Previews

Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 1B

Carrickmacross v Monaghan Harps, Saturday, 4.15, Clontibret

Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 1A

Castleblayney v Truagh, Saturday, 6.00, Clontibret

Carrickmacross and Monaghan Harps meet in the SFC Round 1B at Clontibret on Saturday.

With an unbeaten record to date in the SFL after last year’s Intermediate double success, Carrick fell to their first defeat of 2018 at the hands of holders Scotstown last Saturday, while the Harps were well beaten by Truagh.

Stephen O’Hanlon, Stephen Gollogly, Aaron Lynch and Gary McEnaney will be key for Carrick, with Neil McAdam, Shane Smyth, Conor Galligan and Nicholas Scott central to the Harps.

That game is followed by the last remaining SFC first-round game between preliminary-round winners Castleblayney and Truagh.

Blayney edged out Inniskeen last weekend, while Truagh impressively saw off Monaghan Harps. Just one point separates these teams in the league, where the Faughs are slightly ahead in fourth place.

Dermot and Fergal Malone, Martin McElroy and Paddy Finnegan could lead the way for Blayney, while Paudie and Christopher McKenna, Oran McElligott and Adam Treanor have been on form for Truagh.

Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 2A

Emyvale v Killeevan, Saturday, 4.15, Scotstown

Cremartin v Éire Óg, Saturday, 6.00, Scotstown

The first two JFC semi-final places are up for grabs in a double-header in Scotstown on Saturday.

First up is Emyvale v Killeevan. Emyvale have been the more impressive to date: topping the JFL table pre-split into Cup and Shield, as well as beating Drumhowan and Clones in the championship. Killeevan, who ended up in the Shield section of the league, had too much for Corduff in the first round.

With Ryan McAnespie making things tick and Daniel McMahon, David McAlister and Garreth McQuaid leading the scoring, Emyvale have plenty of options, while Killeevan will need Kevin McGinn, Ciarán Burns, Iain McConnon and Noel Smith on top of their game.

Cremartin and Éire Óg then go head to head. Cremartin have seen off Oram and Scotstown so far, while Éire Óg were far too strong for Rockcorry. Éire Óg finished joint-top of the original JFL table, but Cremartin won in Smithborough last Sunday to move ahead of their opponents in the Cup section.

Barry Kerr, David Hanley, Ryan McVicar and Mark Magee are central to Cremartin’s chances, with Michael Tierney, Dermot Gleeson, Tommy Monaghan and Conor Leonard likewise for Éire Óg.

Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 2B

Oram v Scotstown, Saturday, 8.00, Cloghan

Oram and Scotstown meet in the JFC qualifiers at Cloghan on Saturday night.

Oram lost narrowly to Cremartin in the first round before cruising past Truagh last week. After needing extra-time to see off Truagh, Scotstown fell to a heavy defeat against Cremartin, but they bounced back to knock out Drumhowan. Both teams are in the Shield section of the JFL, where Oram currently lead the way after three straight wins.

Oram will be looking for big performances from Pauric Graham, Ryan McGuinness and Jason McDonald, while Conor Forde, Mark Treanor and Ruairí Sheehan should be to the fore for Scotstown.

The Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League continues with another important round of games on Saturday. Joint-leaders Donaghmoyne and Doohamlet take on Currin and Tyholland, respectively, while Corduff will be looking to repeat last weekend’s IFC win over Killanny. Seán McDermotts and Blackhill will bid to build on their own championship victories, while it’s the opposite scenario for Aughnamullen and Toome when they face off.

The Mallon’s Foods Under-17 Football Championships begin on Sunday morning. The Division One quarter-final fixtures are Carrickmacross v Inniskeen; Donaghmoyne v Killanny; and Monaghan Harps v Latton. In Division Two, it’s Clann na nGael v Aughnamullen; Emyvale v Éire Óg; and St. Patrick’s v Magheracloone, while Division Three sees Clontibret, Cremartin and Rockcorry host Seán McDermotts, St. Tiarnach Sarsfields and Tyholland, respectively.

The Mallon’s Foods Under-17 Football Leagues continue on Wednesday, while there are more juvenile finals down for decision during the week. Carrickmacross and Monaghan Harps contest the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. U-13 Football League Division One in Doohamlet on Wednesday, while Thursday brings Manor Farm U-15 FL Finals in Inniskeen (Carrickmacross v Donaghmoyne in Division One) and Tyholland (Doohamlet v Truagh in Division Three).