Allianz National Football League Division One
Kildare v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Newbridge
Monaghan will bid to get off the mark in the 2018 Allianz NFL when they travel to Newbridge to take on Kildare on Sunday.
Monaghan lost out by the narrowest of margins at home to Mayo last Sunday for their first opening-round league defeat since 2012. Kildare, who are back in the top flight after a four-year absence, had been in action at Croke Park the previous evening, when a promising first-half performance came to nothing as Dublin turned on the style after the restart. The counties haven’t met since Monaghan knocked Kildare out of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers after extra-time at Croke Park in 2014, while their last league clash saw the hosts come out on top in Clones back in 2012.
Both teams have been named showing minimal changes from last weekend. Dessie Ward comes in for his suspended club-mate Ryan Wylie in the Monaghan side, while Tommy Moolick and Ben McCormack take the place of the injured Kevin Feely and Neil Flynn on Kildare’s starting XV. Monaghan fielded four league debutants in round one, with the likes of Darren Hughes, Karl O’Connell, Fintan Kelly and Kieran and Owen Duffy providing the experience. Daniel Flynn, Peter Kelly, Eoin Doyle and Paul Cribbin are among the main men for Cian O’Neill’s Kildare.
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Peter Kelly, David Hyland, Mick O’Grady; Johnny Byrne, Eoin Doyle (Capt.), Cian O’Donoghue; Tommy Moolick, Luke Flynn; Fergal Conway, Chris Healy, Paul Cribbin; Ben McCormack, Daniel Flynn, Cathal McNally.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Conor Boyle, Barry Kerr; Fintan Kelly, Dessie Ward, Karl O’Connell; Darren Hughes, Niall Kearns; Owen Duffy, Páraic McGuirk, Ryan McAnespie; Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, David Garland.
Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A
Monaghan v Roscommon, Sunday, 2.00, Inniskeen
Monaghan will hope to build on an opening-round win in the Allianz NHL when they host Roscommon at Páirc Grattan on Sunday.
A Monaghan team showing seven changes from last year’s first league game had a hard-earned win away to Longford last Sunday. Roscommon also made a winning start in convincing fashion at the expense of Louth. These teams contested the Division 3A Final in 2016, with Roscommon winning out, only to be relegated last spring.
Éanna Mac Suibhne, Colm and Dónal Meegan and the retired Seán Leonard are among the absentees for Monaghan, but Trevor Hilliard can still call on experienced players like Mark and Peter Treanor, Brian McGuigan, Brian Flanagan, Patrick Finnegan and the prolific Fergal Rafter, while young players like Conor Flynn and goalkeeper Patrick Bermingham have also made their mark. Daniel Glynn, Naos Connaughton, Cormac Kelly and Robbie Fallon could be to the fore for Roscommon.
Lidl Ladies National Football League Division One
Cork v Monaghan, Sunday, 2.00, Mallow
Monaghan’s ladies’ footballers travel to Mallow to take on Cork in round two of the NFL on Sunday.
Monaghan lost out to Galway last weekend, while Cork ran out comprehensive winners against Kerry. Monaghan will need big performances from experienced players such as the McAnespies and the Courtneys, while Cork can call on the likes of Doireann O’Sullivan, Orlagh Farmer, Eimear Scally and Orla Finn as they look to continue their impressive start.
Cork: Martina O’Brien; Aisling Kelleher, Marie Ambrose, Emma Spillane; Máire O’Callaghan, Beatrice Casey, Shauna Kelly, Melissa Duggan, Aishling Hutchings; Bríd O’Sullivan, Doireann O’Sullivan, Orlagh Farmer; Áine O’Sullivan, Eimear Scally, Orla Finn.
Monaghan: Linda Martin; Josie Fitzpatrick, Fiona Courtney, Aoife McAnespie; Shauna Coyle, Hazel Kingham, Hannah McSkeane; Sharon Courtney, Muireann Atkinson; Eimear McAnespie, Rachel McKenna, Rosemary Courtney; Katie Duffy, Cora Courtney, Ciara McAnespie.
By cshalvey Sat 3rd Feb
