It’s a big weekend for county teams, with Monaghan taking on Donegal in three Ulster championship fixtures.
Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Monaghan v Donegal, Saturday, 7.00, Cavan
Monaghan will attempt to qualify for a fourth consecutive Ulster SFC Final when they take on Donegal at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday evening.
A comprehensive win over Down saw Monaghan through to another clash with regular opponents Donegal, who saw off Fermanagh in their quarter-final. These teams have, of course, contested each of the last three Ulster finals, with Monaghan’s wins in 2013 and 2015 sandwiching a 2014 Donegal victory. Monaghan also edged out their rivals in the last round of this spring’s Allianz National Football League, coming from seven points down for a one-point win that secured their Division One status.
Malachy O’Rourke has named an unchanged Monaghan team, while the Donegal side sees Ciarán Gillespie and Karl Lacey come in for Hugh McFadden and the suspended Neil McGee. Conor McManus will again shoulder much of the attacking responsibility for Monaghan, with support from the likes of Kieran and Darren Hughes, while an experienced back-line is led by Colin Walshe, Drew and Ryan Wylie and Vincent Corey. Donegal will be looking for big performances from the likes of Michael Murphy, Patrick McBrearty, Odhrán Mac Niallais, Ryan McHugh and Frank McGlynn.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Colin Walshe, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey, Kieran Duffy; Karl O’Connell, Kieran Hughes; Shane Carey, Dermot Malone, Ryan McAnespie; Conor McCarthy, Darren Hughes, Conor McManus (Capt.).
Subs: Conor Forde, Conor Boyle, Fintan Kelly, Neil McAdam, Dick Clerkin, Paul Finlay, Stephen Gollogly, Thomas Kerr, Owen Duffy, Daniel McKenna, Jack McCarron.
Donegal: Mark Anthony McGinley; Paddy McGrath, Ciarán Gillespie, Éamon McGee; Ryan McHugh, Karl Lacey, Frank McGlynn; Rory Kavanagh, Odhrán Mac Niallais; Anthony Thompson, Martin McElhinney, Eoin McHugh; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy (Capt.), Martin O’Reilly.
Ulster Minor Football Championship Semi-Final
Monaghan v Donegal, Saturday, 5.00, Cavan
The counties also contest an Ulster MFC semi-final at the same venue.
Monaghan and Donegal had hard-earned wins over Down and Antrim respectively in the quarter-finals. Donegal won the Ulster MFL earlier this year, winning a high-scoring semi-final against Monaghan along the way (after extra-time). Monaghan are bidding to reach the final for the first time since they won this title in 2013.
David Garland, Micheál Bannigan, Pádraig Finnan, Josh Walsh and James Wilson should be among the main men for Monaghan, while Donegal will be depending on the likes of Niall O’Donnell, Jason McGee, JD Boyle, Aidan McLaughlin and Eoghan McGettigan, who has been cleared to play after winning an appeal against his red card last time out.
Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Shield Final
Monaghan v Donegal, Sunday, 12.30, Enniskillen
Monaghan and Donegal cross swords again on Sunday, this time in the Ulster SHC Shield Final at Brewster Park.
Monaghan got a bye into the final after Tyrone were unable to field last Sunday, while Donegal earned their place with a four-point win over Fermanagh. Donegal knocked Monaghan out of the Nicky Rackard Cup for the fourth times in the last five years at the quarter-final stage last month. The 2013 winners then lost to eventual champions Mayo in the last four. Both teams will compete in Division 3A of the Allianz National Hurling League next year after Donegal were relegated from 2B and Monaghan lost the final for the second time in a row (to Roscommon).
Trevor Hilliard will be looking to Mark and Peter Treanor, Fergal Rafter, Stephen Lambe and Niall Garland to lead Monaghan’s challenge, while Donegal’s key men include Danny Cullen, Jamesie Donnelly, Seán McVeigh, Lee Henderson and Ciarán Mathewson.
The County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League continues with star games on Sunday. Ballybay can return to the top if they win their local derby in Latton, while Scotstown face Clontibret and Monaghan Harps host Magheracloone.
Sunday’s Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League games include a derby between Aughnamullen and Corduff, as well as Cremartin v Killanny, Currin v Tyholland and Emyvale v Inniskeen. Leaders Donaghmoyne face Rockcorry on Monday evening.
The only Eurotech Junior Football League game to go ahead on Sunday is Seán McDermotts v Clones. Monday sees Scotstown and Éire Óg host Killeevan and table-toppers Blackhill respectively, while Tuesday’s fixtures are Toome v Aghabog and Drumhowan v Oram.
The Minor Football League Division One resumes after the exam break with the clash of Truagh and Aughnamullen on Tuesday.
The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three continues on Wednesday, when the fixtures are Éire Óg v Killeevan, Truagh v Clones and Monaghan Harps v Killanny.
Castleblayney will bid for a fifth consecutive win in the Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling League when they travel to Clontibret on Thursday, while Carrickmacross make the short journey to Inniskeen and Truagh host Craobh Rua, Camlough.
There is action in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-16 and Under-12 Football Leagues in the coming week.
The John West Féile Peil na nÓg takes place in Cork, Kerry and Limerick this weekend, with Monaghan to be represented by Division One championship winners Donaghmoyne and Division Two champions Clann na nGael (Toome and Oram).
By cshalvey Sat 25th Jun
