Ulster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Cavan v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Kingspan Breffni Park
Monaghan make the short journey to Cavan for an Ulster SFC quarter-final derby on Sunday.
Both of these teams competed in Division One of the Allianz National Football League this year and they played out a low-scoring draw in Castleblayney in February. Cavan haven’t played a competitive game since their final-round loss to Roscommon saw them relegated. This is the third championship clash between these neighbours in five years, with Monaghan having edged one-point wins in their Ulster-winning campaigns of 2013 and 2015.
Monaghan go into the game on the back of a nine-point preliminary-round win over Fermanagh and Malachy O’Rourke has named an unchanged starting 15 for this one, although there is one change to the bench, with Darren Hughes named among the substitutes as he makes his way back from a knee injury. Monaghan will be looking for big performances from Drew and Ryan Wylie and Colin Walshe at the back and Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron and Conor McManus at the other end.
Cavan are now managed by Mattie McGleenan, who has plenty of experience of Monaghan club football: most recently when winning three county titles in charge of Scotstown. He has named a team backboned by the likes of Killian Clarke, Conor Moynagh and Gearóid McKiernan and also including SFC debutants Conor Madden and Niall Clerkin.
Advance purchase of tickets for this match can be made online at monaghangaa.tickets.ie, at Centra and SuperValu stores.
Cavan: Raymond Galligan; Pádraig Faulkner, Killian Clarke (Capt.), Niall Murray; James McEnroe, Conor Moynagh, Gerard Smith; Liam Buchanan, Gearóid McKiernan; Cian Mackey, Conor Madden, Martin Reilly; Niall Clerkin, Niall McDermott, Seán Johnston.
Subs: James Farrelly, Jason McLoughlin, Fergal Reilly, Tomás Corr, Ciarán Brady, Thomas Galligan, Ryan Connolly, Joe Dillon, Caoimhín O’Reilly, Joshua Hayes, Dara McVeety.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Colin Walshe (Capt.), Vincent Corey, Neil McAdam; Kieran Hughes, Karl O’Connell; Gavin Doogan, Shane Carey, Dessie Ward; Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, Conor McManus.
Subs: Conor Forde, Kieran Duffy, James Mealiff, Dessie Mone, Brian Greenan, Darren Hughes, Dermot Malone, Owen Duffy, Ryan McAnespie, Thomas Kerr, Micheál Bannigan.
Monaghan’s Under-17 hurlers start the knock-out stage of the Celtic Challenge with a Division Six Corn Tom Hogan quarter-final against Fermanagh in Garvaghey, Co Tyrone on Saturday at 3.30.
The SFL, IFL and JFL continue with rounds of star games this weekend.
County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League leaders Scotstown host third-placed Ballybay on Friday, while Magheracloone take on Castleblayney. Two form teams clash when Latton host Clontibret on Saturday, when the other games see Donaghmoyne and Truagh travel to Killanny and Monaghan Harps, respectively.
Doohamlet and Tyholland meet in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Friday, while table-toppers Carrickmacross have a local derby at home to Inniskeen on Saturday. There are also derbies between Corduff and Aughnamullen and Toome and Blackhill on Saturday, with Cremartin up against Emyvale.
After Currin moved clear at the top of the Eurotech Junior Football League table on Thursday evening, there is the chance of the winners of Saturday’s game between Seán McDermotts and Clones to draw level with them. There is another derby between Aghabog and Killeevan, while the other fixtures are Éire Óg v Oram and Rockcorry v Drumhowan.
There is a full round in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A on Wednesday evening, with Clontibret, front-runners Scotstown and Truagh at home to Monaghan Harps, Latton and Donaghmoyne, respectively. Division 2B leaders Éire Óg host Clones, while Corduff make the long journey to Killeevan in Division Three.
The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile football competitions also continue this week.
By cshalvey Fri 9th Jun
