The focus is on Monaghan’s senior and minor hurlers and U-17 footballers this weekend.
Nicky Rackard Cup Round One
Monaghan v Tyrone, Saturday, 3.00, Castleblayney * Note change of venue
The county’s senior hurlers host Tyrone in Castleblayney in the first round of the Nicky Rackard Cup on Saturday.
Monaghan missed out on a third consecutive Allianz HL Division 3A Final after winning their first four games, only to lose out to Donegal and Tyrone in the last two rounds. Tyrone have lost two finals since then; against Donegal and then against Derry in the shield section of the Ulster SHC. An understrength Monaghan team also exited the shield at the hands of eventual winners Derry.
Damien Casey has once again been in prolific form for Tyrone this year, while Matthew Mulgrew, Conor and Seán Óg Grogan and Brendan Begley are other key players for Mattie Lennon’s side.
Trevor Hilliard will hope to have a healthier panel to pick from than a fortnight ago, with Dónal and Colm Meegan and Mark Treanor among those who could return to feature alongside the likes of Peter Treanor, Fergal Rafter and Brian McGuigan.
Ulster Minor Hurling Shield Quarter-Final
Monaghan v Cavan, Friday, 7.30, Cloghan
Cloghan is the new venue for Friday’s Ulster Minor Hurling Shield quarter-final between Monaghan and Cavan.
It’s a first competitive outing of the year for both teams. Monaghan will hope to be able to call on several players from last year’s Ulster MHL Division Two winning team, such as Aidan Burns, Dylan McAree, Conor Gernon, Nathan O’Donoghue, Oran Kiernan, Aaron Boyle, Patrick Bermingham, Anthony Greenan, Peter Clinton and Ethan O’Gorman.
Ulster U-17 Football League Shield Final
Monaghan v Armagh, Saturday, 1.30, Clones
Monaghan’s U-17 footballers travel to Garvaghey to face Armagh in the Ulster league shield final on Saturday at 1.30pm.
Both of these teams struggled in Group A of the league, where Armagh failed to earn a point and Monaghan’s only win came at the expense of the Orchard County, either side of heavy defeats against Down and Cavan. Both returned to winning ways in the shield semi-finals last Saturday, however, with Monaghan seeing off Antrim and Armagh getting their first victory to knock Derry out.
Currin host Killeevan in a local derby in the Eurotech Junior Football League on Friday.
There are no games this weekend in the Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League, but it resumes on Wednesday, with Castleblayney and joint-leaders Latton hosting Clontibret and Truagh respectively.
Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League joint-leaders Carrickmacross face Toome on Wednesday.
The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championships take centre stage over the weekend. The O’Duffy Cup starts with the following preliminary-round ties: Castleblayney and Latton (Friday), Cremartin v Emyvale and Donaghmoyne v Blackhill (Saturday) and Monaghan Harps v Aughnamullen (Sunday). There is also preliminary-round action in the Crawley Cup: Monaghan Harps v Seán McDermotts on Friday and Aghabog v Clones, Ballybay v Rockcorry and Carrickmacross v Drumhowan on Saturday.
The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A continues with a derby between Scotstown and Truagh on Saturday, while Killeevan host Clontibret in Division Three. Monaghan Harps travel to Clones in Division 2B on Wednesday.
The Silver Hill Farm Development Hurling League continues on Thursday, with Monaghan Harps away to Craobh Rua and Castleblayney taking on Carrickmacross. Sunday’s Minor Hurling League fixtures are: Castleblayney v Carrickmacross and Inniskeen v Cootehill.
Round five of the Connolly Meats Minor Football Leagues takes place on Tuesday. Division One joint-leaders Aughnamullen and Inniskeen are away to Truagh and St. Patrick’s respectively, while Scotstown host Killanny and Carrickmacross travel to Corduff to face Donaghduff Gaels.
Division Two continues with Emyvale hosting Castleblayney and Latton meeting St. Tiarnach Sarsfields (Clones/Killeevan). Division Three has the following fixtures: Cremartin v St. Mary’s Na Mullaí; Patrick Emmets v Clann na nGael; Seán McDermotts v Clontibret; and Tyholland v Doohamlet.
The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile football competitions continue, with games in the Under-16, Under-14 and Under-12 Football Leagues spread out throughout this week.
By cshalvey Fri 21st Apr
