As well as Monaghan’s SFC qualifier against Longford, there is plenty of club action over the weekend, including two games each in the IFC and JFC.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1B
Aghabog v Oram, Friday, 8.00, Drumhowan
Aghabog and Oram put their JFC hopes on the line in Drumhowan on Friday night.
Aghabog lost to Drumhowan in the preliminary round, while Oram were edged out by Scotstown after extra-time. Meanwhile, there is nothing to choose between the teams on league form, where they are both part of a three-way tie for fourth place in a tightly-condensed table. Oram failed to win a game in the championship last year, while Aghabog were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Scotstown.
Gary McBride, Cameron O’Leary, Ciarán Logue and Seán O’Brien could play key roles for Aghabog, while Pauric Graham, Ryan McGuinness, Danny Lynch and Rory Murphy are among the main men for Oram.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1B
Killeevan v Toome, Sunday, 3.30, Cremartin
Killeevan and Toome are also in the last-chance saloon in the JFC on Sunday in Cremartin.
Toome knocked Killeevan out on their way to a semi-final defeat against eventual Ulster JFC winners Rockcorry last year, but they fell to another first-round defeat this time around against Drumhowan. Killeevan, meanwhile, were put to the sword by Éire Óg. Toome are one of the three teams vying for fourth place on nine points in the JFL, while Killeevan are second-bottom, although a win over Drumhowan last week moved them onto six points.
Gary Wilson, Ryan and Jason Murphy and Seán McMahon are big players for Toome, who should have Stephen Lambe and county minors James Wilson and Frank Connolly available after they missed the Drumhowan game. Killeevan, who will have their county minor Ciarán Burns back, will need Noel Smith, Kevin McGinn, Ciarán Corr and Gerard Graham on top of their game.
McElvaney Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship Preliminary Round
Corduff v Donaghmoyne, Sunday, 5.45, Castleblayney
Inniskeen v Killanny, Sunday, 7.30, Castleblayney
The IFC begins on Sunday evening with a double-header of south-Monaghan derbies in Castleblayney, starting with the clash of Corduff and Donaghmoyne.
After only lasting one year in senior, Donaghmoyne are showing their determination to return to the top flight; losing just one of their first ten league games. Corduff have been in the bottom half throughout the campaign to date, although two wins from their last three outings, have lifted them out of the relegation zone and they put it up to Donaghmoyne in a high-scoring game at the end of May.
Donaghmoyne have been introducing several members of their successful minor teams of recent years, including Mikey Murnaghan, David Garland, Ronan McDonald and Stephen Finnegan, while Corduff will need the likes of Keith McEnaney, Pádraic Keenan, Declan Larkin and Ciarán Brennan on form if they are to upset the odds.
Last up is the other preliminary-round game between Inniskeen and Killanny.
Killanny were two divisions below their neighbours last year, but their JFL success and Inniskeen’s relegation from senior has been followed by a strong league campaign from the Geraldine. Killanny are a point ahead of Inniskeen in the IFL in a share of second place and they had a one-point win at Páirc Grattan at the end of May.
Paul, Ronan, Dónal and Colm Meegan and Matthew McKenna are key players for Inniskeen, while Killanny will be looking for big performances from Peter Dooley, Daryl and Gavin Traynor, Adam Kieran and Conor Vernon.
Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals
Castleblayney v Inniskeen, Thursday, 7.30
Truagh v Clontibret, Thursday, 7.30
The SHC gets underway with two quarter-final ties on Thursday evening, including the meeting of big rivals Castleblayney and Inniskeen.
These teams contested the last six county finals, with Blayney winning four of those, including the last two. Blayney have won all five games so far in the SHL, including a high-scoring (5-6 to 1-13) encounter in Inniskeen last month.
Blayney can call on a huge number of county players, such as Mark and Peter Treanor, Stephen Lambe, Fergal Rafter, Deaglán Crowe, Brian McGuigan, Niall Garland and Paddy Finnegan, while Inniskeen will need Martin Murphy and Ronan, Paul, Dónal and Colm Meegan to lead the way.
The other tie is between Truagh and Clontibret.
Just two points separate these teams in the SHL, but Truagh, who are in a share of third place, go into this on a high after putting Clontibret to the sword. Truagh, who won the Shield in the last two years, have already won the Development League in 2016.
Conor Boyle, Conor McKenna, Conor McGinnity and Cathal McAnespie should be to the fore for Truagh, while Clontibret will need to have the likes of Shane McNally, Kieran and Fergal Greenan and Liam Savage available.
There is a round of star games in the County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League over the weekend, starting with Latton v Truagh on Saturday. Sunday’s fixtures are Castleblayney v Magheracloone, Clontibret v Ballybay, Monaghan Harps v Carrickmacross and Scotstown v Doohamlet.
The Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League continues on Sunday, when Aughnamullen face Rockcorry, Currin host Cremartin and Tyholland make the short trip to Emyvale.
There is a Eurotech Junior Football League derby between Clones and Éire Óg on Sunday, when both teams will be attempting to secure a place in the top half ahead of the split.
The Under-21 Football Championship begins with three games on Friday evening, including the first two quarter-finals between Aughnamullen and Monaghan Harps and Truagh and holders Magheracloone. North-Monaghan neighbours Scotstown and Emyvale also clash, while the other preliminary-round game sees Latton host Carrickmacross on Monday.
There is also a busy schedule of minor football, with the MFL Division One splitting into a Cup and Shield. The former sees Corduff and Magheracloone host Aughnamullen and Truagh respectively on Tuesday, while the Shield fixtures are Clontibret v St. Patrick’s (Monday) and Scotstown v Monaghan Harps.
The Maguire Transport Minor Football Championships start up on Tuesday. The Division Two preliminary-round games are Clones v Killanny and Emyvale v Donaghmoyne, while there are quarter-finals in Division Three, namely Tyholland v Latton and Cremartin v Doohamlet.
Oram and Aghabog meet in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three on Sunday, while Magheracloone travel to Truagh for a Division 1A game on Wednesday. There is also Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship action on Wednesday, with Clones and Oram replaying their McKeown Cup semi-final and Carrickmacross up against Aghabog in the other semi.
There is action in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-16, Under-14 and Under-12 Football Leagues in the coming week, as well as the Silver Hill Foods Under-12 Hurling League.
The Silver Hill Foods Under-14 Hurling League between championship winners Carrickmacross and Castleblayney is down for decision on Monday evening in Blackhill.
By cshalvey Fri 8th Jul
