A Monaghan v Tyrone double-header of Ulster Club Football Championship Finals is in store at Páirc Esler this Sunday.
AIB Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship Final
Donaghmoyne v Pomeroy, Sunday, 2.30, Newry
Donaghmoyne take on 2004 champions Pomeroy in their first Ulster Club IFC Final.
Donaghmoyne return to the scene of their wins over Down side Bredagh (after extra-time) and Aghagallon, when a strong finish saw the Fontenoys pip their Antrim opponents. Paddy Martin’s side earlier recovered from a first-round defeat against Inniskeen to win the Monaghan IFC for the first time in 20 years, avenging that defeat against their neighbours at the semi-final stage, before edging past Rockcorry in the final.
Pomeroy saw off Aghyaran, Gortin, Eskra and Derrylaughan to win the Tyrone title and they cruised past Arva from Cavan in their Ulster opener. The Plunketts were pushed all the way in their semi-final against Derry side Castledawson, but they dug deep to edge through.
David Garland has been in prolific form for Donaghmoyne, with Ronan McDonald, Pádraig Donaghy and Stephen Finnegan also contributing on the scoreboard and Frank Markey and Mikey Murnaghan other central figures. Pomeroy can call on Tyrone Under-21 captain Frank Burns, county senior panellists Kieran and Hugh Pat McGeary and Chris Colhoun, who also previously featured under Mickey Harte, with Ryan and John Loughran other key players.
Donaghmoyne are the third Monaghan club to contest this fixture since 2013, but Tyrone teams have a strong record at this level, having won the McCully Cup five times, although the only previous Monaghan v Tyrone final resulted in victory for Truagh three years ago.
AIB Ulster Club Junior Football Championship Final
Blackhill v Rock, Sunday, 12.30, Newry
Blackhill get proceedings underway when they take on Rock in the Ulster JFC decider. Clubs from Monaghan and Tyrone have been dominant in this competition, with 11 titles between them.
After finally getting over the line in the Monaghan final, Blackhill have had a good Ulster campaign with wins over Clonmore (Armagh) and Downings (Donegal). Standing between them and more silverware, however, are Tyrone’s Rock. The St. Patrick’s club won this competition in both previous appearances in 2007 and 2014 and they are now one win away from a hat-trick of titles.
Like Blackhill, Rock have won all seven championship games this year. After coming through a series of close games in a competitive Tyrone JFC, Rock saw off Con Magees in the Ulster preliminary round and they then put Cavan’s Cornafean to the sword, before holding off a late revival from Fermanagh club Newtownbutler.
Philip Donnelly, Mickey and Tommy Geehan and Darren and Colin Woods, Dermot and James Daly and Ryan, Dónal and Anthony Courtney should all play key roles for Blackhill. Rock can call on the prolific Aidan McGarrity, playmaker Conor McCreesh and three-time Tyrone All-Ireland winner Ciarán Gourley, as well as the likes of Paudie Ward and Tommy Bloomer
All-Ireland Club Ladies Junior Football Championship Semi-Final Replay
Latton v St. Maurs, Saturday, 1.00, Latton
Latton’s ladies are in All-Ireland action for the second time in less than a week when they play hosts to Dublin side St Maurs in the JFC semi-final replay on Saturday.
The teams couldn’t be separated in a high-scoring clash in Rush last Sunday, so they have to meet again to decide if Latton can become the second Monaghan club to make this year’s finals, a week after Donaghmoyne qualified for another senior decider. Latton earlier cruised through their delayed quarter-final against Granemore from Armagh, before battling past Donegal side St. Naul’s and winning the Ulster final against Kingscourt (Cavan). After winning the Dublin championship, St Maurs went on to Leinster glory with a convincing provincial final victory over Kildare club Suncroft, before seeing off Glasgow Gaels at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage.
Latton will again be looking for big performances from Shauna Coyle, Lavina Connolly, Joanne Culleton, Amelia Elliott and Katie Duffy, while Olivia Leonard, Éadaoin McGuinness, Naomi Clare and Megan Foley are key for St Maurs.
Ulster Minor Hurling League Final
Monaghan Harps v Naomh Moninne, Sunday, 11.00, Cloghan
Monaghan Harps contest the Ulster MHL Final against Naomh Moninne, Dundalk in Cloghan on Sunday.
The Harps have had impressive knock-out stage wins over Cootehill Celtic (Cavan) and Lisbellaw (Fermanagh). Naomh Moninne cruised past fellow Louth side St. Fechin’s, before edging a tight semi-final against Carrickmacross, who beat the Harps after a replay to win the Monaghan MHC
Cathal Power, Aidan Burns, Dylan McAree, Remy McKenna, Niall McManus and Nathan O’Donoghue should play key roles for the Harps, while Darren Geoghegan, Ultan McEneaney, Eoin Murphy and Seán Kennedy are among the main players for Naomh Moninne.
By cshalvey Fri 25th Nov
