The SFL and IFL semi-finals take centre stage this Sunday.
County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League Semi-Finals
Ballybay v Truagh, Sunday, 2.00, Ballybay
Monaghan Harps v Castleblayney, Sunday, 2.00, Gavan Duffy Park
Ballybay will be bidding for a fourth win of the year over Truagh when they host the north-Monaghan side in Sunday’s SFL semi-final.
The Pearse Brothers did the double over Truagh on their way to topping the league and they also beat them in a one-sided championship game, only to lose to eventual winners Scotstown at the semi-final stage. Truagh recovered to dramatically edge into fourth place on score difference, having started the final round just two points above the relegation zone, but qualifying for a second consecutive league final may be a step beyond them.
Ballybay, who are set to be without the honeymooning Drew Wylie, should still be able to call on the likes of Paul Finlay, Ryan Wylie, Thomas Kerr, Christopher and Shane McGuinness and Ciarán Galligan, while Truagh will need Christopher McKenna, Adam Treanor, John McCarron, Niall Coyle and Niall Feely on top of their game.
Meanwhile, Monaghan Harps host Castleblayney.
The Harps will be looking to atone for losing to Truagh at this stage last year, while Blayney got to the final in 2014, where they fell short against Scotstown. Recent meetings – two one-point wins for the Harps and one draw this year – point to a competitive encounter.
Neil McAdam, Conor Galligan, Shane Smyth, Stephen Driver and Kevin Loughran are big players for the Harps, with Dermot Malone, Martin and Brendan McElroy and Barry and Ciarán Hanratty likewise for the Faughs.
Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League Semi-Finals
Tyholland v Killanny, Sunday, 1.00, Tyholland
Inniskeen v Donaghmoyne, Sunday, 1.30, Inniskeen
The IFL semi-finals are also down for decision on Sunday, starting with Tyholland v Killanny at the slightly earlier time of 1pm.
Last year’s JFL winners Killanny adjusted very well to life in intermediate and they finished fourth in the league to earn a crack at table-toppers Tyholland, who won both group games between the teams. Tyholland lost their championship semi-final against Rockcorry and they will be determined to go a step further here.
Karl O’Connell, Gary McQuaid, Dermot Coyle, Ronan McNally, Shane Treanor and Pádraig Finnan should play key roles for Tyholland, while Killanny will need Peter Dooley, Daryl and Gavin Traynor, Conor Vernon and Gavin Flanagan on top form.
Meanwhile, Donaghmoyne make the short journey to Inniskeen.
Donaghmoyne knocked their local rivals out at this stage of the championship, but they fell to a heavy defeat at Páirc Grattan less than a week after their county final victory, meaning they must go back to the same venue for this game, where Inniskeen need to win to maintain their hopes of also making a swift return to senior football. Donaghmoyne go into this one on the back of an extra-time Ulster Club win over Bredagh, which earned them a semi-final tie against Aghagallon on Sunday week.
Donaghmoyne will again be looking for big performances from David Garland, Frank 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.
By cshalvey Fri 4th Nov
