McElvaney Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship Final
Aughnamullen v Carrickmacross, Sunday, 3.30, Inniskeen
Carrickmacross and Aughnamullen contest Sunday’s McElvaney Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship Final in Inniskeen.
Carrickmacross are bidding to become the first club to win the title for a fifth time, having claimed the spoils twice since 2006 – most recently in 2011 – while also losing the final two years ago. Aughnamullen won it three times between 1972 and 1978, but haven’t repeated that success since, with their last appearance in the final coming 20 years ago.
These teams have both taken the direct route to the final. Carrick saw off Blackhill, Inniskeen, Emyvale and Tyholland, while Aughnamullen battled past Doohamlet, Tyholland and Toome.
Carrick hold a substantial advantage in the teams’ scoring rates in the championship to date; with an impressive average score of 24.5 points (13-59 in four matches), while conceding 13.75 points per game (5-40). Aughnamullen have hit an average of 15.67 points in their three-game run, while they have a slight edge in the concession rates, having leaked 13 points.
Carrick are also top of the Intermediate Football League, where Aughnamullen are involved in a congested mid-table. Carrick ran out convincing winners when they visited Aughnamullen in June.
The addition of the pacy O’Hanlon brothers and the sharp-shooting Seán Downey has been a major boost to a Carrick attack that is still directed to great effect by the vastly experienced Stephen Gollogly, with Aaron Jones and Mark Downey offering good options off the bench.
Aaron Lynch, Niall Loughman and Peter O’Hanlon give the Emmets a good mix of strength and athleticism around midfield, while Cillian Cromwell, James Conlon and Gary McEnaney make up a strong half-back line, with Conor Duffy anchoring the full-back trio.
Aughnamullen also reached an Intermediate final in 2015; their team could show as many as eight changes from the team that lost that year’s IFL title to Doohamlet. Aughnamullen have a potent duo inside in goal-poacher Colin Clerkin and county U-21 and senior panellist Micheál Bannigan, with the latter playing a key role as both creator and finisher. Kevin Sheridan and Chris Keenan have also chipped in with scores for the Sarsfields, as have Seán Sheridan and Pete Dooney. Former county man Colm Flanagan has returned to help lock down a hard-working defensive unit that also includes Paul Connolly, Thomas Finnegan and veteran Damien Hamilton.
Aughnamullen have come through three tight games to reach this stage for the first time since 1997, while Carrick have ruthlessly dismissed their most recent opponents. This final has a recent history of close contests, with each of the last six having been decided by margins of four points or less and three of the last five being one-point games.
Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Two Final
Emyvale v Latton, Sunday, 1.30, Inniskeen
Sunday’s curtain-raiser at Páirc Grattan is the MFC Division Two Final between Emyvale and Latton.
Neither side made any impact in the Division One Championship, but they then entered the Division Two series, where Emyvale beat St. Tiarnach Sarsfields and Latton got the better of Monaghan Harps. Emyvale ran out narrow winners (4-4 to 1-10) when they hosted Latton back in April, but the O’Rahillys turned the tables on their north-Monaghan opponents on a 3-14 to 1-7 scoreline in July.
Latton will be looking for big performances from Conor McCabe, Aaron Mulligan, Conor Corrigan and Shane Slevin, while Emyvale will hope that the likes of Robbie McAlister and Michael O’Brien can lead their challenge.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 1A Final
Scotstown v Truagh, Friday, 8.00, Emyvale
Scotstown will bid to complete the reserve Division One double when they face Truagh in the RFL Final under Emyvale’s lights on Friday night.
Scotstown have already beaten their neighbours in the O’Duffy Cup Final and they also saw off Truagh in this fixture last year. Truagh qualified for this decider by topping the Division 1A table, while Scotstown finished second, before defeating Latton in the semi-final. Truagh ran out comprehensive winners over Scotstown in June, but the previous meeting between the teams – a draw in April – could give a better idea of their rivalry.
Scotstown could feature players who have helped them qualify for the SFC Final like Orin Heaphey, William Carroll, James Hamill, Francis Maguire and Micheál McCarville, while young players such as Ryan and Aaron Mohan could help backbone Truagh’s challenge, along with Niall McMeel, Colm McRory and Daniel Finnegan.
The County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League continues this weekend. The winners of Saturday’s clash of Clontibret and Latton will take a big step towards securing a semi-final place, while SFC finalists Magheracloone travel to Castleblayney and the bottom two go head to head in Donaghmoyne v Killanny. Truagh face Monaghan Harps on Sunday.
Tyholland host fourth-placed Toome in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Saturday.
Eurotech Junior Football League leaders Seán McDermotts will bid to put their JFC Final defeat behind them when they travel to Clones on Saturday, while Oram face Éire Óg in a key game in the battle for a top-four finish. Rockcorry are away to Drumhowan, with Killeevan making the short trip to Aghabog. JFC winners Currin have home advantage against Scotstown on Sunday.
The juvenile season reaches its conclusion with a double-header in Blackhill on Saturday, consisting of a Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-12 Football League Final Replay and the Silver Hill Farm Under-16 Hurling League Final.
By cshalvey Fri 6th Oct
