while nearest challengers Inniskeen travel to Cremartin and there are lengthy journeys for Aughnamullen, Rockcorry and Tyholland to Currin, Killanny and Corduff respectively. Donaghmoyne go to Killanny on Wednesday evening.
The Eurotech Junior Football League also carries on this Sunday, when all three games are dress rehearsal for upcoming championship clashes. Oram, Aghabog and Killeevan have home advantage against Scotstown, Drumhowan and Éire Óg respectively. There are also games on Wednesday, namely Blackhill v Seán McDermotts, Éire Óg v Oram and Scotstown v Aghabog.
The last round of the Minor Football Leagues before the exam break takes place on Tuesday. Division One leaders Aughnamullen are away to joint-second-placed Truagh, while the other nearest challengers, Corduff, host Clontibret. Magheracloone make the trip to Scotstown and Ballybay is the venue for the clash of St. Patrick’s and Monaghan Harps.
Donaghmoyne chase a seventh consecutive win away to Clones in Division Two, where the other fixtures are Inniskeen v Na Mullaí Sarsfields, Clann na nGael v Carrickmacross, Castleblayney v Patrick Emmets and Emyvale v Killanny.
Division Three table-toppers Latton host Rockcorry, while Tyholland and Seán McDermotts are up against Doohamlet and Cremartin respectively.
The first Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship quarter-final takes place on Wednesday, with Truagh at home to Clontibret.
On the club hurling front, the Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League resumes with the final round on Thursday, when leaders Craobh Rua, Camlough are away to Castleblayney and Truagh make the short journey to face Monaghan Harps.
By cshalvey Sat 14th May
