McElvaney’s Waste & Recycling Intermediate Football Championship Final
Doohamlet v Seán McDermotts, Sunday, 3.30, Clontibret
Sunday’s McElvaney’s Waste & Recycling IFC Final pits the competition’s recent specialists, Doohamlet, against Seán McDermotts.
Doohamlet are bidding to win this title for the fourth time this decade, having had a 100% record in the 2010, 2012 and 2015 finals, while Seán McDermotts won their only IFC to date in 2002, which was their last appearance at this stage. Seán McDermotts, meanwhile, are in their fifth final since 2016 between the Junior and Intermediate ranks, having lost JFC and JFL deciders in the last two years.
Seán McDermotts have taken the direct route to this final via extra-time wins over Aughnamullen and Corduff, followed by a derby victory in a semi-final against Tyholland. Doohamlet fell to a narrow defeat against Donaghmoyne first up, but they successfully made their way through the qualifiers, knocking out Toome and Aughnamullen and Corduff (the latter after extra-time) to set up a rematch with the Fontenoys at the semi-final stage. That game also went the distance, with Doohamlet again emerging after extra-time.
Both teams have been prolific to date. Doohamlet’s 12-63 in five games works out at an average of almost 20 points, but even that is trumped by 9-43 in just three outings by the Seáns, giving them an average score of over 23 points. The Seáns have conceded just over a point more per game than Doohamlet (17.33 to 16.2 on average).
Doohamlet finished top of the Intermediate Football League, where the Seáns ended up seventh in a tightly-packed mid-table battle. Doohamlet won both league clashes between the teams, while the clubs’ minor teams recently contested the MFC Division Two Final, which the Seáns won after a replay.
With Dessie McBennett back at the helm, Doohamlet can still call on 14 of their starting 15 from the 2015 IFC decider, including experienced goalkeeper James Casey, who is this year’s captain. Martin Hughes, Gavin King and county star and talisman Colin Walshe anchor the Doohamlet defence, with support from Jason McElroy, Damien Ward and Conor Marray.
Jamie Walshe has emerged as a key figure in midfield, with Ulster U-21 winner Barry McGinn (having recovered from a cruciate-ligament injury) and his younger brother Hugh also playing key roles in the middle third and seasoned campaigner Ciarán McManus mostly operating as a sweeper. Barry McBennett has become the focal point of the Doohamlet attack, with 1-31 to his name so far in the championship, while Paul McArdle, the McGinns and the Walshes are also capable of contributing on the scoring front.
Despite seeing his campaign hampered by injury, Kevin McArdle has weighed in with a couple of important goals for Doohamlet, who have also brought in minors like Seán Markey and Oisín O’Neill.
The Seáns team is likely to show five changes from last year’s JFC Final, with James McAleer and Ryan McGuinness among the absentees. They are again captained by full-back Brian McQuaid, with Emmet McElvaney and Rian McEntee also among the main men in their defence, while All-Star nominee Niall Kearns and fellow county panellist Páraic McGuirk make up a formidable midfield partnership full of power and athleticism. Paddy Kieran, Adam O’Driscoll and James Treanor have shown well up front for the Seáns, alongside the hard-working Noel Rice, with the veteran Damien Larkin making a significant contribution off the bench, particularly against Corduff.
Larkin and Treanor were also involved back in 2002, when the Seáns went all the way in the Ulster Club. Ciarán Murphy and Mark Counihan have also introduced youth in the form of the Threemilehouse club’s minor captain, Oisín McKenna, who got on the scoresheet as a sub in the last two rounds.
Last year’s convincing win for Carrickmacross was out of kilter with this fixture’s recent history of close contests, with each of the previous six finals having been decided by margins of four points or less.
Maguire International Minor Football Championship Division One Final Replay
Carrickmacross v Inniskeen, Sunday, 1.30, Clontibret
Sunday’s curtain-raiser in Clontibret sees Carrickmacross and Inniskeen contest the Maguire International MFC Division One Final Replay.
In keeping with a year where the Minor Division One competitions have produced a series of close contests, these local rivals couldn’t be separated a fortnight ago in Clones prior to the SFC decider.
Inniskeen are hoping to claim this championship for the first time in five decades, a year after winning a thrilling top-flight league final against Aughnamullen. The Grattans made their way to this stage with hard-earned wins over Monaghan Harps and a highly-rated Aughnamullen side that also contested the league decider. Carrickmacross booked a place in a second consecutive final via narrow wins in high-scoring derbies against Donaghmoyne and league winners Magheracloone.
Carrick will hope that Donnach Swinburne, Andrew Moore, Jack McGeown, Oisín O’Hanlon, Tiarnán McCourt and Tadgh Kirk-Callaghan can lead the way, while Inniskeen will need big performances from Andrew Woods, Seán Jones, Shane and Christopher Hanratty and Pádraig McGahon.
AIB Ulster Club Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round
Scotstown v Derrygonnelly, Sunday, 2.30, Clones
Scotstown and Derrygonnelly go head to head in the Ulster Club SFC Preliminary Round in Clones on Sunday.
Both teams are in the provincial championship for the fourth year in a row. Scotstown haven’t progressed in this competition since reaching the Ulster Final in 2015, while Derrygonnelly made a breakthrough last year when getting to the semi-final stage, where they took Cavan Gaels to a replay.
Scotstown took the direct route to a sixth straight Monaghan SFC Final via narrow wins over Carrickmacross, Ballybay and Magheracloone and they once again battled past the Pearse Brothers in Clones last time out. Derrygonnelly retained the Fermanagh title with convincing victories against Roslea, Devenish and Ederney.
Scotstown can call on the likes of Rory Beggan, Darren and Kieran Hughes, Conor McCarthy, Shane Carey and Damien McArdle to lead the way, while Derrygonnelly will be looking for big performances from Ryan, Garvan and Cónall Jones, Gary McKenna and Paul Ward.
AIB Ulster Club Junior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Emyvale v Newtownstewart, Sunday, 12.30, Clones
Emyvale continue their Ulster Club JFC campaign with a quarter-final against Newtownstewart in Clones on Sunday.
Emyvale won their sixth Monaghan JFC title at the end of last month and they have gone all the way in the provincial junior championship both times they entered it: in 2009 and 2013. Emyvale proved too potent for Drumhowan, Clones, Killeevan, Oram and Cremartin in the county championship, while they started the provincial series with a dominant win over Cavan side Drumlane last weekend.
Newtownstewart saw off Brocagh, Castlederg, Clogher and Beragh on their way to winning the Tyrone JFC title.
Emyvale won their sixth Monaghan JFC title at the end of last month and they have gone all the way in the provincial junior championship both times they entered it: in 2009 and 2013. Emyvale proved too potent for Drumhowan, Clones, Killeevan, Oram and Cremartin in the county championship, while Drumlane went unbeaten through eight games in the Cavan JFC. Group-stage wins over Maghera, Shannon Gaels, Denn and Kildallan were followed by knock-out victories at the expense of Templeport and Mountnugent for Drumlane, who then needed a replay to win their final against Killinkere.
Emyvale will be looking to Ryan McAnespie, Daniel McMahon, David and Robbie McAlister, Garreth McQuaid, Colin Hughes and Gregory Devlin to lead the way, with Aidan McSorley (who was forced off injured in the county final), Kevin Gallagher, Ryan and Niall Mayse and Brendan Boyle among the main men for Newtownstewart.
Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League Semi-Final
Currin v Donaghmoyne, Saturday, 4.30, Currin
The first IFL semi-final take places on Saturday, with Currin hosting Donaghmoyne.
2017 junior double winners Currin recovered from making an early exit from the championship without winning a game to finish the league strongly. The Scotshouse side won four and drew one of their last five group games to earn a home semi-final, pipping Donaghmoyne for second place. Donaghmoyne reached the IFC semi-finals, where they took Doohamlet to extra-time, while they have been consistently near the top of the league as they seek a quick return to senior. The first meeting of these teams this year produced a draw, while the most recent saw Currin claim a narrow win at the start of last month.
Donaghmoyne will need Stephen Finnegan, Pádraig Donaghy, Stephen Martin and Francis Markey on form, particularly with injury set to again keep David Garland out. Currin’s chances depend largely on star forward Jack McCarron, with good support from the likes of Dick Clerkin, Stephen Smyth and Ciarán and Enda McCaffrey.
Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 2B Final
Corduff v Éire Óg, Saturday, 4.30, Blackhill
The RFL Division 2B Final takes place in Blackhill on Saturday.
Éire Óg finished top of the table way back in July to book their place in this final, while Corduff ended up second, before edging past Clones in the semi-final. Corduff also got to the Crawley Cup Final, where they lost to Doohamlet.
Éire Óg will hope to be able to call on the likes of Tommy and Paul Monaghan, Christopher McGorman, Francis McMahon, Stephen Kerr and Conor Toal, with Corduff looking to Fionn O’Callaghan, Leon McKeown, Jason Hand and Shane McNally.
The Shoe City Senior Football League continues with Truagh hosting Ballybay on Saturday.
Sunday’s games in the Mallon’s Foods U-17 Football Leagues feature the Division Two Cup semi-finals (St. Patrick’s v Emyvale and Clann na nGael v Aughnamullen), as well as the Division Two Shield Final between Magheracloone and Scotstown in Drumhowan.
By cshalvey Fri 19th Oct
