It’s a busy weekend, with two county teams in action and a number of club games including three in the JFC.
Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Shield Semi-Final
Monaghan v Tyrone, Sunday, 7.00, Enniskillen
Monaghan will bid for a place in the Ulster SHC Shield Final when they take on Tyrone at Brewster Park on Sunday evening.
Monaghan recovered from an opening-round defeat against Sunday’s opponents to reach the Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A Final, where they lost out to Roscommon. Trevor Hilliard’s side then started the Nicky Rackard Cup with a win over Fermanagh, but narrow defeats against Fingal and Donegal ended their hopes. It has been a testing year for Tyrone, who needed to win play-offs against Fermanagh to preserve their status in both the NHL and the Rackard Cup.
Monaghan will need big performances from the likes of Mark and Peter Treanor, Fergal Rafter and Deaglán Crowe and they will hope that Stephen Lambe is also available. Damian Casey has been as prolific as ever for Tyrone, who will also need the likes of Aidan Kelly, Tiernan Morgan, Matthew Mulgrew and Conor Grogan on form.
TG4 Ulster Senior Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final
Monaghan v Armagh, Saturday, 7.00, Killyclogher
Monaghan’s ladies are also in Ulster championship semi-final action with Saturday evening’s clash with Armagh.
Monaghan had a difficult time in the National Football League, with a much-changed team just managing to avoid relegation from Division One. Meanwhile, a Ronan Clarke-managed Armagh side had a progressive campaign that saw them controversially excluded from the top-flight semi-finals. Monaghan beat Armagh at this stage last year (before losing to Donegal in the provincial final), but the Orchard County dethroned the then-champions in the 2014 decider.
Despite some high-profile departures, Monaghan can still call on the likes of Ciara and Aoife McAnespie, Sharon and Cora Courtney, Laura McEnaney and Gráinne McNally. Armagh have players of the calibre of Caroline O’Hanlon, Aimee Mackin, Aoife McCoy and Fionnuala McKenna.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1A
Éire Óg v Killeevan, Saturday, 7.00, Monaghan
The first JFC game of the weekend sees Éire Óg and Killeevan clash at Gavan Duffy Park on Saturday evening.
Éire Óg are part of a three-way tie for third place in the JFL on eight points, leaving the Smithborough men four points ahead of second-from-bottom Killeevan. Éire Óg, who lost to Aghabog last Saturday, ground out a one-point win in Killeevan last month, while the Newbliss side, who shocked Oram at this stage last year, go into this on the back of a win over struggling Corduff.
Dermot Gleeson, Michael Tierney, Ronan Cassidy, Marc McBride and Paddy Croarkin should play key roles for Éire Óg, with Noel Smith, Kevin McGinn, Gerard Graham and Ciarán Corr potentially among the main men for Killeevan.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1A
Drumhowan v Toome, Sunday, 5.30, Clontibret
Blackhill v Scotstown, Sunday, 7.15, Clontibret
There is also a JFC double-header in Clontibret on Sunday evening.
Drumhowan, who started their bid for a third JFC title in five years with a six-point preliminary-round win over Aghabog, are up against Toome in Round 1A. Just a point separates these teams in the league, with Drumhowan part of a three-way tie for third place and Toome one of three sides just behind them. Drumhowan had two goals to spare when these teams met at the end of last month.
David Millar, Kevin and Kieran Mooney and Darren and Ciarán Duffy should be prominent for Drumhowan, who sprung Colm Lambe off the bench against Aghabog, while Toome will be looking to the likes of Gary Wilson, Stephen Lambe, Ryan and Jason Murphy and Seán McMahon to lead the way.
Last up, the other two preliminary-round winners, Blackhill and Scotstown, go head to head.
Perennial challengers Blackhill started their bid to reach yet another final with a good win over Clones, while Scotstown overcame Oram after extra-time. Blackhill are the only unbeaten team in the county, leaving them top of the JFL on 13 points; seven points and eight positions above Scotstown. These teams met at the semi-final stage in the last two years, with Blackhill winning both.
Ryan, Dónal and Ciarán Courtney, Colin Woods (if fit), Dermot Daly and Michael Geehan could lead the way for Blackhill, while Scotstown will need Ruairí Sheehan, Gerard McCrudden, Micheál McCarville, Conor Caulfield and Donnacha Dolan on form.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship O’Duffy Cup Final
Donaghmoyne v Truagh, Friday, 7.45, Castleblayney
Donaghmoyne and Truagh contest the RFC O’Duffy Cup Final in Castleblayney on Friday night.
Narrow wins over Clontibret and Monaghan Harps have 2014 runners-up Truagh back in the final, while Donaghmoyne have followed back-to-back Crawley Cup successes by knocking out Scotstown, Castleblayney and Latton. Truagh are two points off the top of the RFL Division 1A, having lost just once in six games, Donaghmoyne are joint-top of Division 1B with two games in hand on nearest challengers, Aughnamullen.
Truagh could be backboned by the likes of Christopher McAnenly, Niall McQuillan, Seán McKenna, Daniel Finnegan and Aaron Treanor, while Donaghmoyne will be depending on players such as Bernard Kelly, Ronan McDonald, Shane McElroy, Niall Garland and Stephen Finnegan.
Cremartin host Tyholland in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Friday.
There is a Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship McKeown Cup Quarter-Final Replay between Aghabog and Inniskeen on Friday evening, while the first semi-final sees Oram host Clones next Thursday
The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Leagues continue on Sunday. Monaghan Harps host Latton in Division 1A, while the Division 1B fixtures are Aughnamullen v Ballybay, Castleblayney v Emyvale and Cremartin v Donaghmoyne. Rockcorry host Doohamlet in Division Two on Sunday, while Seán McDermotts make the short trip to Tyholland on Tuesday. Sunday’s Division Three games see Carrickmacross and Oram host Truagh and Aghabog respectively, before Killanny host Inniskeen on Tuesday.
The Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League continues on Thursday. Leaders Castleblayney host Craobh Rua, while the two teams currently sharing second place with the Camlough side – Truagh and Inniskeen – go head to head and Monaghan Harps and Clontibret bid to get off the mark.
There is action in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-14 and Under-12 football competitions this week, as well as round two of the Silver Hill Foods U-12 Hurling League.
Meanwhile, the U-14 hurlers of Castleblayney and Carrickmacross represent Monaghan at John West Féile na nGael in the south east over the weekend.
By cshalvey Fri 17th Jun
