A big championship weekend beckons, with Intermediate semi-finals on Saturday and the Junior Final on Sunday.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Final
Blackhill v Seán McDermotts, Sunday, 3.30, Drumhowan
Blackhill and Seán McDermotts will be hoping to end long waits to win the Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship when they contest Sunday’s final.
Blackhill haven’t won this title since 1952, despite reaching the final in each of the last three years, two of which they lost after replays. Seán McDermotts last won it in 1990, although they also claimed the IFC in 2002. These teams have taken the direct route to today’s final. Blackhill saw off Clones, Scotstown and Drumhowan on their way to a semi-final derby against Toome, which they won after extra-time. The Seáns cruised past Corduff, before edging out Éire Óg and producing their best performance to date in their semi-final win over Clones. Both sides have also qualified for the semi-finals of the league, where there is very little to choose between them on their meetings: a one-point win for Blackhill, followed by a draw last month.
Blackhill’s team for their semi-final showed four changes from last year’s final replay, with Gerard McArdle, Shane Courtney, Jason Finnegan and Éamon Byrne making way for Thomas Courtney, Philip Donnelly, Aaron Kenny and Tommy Geehan.
Donnelly and Geehan (a younger brother of Michael) have nailed down places in the Blackhill attack, alongside captain Darren Woods, while Colin Woods recently returned from a lengthy injury-enforced absence. Dermot Daly and Anthony Courtney make up a strong midfield partnership, while Ryan and Dónal Courtney are key players in defence, with the pacy James Daly launching many attacks from the half-back line.
Seán McDermotts can call on a healthy combination of youth and experience as they bid to return to intermediate, where they last competed in 2014. Long-serving forwards Damien Larkin and James Treanor hit a combined 1-10 against Clones, while youngsters Niall Kearns and Adam O’Driscoll have added plenty to their attacking play. The Seáns have seen Brian McQuaid and Paddy Kieran return from injury to reclaim the full-back and full-forward jerseys respectively, with the former captaining the team, while James McAleer anchors the midfield and Mark McGuigan and Emmet McElvaney have been fixtures in the back-line. They had a strong bench last time out, with Aaron McNally, Noel Rice and goal-scorer Mark Keogh making an impact.
This final has a recent history of close contests, including draws in 2010, 2013 and last year with the 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014 titles being decided by an average margin of less than two points. There will be little surprise if we get another tight finish this time.
McElvaney Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Finals
Rockcorry v Tyholland, Saturday, 2.15, Scotstown
Donaghmoyne v Inniskeen, Saturday, 4.00, Scotstown
The IFC semi-finals are down for decision in Scotstown on Saturday.
First up, Tyholland contest their sixth IFC semi-final in seven years against last year’s Ulster junior champions Rockcorry. Tyholland go into this game as the IFL leaders, well clear of their opponents, but Rock have seen off Emyvale and Currin to again make light of their league form. Tyholland have had wins over Aughnamullen and Emyvale, either side of a narrow loss to Inniskeen. The teams have already had two tight encounters this year, resulting in one narrow win each.
Tyholland will be looking to Karl O’Connell, Dermot Coyle, Gary McQuaid, Ronan McNally and Shane Treanor to lead their challenge, while Niall McKeown, Fergal McGeough, Mark Daly, Mark McGuirk and Noel Carroll are among the main men for Rock.
The second game is a derby between Donaghmoyne and Inniskeen.
These teams’ feisty Round 1A clash saw Inniskeen win by a point, the same margin by which Donaghmoyne won their league game, which has them ahead of their neighbours in second place on head-to-head records. Having beaten Corduff in the preliminary round, Donaghmoyne have gone on to knock out Aughnamullen and Currin in the qualifiers, while Inniskeen’s win over their rivals was sandwiched by victories against Killanny and Tyholland.
Donaghmoyne will need big performances from David Garland, Francis Markey, Pádraig Donaghy, Stephen Finnegan and Ronan McDonald, while Paul, Dónal and Ronan Meegan, Matthew McKenna and Gerard McArdle should be to the fore for Inniskeen.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship McKeown Cup Final
Carrickmacross v Clones, Friday, 8.00, Emyvale
Carrickmacross and Clones contest the RFC McKeown Cup Final under Emyvale’s lights on Friday night.
Clones lost this fixture after a replay to Killeevan last year and they lost the RFL Division Three decider against Killanny earlier this year, but they are back in another final thanks to wins over Éire Óg and Oram (the latter at the second attempt). Carrick saw off Truagh and Aghabog in their championship games. Clones could be able to call on the likes of Colm Connolly, Eoin McQuaid, James McElwain, Emmet McEntee and Fabian Beggan, with Carrick hoping that Kevin O’Hanlon, Conor Duffy, Seán Downey and Jamie Guinan are available.
The penultimate round of the County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League game takes place on Sunday. Latton and Magheracloone can secure their places in the senior ranks if they take points off Doohamlet and Scotstown respectively, while a defeat for either would mean Carrickmacross need to win at home to Truagh to continue their push for survival. Elsewhere, Monaghan Harps host Ballybay and Clontibret face Castleblayney.
Corduff can move out of the relegation zone in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League if they win away to already-relegated Currin on Saturday.
Inniskeen are due to play their Ulster Club JHC opener against the Cavan champions in Ballyconnell on Sunday, but they have been made to wait to find out their opponents due to appeals regarding player eligibility between Cootehill and Mullahoran. Meanwhile, Castleblayney’s camogie team have an Ulster Club semi-final against St. John’s from Belfast in Blackhill on Sunday.
The Silver Hill Farm Under-16 Hurling Championship semi-finals take place this Saturday. Holders Carrickmacross make the short journey to Inniskeen, while Monaghan Harps have home advantage against Castleblayney. Both games are scheduled to throw in at 12 noon.
By cshalvey Fri 7th Oct
