Three Monaghan men’s champions launch their Ulster Club Football Championship campaigns this Sunday, while there is also action in the latter stages of the domestic leagues.
AIB Ulster Club Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Scotstown v Kilcar, Sunday, 2.30, Clones
Scotstown begin their third consecutive provincial tilt against Kilcar in Clones. Scotstown reached the 2015 final, only to lose to Crossmaglen after extra-time, while they were knocked out in the preliminary round last year by eventual runners-up Kilcoo.
Scotstown were on the brink of defeat in the county semi-final against Ballybay, but they made an incredible comeback from eight points down in added time to draw and after winning the replay, the holders saw off Magheracloone in the final.
Their opponents at St. Tiarnach’s Park are Kilcar, who bridged a 24-year gap to win the Donegal SFC. A star-studded Kilcar side made a long-awaited breakthrough in a low-scoring final against Naomh Cónaill.
With the likes of Patrick and Stephen McBrearty and Ryan, Eoin and Mark McHugh and veteran Michael Hegarty, Kilcar will pose a threat from several areas of the pitch. Kieran Hughes may again be restricted to a substitute’s role by his hand injury, but they still have plenty of experience in the likes of Darren Hughes, Conor McCarthy, Shane Carey, Rory Beggan and Dónal Morgan.
AIB Ulster Club Junior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Currin v Tattyreagh, Sunday, 12.45, Omagh
AIB Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship Quarter-Final
Carrickmacross v Moy, Sunday, 2.30, Omagh
There is a double-header of Monaghan v Tyrone club clashes at Healy Park, starting with Currin v Tattyreagh in the JFC.
This is new territory for Currin, who will be hoping to continue Monaghan clubs’ strong record in this competition. Currin, who were senior as recently as 2014, ended their 45-year wait for a junior championship with four consecutive narrow wins; edging a fancied Seán McDermotts side in a tense final.
Tattyreagh made history by winning their first Tyrone JFC title in impressive fashion. They needed a replay to get through the first round, but they blitzed past all other challengers, including Clogher last time out. The St. Patrick’s reached the Tyrone JFC Final last year, where they were pipped by Rock, who went on to defeat Blackhill after extra-time in the Ulster decider, before ending up runners-up in the All-Ireland.
James Darcy is Tattyreagh’s leading scorer, while Johnny and Colin Harkin, Gareth Mimnagh, Robert Porter and Damien Mullan should also play key roles. Currin will hope, however, that their star forward Jack McCarron can show the way, with the help of Stephen Smyth, player-manager Dick Clerkin and the McCaffreys.
That game is followed by Carrickmacross v Moy.
Carrickmacross have seen near-neighbours Inniskeen (2014) and Donaghmoyne (2016) reach recent finals. Carrick blitzed their way through the Monaghan IFC, hitting 16-59 in five games to win a third title since 2006.
Moy won their first Tyrone IFC since 1982 with four straight victories; pipping Derrylaughan by a point in the final. They have household names in Seán and Colm Cavanagh, while fellow Tyrone panellist Harry Loughran has contributed handsomely to their run via 5-5 from play, with Eunan Deeney and Ryan Coleman also making an impact.
Stephen and Kevin O’Hanlon have made a key difference for Carrick, with the former hitting 8-12 from play in the IFC, while Seán Downey, Stephen Gollogly, Aaron Lynch and Gary McEnaney should also be to the fore.
Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League Semi-Final
Inniskeen v Corduff, Sunday, 1.00, Inniskeen
Inniskeen and Corduff contest the first IFL semi-final at Páirc Grattan on Sunday.
Inniskeen were fancied to reach the latter stages of the IFC, only to be knocked out at the quarter-final stage, but they regrouped to win six of their last seven games and finish second. Corduff were closest to runaway leaders Carrickmacross for much of the year, but after making an early exit from the championship, they lost their grip on second place; eventually edging out Toome on head-to-head records for third. Corduff won by a point when these sides first met this year, but Inniskeen turned the tables on their south-Monaghan rivals just last month.
Inniskeen should be able to call on the likes of Dónal, Paul, Ronan and Colm Meegan, Matthew McKenna and Gerard McArdle, while Corduff will need Pádraic Keenan, Ciarán Brennan, Fergal Hanratty and Seán Burns on form.
Eurotech Junior Football League Semi-Final
Seán McDermotts v Éire Óg, Sunday, 2.00, Threemilehouse
Seán McDermotts will bid to reach their fourth junior final in two years when they host neighbours Éire Óg in the first JFL semi-final on Sunday.
The Seáns lost the 2016 league and championship finals and they reached the JFC Final again this year, only to fall just short against Currin. The Threemilehouse side have led the way in the JFL all year and they finished four points clear at the top. Éire Óg were also edged out of the JFC by the eventual winners at the semi-final stage, but they finished the league strongly to claim fourth place. The Seáns did the double over Éire Óg with a couple of convincing wins.
The Seáns have been hit by injuries to Paddy Kieran, Damien Larkin, Páraic McGuirk and David McEntee and they will hope at least some of them are available for this, along with Niall Kearns, Adam O’Driscoll and Brian McQuaid. Éire Óg will be looking for big performances from Dermot Gleeson, Michael Tierney, Conor Leonard and Francis McMahon.
Clontibret can secure fourth place in the County Monaghan Credit Unions Senior Football League if they win in Ballybay on Saturday. Donaghmoyne must win in Truagh on Sunday to maintain their hopes of staying in senior, while Castleblayney can move further clear of the drop zone when they travel to Killanny.
Meanwhile, Latton and Corduff contest Ulster Club Ladies Football Championship Finals in Augher on Sunday. 2016 Ulster JFC winners Latton face Crosserlough in the IFC decider, while Corduff are up against Cornafean for the junior title.
By cshalvey Fri 27th Oct
