The busy schedule continues this Sunday, with SFL and IFL Finals down for decision and two Monaghan teams contesting Ulster Club semi-finals.
County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League Final
Ballybay v Castleblayney, Sunday, 2.00, Emyvale
Emyvale hosts the SFL Final between Ballybay and Castleblayney.
Ballybay led the way in the league for much of the year and after finishing top of the table, they saw off Truagh in last Sunday’s semi-final. Blayney, who finished third, had a one-point win away to Monaghan Harps to qualify for their second league final in three years. Both teams are looking to end long waits to win the Owen Ward Cup, with the Faughs not having won it since 2000 and the Pearse Brothers’ wait stretching back to 1986. Ballybay won these sides’ first meeting of the year back in April, but Blayney edged an exciting return fixture in August.
Despite the absence of Drew Wylie, Ballybay can still call on the likes of Ryan Wylie, Paul Finlay, Thomas Kerr, Christopher McGuinness and Dessie Ward. Blayney, who were without Brendan McElroy last time out, will need big performances from Dermot Malone, Ciarán and Barry Hanratty, Martin McElroy and Mark Treanor.
Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League Final
Inniskeen v Killanny, Sunday, 2.00, Corduff
The IFL Final sees Inniskeen and Killanny face off in Corduff.
Two divisions separated these teams last year, but 2015 JFL winners Killanny adjusted well to life in intermediate, finishing fourth in the table and winning away to Tyholland in the semi-finals to follow in the footsteps of last year’s IFL runners-up Aughnamullen by making back-to-back league finals. In contrast, Inniskeen are looking to join neighbours Donaghmoyne in making a quick return to senior football, having overturned their championship semi-final defeat against the Fontenoys last Sunday. Killanny marked their return to Páirc Grattan with a one-point win early this year, but they fell to two heavy defeats against Inniskeen in July, including one in the IFC preliminary round.
Ronan, Dónal and Paul Meegan, Matthew McKenna and Gerard McArdle should be to the fore for Inniskeen, while Killanny will need Daryl Traynor, Gavin Flanagan, Ronan and Tiernan Duffy and Adam Kieran on top form.
AIB Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final
Donaghmoyne v Aghagallon, Sunday, 12.45, Newry
Donaghmoyne are up against Aghagallon from Antrim in the AIB Ulster Club IFC semi-finals at Páirc Esler.
Having recovered from an early-round defeat against Inniskeen to win the Monaghan IFC for the first time in 20 years, edging past Rockcorry in the final, Donaghmoyne made a winning start on the provincial stage a fortnight ago when they saw off Down side Bredagh after extra-time. After going through the Antrim championship unbeaten, Aghagallon edged past Fermanagh’s Kinawley last time out.
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. Half-back Eunan Walsh, midfield pairing David McAlernon and Oisín Lenehan and forwards Gareth Magee and Ruairí McCann are among the main men for Aghagallon.
AIB Ulster Club Junior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Blackhill v Downings, Sunday, 2.30, Owenbeg
Blackhill travel to the Derry Centre of Excellence, Owenbeg for their Ulster Club JFC semi-final against Downings from Donegal.
After finally getting over the line in the Monaghan final, Blackhill made a confident start to their Ulster campaign when a dominant second-half performance put away Clonmore (Armagh). Downings have had a successful year, with the first silverware coming when they won the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta junior title in June, followed in October by the Donegal JFC, following one-point wins in the semi-final and final. They started out in Ulster with a similarly narrow victory over Magilligan from Derry.
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, while Downings will be looking to Lorcan Connor to lead their challenge, with support from the likes of Eric Roberts, team captain Colin Gallagher and Gary Bán McClafferty.
By cshalvey Fri 11th Nov
