Allianz National Football League Division One
Donegal v Monaghan, Sunday, 3.00, Ballyshannon
Monaghan travel to Ballyshannon to face Donegal in round six of the Allianz NFL on Sunday.
Wins over Mayo and Kerry, either side of a draw with Cavan, got Monaghan off to a flying start, and although their unbeaten run came to an end away to Tyrone, they got the better of Roscommon last time out. That leaves them in a four-way tie at the top of the league, with one of the three other teams on seven points being Sunday’s opponents. Donegal lost to Kerry in round one, but they are unbeaten in their last four games: wins over Cavan, Roscommon and Tyrone, as well as a draw with Dublin.
Monaghan visited Letterkenny in 2014 and 2015 – winning one and losing one – while this is their first game at Fr. Tierney Park since letting a lead slip in the closing stages of a 2004 league clash. Monaghan, of course, edged out Donegal in the final round at Castleblayney last year to maintain their top-flight status by the narrowest of margins, before losing the latest instalment of this rivalry after a replayed Ulster SFC semi-final.
Malachy O’Rourke has named an unchanged Monaghan starting team. There is still no place for injured captain Colin Walshe, while the list of substitutes features one player yet to make a league debut in Micheál Bannigan.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Drew Wylie (Capt.), Ryan Wylie; Ryan McAnespie, Neil McAdam, Karl O’Connell; Darren Hughes, Kieran Hughes; Dessie Ward, Shane Carey, Gavin Doogan; Kieran Duffy, Jack McCarron, Conor McManus.
Subs: Conor Forde, Owen Coyle, Karl McQuaid, Vincent Corey, James Mealiff, Brian Greenan, Thomas Kerr, Owen Duffy, Conor McCarthy, Stephen Gollogly, Micheál Bannigan.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A
Monaghan v Tyrone, Sunday, 3.00, Cloghan * Please note change of venue
Monaghan’s hurlers will bid to qualify for the NHL Division 3A Final for the third year in a row when they face Tyrone at Cloghan on Sunday.
After wins over Tyrone and Donegal were followed by back-to-back victories against Louth, Monaghan were effectively on the brink of qualifying, but their fifth-round defeat in Letterkenny kept the race alive. Tyrone then edged out Donegal in their rescheduled fixture on Wednesday night to force the issue to the final day, with all three teams still in the running. A draw would be enough for Monaghan to advance, but wins for Tyrone and Donegal would see Trevor Hilliard’s side knocked out on score difference.
Peter Treanor, Dónal and Colm Meegan, Éanna Mac Suibhne and Fergal Rafter should be to the fore for Monaghan. Damien Casey is the main man for Tyrone, with support from the likes of Tiernan Morgan, Conor and Seán Óg Grogan and Aidan Kelly.
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division One
Donegal v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Convoy
The Lidl Ladies National Football League continues on Sunday when Monaghan go to Convoy to play Donegal.
Ulster champions’ Monaghan’s only win so far came in dramatic fashion against Mayo, while they have lost to Dublin, Galway, Kerry and Cork. Donegal started with wins over Armagh and Galway, before losing to Kerry and Dublin.
Monaghan will hope to be able to call on the likes of Ciara and Aoife McAnespie, Caoimhe Mohan, Sharon and Cora Courtney, Gráinne McNally, Laura McEnaney and Cathriona McConnell to lead their challenge. Geraldine McLaughlin, Niamh Hegarty, Róisín Friel and Karen Guthrie could play key roles for Donegal.
Ulster Minor Football League Group A
Monaghan v Armagh, Saturday, 12.00, Clones
Monaghan’s minor and U-17 footballers face Armagh in Clones on Saturday.
Monaghan started their campaign with a narrow win in a high-scoring game against Down last Saturday, with Conor McCabe, Robbie McAlister, Conor Doyle and Liam Óg Murray all to the fore. The U-17s, who lost out to Down in round one, are in action at 1.30.
There are games in all divisions of the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League this weekend. Division 1A continues on Saturday with Donaghmoyne, Latton and Monaghan Harps at home to Truagh, Scotstown and Clontibret respectively, while the Division 1B fixtures are Aughnamullen v Emyvale, Blackhill v Cremartin and Castleblayney v Magheracloone. Seán McDermotts and Killanny have home advantage against Doohamlet and Drumhowan respectively in Division 2A, while in Division 2B, it’s Aghabog v Carrickmacross and Clones v Éire Óg. Corduff host Killeevan under lights in Division Three on Friday.
The Connolly Meats Minor Football Leagues begin next Tuesday. The opening-round games in Division One are Aughnamullen v Magheracloone, Inniskeen v Donaghduff Gaels (Donaghmoyne and Corduff), Killanny v Carrickmacross and St. Patrick’s (Ballybay/Drumhowan) v Scotstown. Division Two gets underway with Castleblayney facing Latton and Monaghan Harps hosting Emyvale. Division Three starts on Tuesday week (April 4).
The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-14 Football Leagues continue with games in all five divisions this Saturday.
By cshalvey Fri 24th Mar
