Previews

Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 2A

Castleblayney v Clontibret, Saturday, 4.00, Inniskeen

Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 2B

Carrickmacross v Magheracloone, Saturday, 5.45, Inniskeen 

The SFC continues with a pair of double-headers this weekend.

First up in Inniskeen, Castleblayney and Clontibret bid for the first semi-final place. Blayney have already eked out championship wins over Inniskeen and Truagh, while Clontibret won their opener against Latton. The Faughs are two places and five points ahead of Clontibret in the SFL.

Dermot and Fergal Malone, Martin McElroy, Barry Hanratty and Mark Treanor could lead the way for Blayney, with Clontibret looking to Conor McManus, Vincent Corey, Conor Boyle, Dessie Mone and Brian Greenan to inspire them.

Next up is a south-Monaghan derby between Carrickmacross and Magheracloone in the qualifier route.

SFL leaders and last year’s Intermediate double winners Carrick fell to their first defeat of 2018 at the hands of holders Scotstown, but they bounced back at the expense of Monaghan Harps. Magheracloone (currently eighth in the league) lost to Ballybay, before getting a bye through the first back-door round.

Stephen and Peter O’Hanlon, Stephen Gollogly, Aaron Lynch and Gary McEnaney will be key for Carrick, with Gavin Doogan, Alan McCahey, Paudie McMahon and Allan Kieran central to Magheracloone’s chances.

Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 2B

Inniskeen v Truagh, Sunday, 4.00, Clontibret

Greenfield Foods Senior Football Championship Round 2A

Ballybay v Scotstown, Sunday, 5.45, Clontibret

Sunday’s double-bill in Clontibret begins with Inniskeen v Truagh.

Inniskeen were edged out by Castleblayney in the first round, but they belied their lowly league position to knock Latton out last week. Truagh had a big win over Monaghan Harps, but lost out to Blayney in the first-round proper. Truagh are 12 points clear of their opponents in the league, having beaten them by seven points last month.

Paul and Dónal Meegan and Aidan and Andrew Woods should be prominent for Inniskeen, while Truagh will need Paudie and Christopher McKenna, Oran McElligott and Adam Treanor on form.

Topping the bill is the repeat of last year’s SFC semi-final between Ballybay and Scotstown.

Scotstown came from an almost impossible position to take Ballybay to a replay last year, before winning at the second attempt en route to completing three-in-a-row. They started the defence of their title by coming from behind to deny Carrickmacross, while the same evening saw Ballybay defeat Magheracloone. The teams currently occupy second and third positions in the SFL, where Scotstown are nine points ahead of the team who beat them in the 2017 league final.

The holders can call on Kieran and Darren Hughes, Conor McCarthy and Shane Carey to lead the way, while Ballybay will be looking to Paul Finlay, Dessie Ward and the McGuinness and Wylie siblings.

McElvaney Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship Round 1B

Doohamlet v Toome, Saturday, 4.00, Aughnamullen

McElvaney Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship Round 1A

Blackhill v Tyholland, Saturday, 5.45, Aughnamullen

Doohamlet and Toome will bid to get back to winning ways in the IFC in Aughnamullen on Saturday.

Doohamlet fell just short against Donaghmoyne last time out, while Toome were no match for near-neighbours Blackhill. IFL table-toppers Doohamlet will be hoping to continue their good record in this competition over the last decade against a Toome side involved in a battle at the opposite end of the league.

Colin and Jamie Walshe, Barry McGinn and Barry McBennett are big players for Doohamlet, with Frank Connolly, Seán McMahon and Mattie O’Reilly among the main men for Toome, who are without key forward James Wilson.

That is followed by the first-round meeting of Blackhill and Tyholland.

Blackhill put their league struggles behind them to defeat Toome convincingly in the preliminary round, while Tyholland had to dig deep to edge past Currin.

Tyholland will be depending on Karl O’Connell, Dermot Coyle, Shane Treanor and Pádraig Finnan, with Blackhill hoping Michael and Tommy Geehan, Philip Donnelly and Ryan, Anthony and Dónal Courtney can show the way.

McElvaney Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship Round 1B

Aughnamullen v Currin, Sunday, 1.30, Drumhowan

Sunday’s IFC game is a knock-out tie between Aughnamullen and Currin.

Aughnamullen lost to Seán McDermotts after extra-time in the first round, while 2017 Junior double winners Currin were pipped at the post by Tyholland.

Aughnamullen need Micheál Bannigan, Kevin Sheridan, Pete Dooney and Colin Clerkin to produce the goods, with Currin relying on Jack McCarron, Stephen Smyth, Dick Clerkin and the McCaffreys.

Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 3B

Clones v Éire Óg, Friday, 8.15, Emyvale

Killeevan v Oram, Friday, 8.15, Castleblayney

The JFC semi-final line-up will be completed in Friday night’s Round 3B games.

Emyvale hosts a local derby between Clones and Éire Óg.

Clones beat Aghabog in the preliminary round and although they then lost to Emyvale, wins over Corduff and Rockcorry have them within sight of a semi-final place. Éire Óg also defeated Rockcorry, before losing narrowly to Cremartin last weekend.

Clones can call on county panellists Fintan Kelly, Darren Freeman and James Mealiff, along with Adrian Alford, Eoin McQuaid and Cameron Dowd, while Éire Óg will need big performances from Michael Tierney, Conor Leonard, Tommy Monaghan and Dermot Gleeson.

Meanwhile in Castleblayney, Killeevan and Oram clash.

Killeevan beat Corduff first up, only to fall to a heavy defeat against Emyvale, while Oram fell short against Cremartin, before knocking out Truagh and Scotstown. Pauric Graham, Jason McDonald, John Mone and Chris McGeough were key to Oram’s comeback win last time out, while Killeevan will be relying on Noel Smith, Kevin McGinn, Ciarán Burns and Iain McConnon.