Silver Hill Farm Senior Hurling Championship Final
Castleblayney v Inniskeen, Sunday, 3.30, Clontibret
Castleblayney and Inniskeen contest Sunday’s Silver Hill Farm Senior Hurling Championship Final: the seventh time in eight years these teams have met in the decider.
Blayney hold the edge (four-two) in the six consecutive finals the teams contested between 2010 and 2015, but Inniskeen knocked their rivals out at the quarter-final stage last year on their way to a third title. The Grattans had never lifted the Mick Quigley Cup until 2010, but this is the holders’ eighth successive county final appearance in an unprecedented era of strength.
Blayney are in their 17th county final in 18 years. With the return of the group stage for 2017, these teams cruised into the final via four straight wins each, while they also currently share first place in the Senior Hurling League.
Blayney’s hugely experienced team is full of current and former county players, including veteran Jim McHugh, who captains the team. Mark and Peter Treanor, Fergal Rafter, Brian McGuigan, Hugh Byrne, Brian Flanagan and Patrick Finnegan should all be prominent as they bid to regain the crown. Ronan, Dónal and Colm Meegan, Tadhg Campbell, Martin Murphy, Jamie Dooley and Pádraig Garland should backbone Inniskeen’s challenge to retain the title for the first time.
Silver Hill Farm Senior Hurling Championship Shield Final
Carrickmacross v Monaghan Harps, Sunday, 1.45, Clontibret
Sunday’s curtain-raiser sees Monaghan Harps and Carrickmacross clash in the SHC Shield Final.
The Harps, who lost to Inniskeen in the county final last year, finished third in the group stage, two points clear of Carrick, who they defeated by six points in round four. Carrick, who have two wins to their name in the SHL, have already won senior silverware this year via the Development League. These teams have dominated minor hurling in the last few years and have begun to bring those players through to senior level.
Cathal Power, Conor Flynn, Aidan Burns and Dylan McAree are among the young guns leading the charge for the Harps, with Adrian Dalton and Aodhán Óg McAnespie other key players. Patrick Bermingham, Luke McKenna and Oisín Wilcox have added to the options for Carrick, who will also need Jamie Guinan and Jason O’Rourke on form, although they have been without Éanna Mac Suibhne and Ronan Curran.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1B Final
Aughnamullen v Magheracloone, Friday, 7.30, Corduff
Three RFL Finals are down for decision on Friday evening, with Aughnamullen and Magheracloone in the Division 1B decider.
Magheracloone are seeking a quick return to Division 1A and they went straight into the final by topping the table. They went unbeaten through their nine games, while conceding to Aughnamullen in the penultimate round, having already qualified. Aughnamullen finished third, before running out comprehensive winners in the semi-final away to Castleblayney.
Colin Clerkin, Mark Meegan and Kevin Sheridan should be to the fore for Aughnamullen, while youngsters Barry Kieran, Ronan McKeown and Dylan McCahey could feature for Magheracloone.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 2A Final
Ballybay v Killanny, Friday, 7.30, Blackhill
Ballybay and Killanny meet in Blackhill.
Ballybay topped the Division 2A standings with just one loss, while they also reached the Crawley Cup Final, only to lose out to Seán McDermotts. Killanny ended up second, before seeing off Doohamlet in the semi-final. Ballybay had a two-point win when these teams clashed back in May.
Ballybay should be able to call on the likes of Patrick O’Neill, Shane Monaghan, Fergal McArdle, Aaron Toner, Cian Hand and Eoin McKearney, while Dean Connolly, Jack Kiernan, Andrew Kieran, Eddie Walsh and Shane Grimes could lead Killanny’s challenge.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 2B Final
Carrickmacross v Éire Óg, Friday, 7.45, Monaghan
Carrickmacross and Éire Óg go for the RFL Division 2B title at Gavan Duffy Park.
Éire Óg’s only group-stage defeat came on the opening day as they went straight through to the final, while Carrickmacross were in third place, before edging out Clones at the semi-final stage.
Francis McMahon, Tommy Monaghan, Marc McBride and Dónal Tierney should be prominent for Éire Óg, with Carrick’s hopes resting largely on the likes of Seán and Mark Downey, Ryan O’Connor and Ryan Carolan.
Under-21 Football Division One Final
Clones v Donaghmoyne, Friday, 7.30, Rockcorry
Another final on the agenda on Friday is in the U-21 Division One between Clones and holders Donaghmoyne in Rockcorry.
Donaghmoyne won this title last year after a few trophy-laden years at minor level and they have seen off Corduff and Clann na nGael to qualify for another final. Clones, meanwhile, cruised past Scotstown, before edging out Truagh.
Donaghmoyne have David and Shane Garland, Mikey Murnaghan, Stephen Finnegan and Aaron Courtney in their ranks, although Ronan McDonald has been out with injury. Clones are set to be without James Mealiff due to his involvement with the county team; increasing their reliance on the likes of Eoin McQuaid, Fabian Beggan and James McElwain.
Under-21 Football Division Two Final
Latton v Scotstown, Thursday, 7.30, Threemilehouse
The U-21 Division Two Final between Latton and Scotstown has been brought forward to Thursday in Threemilehouse.
Latton conceded their Division One qualifier but won their Division Two the semi-final against Patrick Emmets, while Scotstown lost to Clones, before getting a walkover from Carrickmacross. Scotstown will be looking to Francis Maguire, Caolán McElwaine and Pádraig Meehan to show the way, with Stephen McCabe and Thomas and Conor Lynch key to Latton’s chances.
Scotstown face Éire Óg in the Eurotech Junior Football League on Sunday.
Beaten McKeown Cup finalists Clontibret travel to Oram for the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three semi-final on Friday.
Tyholland host Clann na nGael in the last Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Three quarter-finals on Sunday.
The Connolly Meats Minor Football League Division Three Cup continues with Clontibret v Cremartin and St. Mary’s Na Mullaí v Patrick Emmets on Tuesday, while the Shield continues with Tyholland v Doohamlet on Tuesday and Seán McDermotts v Clann na nGael on Wednesday.
The juvenile football and hurling competitions continue with games at Under-16, Under-14 and Under-12 levels.
The Manor Farm Under-14 Football Championship Finals top the billing this week, starting with the Division One decider in Monaghan on Friday. Carrickmacross are up against first-time finalists Cremartin in this decider, while the others are all down for decision on the Bank Holiday Monday.
Gavan Duffy Park hosts another double-header: Clones v Emyvale in Division Two and Drumhowan v Patrick Emmets (Aghabog/Currin) in Division Three, with a double-bill also taking place in Ballybay: Corduff v Rockcorry in Division Four and Castleblayney v Monaghan Harps in Division Five.
By cshalvey Thu 3rd Aug
