TG4 Ulster Ladies Senior Football Championship Final
Monaghan v Donegal, Sunday, 3.45, Clones
Monaghan will attempt to defend the Ulster Ladies SFC title when they contest their 17th provincial final in 18 years against Donegal at St. Tiarnach’s Park.
Monaghan saw off Cavan in the semi-finals after a league campaign where they needed to beat Armagh twice (including in a play-off) to stay in the top flight, while Donegal have high hopes after pushing Cork all the way in the Division One final and coming from behind to deny the Orchard County last time out. This is a repeat of the 2015 decider, where Donegal upset the odds to win their first Ulster senior title, which Monaghan regained at the expense of Cavan last year.
Monaghan, who lost narrowly to Cork at the All-Ireland semi-final stage last year, will hope that the Courtney and McAnespie sisters, Cathriona McConnell, Caoimhe Mohan and Gráinne McNally can lead their challenge. Donegal have a potentially deadly duo in attack in Geraldine McLaughlin and Yvonne McMonagle, while Karen Guthrie, Niamh and Ciara Hegarty and Treasa Doherty should also be to the fore.
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 1A
Aghabog v Oram, Saturday, 7.00, Drumhowan
Aghabog and Oram become the last two teams to begin their 2017 JFC campaigns when they meet in Drumhowan on Saturday evening.
Just two points separate these sides, who have yet to cross paths this year, in the JFL, where Oram are in a share of fourth place, narrowly ahead of Aghabog. Oram’s 2016 championship hopes were ended in the back door just under 12 months ago by Aghabog, who went on to lose after extra-time to Clones at the quarter-final stage.
Aghabog will hope to be able to call on the likes of Gary McBride, Damian Smyth, Seán O’Brien and Cameron O’Leary, while Pauric Graham, Ryan McGuinness, Stephen McBride and Chris McGeough could be among the main men for Oram.
Castleblayney and holders Inniskeen will bid to build on winning starts to the Silver Hill Farm Senior Hurling Championship when they host Carrickmacross and Clontibret, respectively, on Thursday.
County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League leaders Scotstown have two games this week: at home to Castleblayney on Friday and away to nearest challengers Latton on Wednesday.
Killeevan will be chasing a first win of the Eurotech Junior Football League campaign when they host Drumhowan on Thursday.
Latton host Donaghmoyne on Saturday in the race for a semi-final place in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A. Fellow challengers Clontibret are away to O’Duffy Cup winners Scotstown on Sunday, while joint-leaders Truagh travel to Monaghan Harps. Cremartin and Emyvale meet in Division 1B on Saturday, with leaders Magheracloone away to Aughnamullen on Sunday.
The top two have home games in Division 2A on Sunday, when the fixtures are Ballybay v Seán McDermotts (a repeat of the recent Crawley Cup Final) and Killanny v Doohamlet. It’s first v second in Division 2B on Wednesday when Éire Óg travel to Carrickmacross, while third-placed Clones host Rockcorry. Inniskeen make the trip to Killeevan in Division Three on Sunday, before hosting Clontibret on Wednesday, when the other game is between Oram and Truagh.
Round eight of the Connolly Meats Minor Football Leagues takes place on Tuesday after the break for exams. Inniskeen can extend their lead at the top of Division One if they win away to third-placed Killanny, while Carrickmacross, Donaghduff Gaels and Magheracloone host St. Patrick’s, Scotstown and Truagh, respectively.
Division Two joint-leaders Emyvale and Monaghan Harps are away to Latton and St. Tiarnach Sarsfields, respectively.
Division Three resumes with the following fixtures: Clontibret v Clann na nGael; Cremartin v Patrick Emmets; Seán McDermotts v Tyholland; and St. Mary’s Na Mullaí v Doohamlet.
The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile football competitions continue throughout this week, while Castleblayney and Carrickmacross contest the Silver Hill Farm Under-14 Hurling Championship Final in Cremartin on Monday evening (July 3) at 7.30pm.
By cshalvey Fri 30th Jun
