Streamline Coaches Intermediate Football League Final

Doohamlet v Inniskeen, Sunday, 2.00, Drumhowan

Doohamlet and Inniskeen clash in the long-delayed IFL Final on Sunday. The game was originally to have been played back on November 21, but Doohamlet’s involvement in the Ulster IFC Final and the postponement of that game on two weekends in a row due to the weather caused this one to be deferred further.

Doohamlet have already won their first-ever IFC title before going close last Saturday to following it up with Ulster success and now they are one win away from winning their first IFL. Having led Lisnaskea going into the final quarter, Doohamlet ended up three points adrift of the Fermanagh men, but this game offers a chance to lift themselves and complete a Monaghan intermediate double.

The teams had contrasting fortunes in the championship, as Doohamlet lost just once in ten games, while Inniskeen couldn’t manage a win from their two matches. Doohamlet beat Aghabog, Rockcorry (after a replay), Éire Óg, Aughnamullen and Tyholland to win the Monaghan IFC. They added wins over Bundoran from Donegal, Sarsfields of Armagh and Tyrone champions Derrylaughan in the provincial championship, where they fell just short in the decider. Meanwhile, Inniskeen made a surprise early exit after defeats to Donaghmoyne and Aughnamullen.

Doohamlet have been consistently towards the top of the IFL table all year, while Inniskeen looked to be in relegation trouble two-thirds of the way through the season, before a run of five successive wins saw them sneak ahead of Rockcorry into fourth place, by virtue of their superior head-to-head record. Doohamlet edged past Tyholland in a low-scoring league semi-final, with Inniskeen battling their way to a similarly narrow win away to neighbours Donaghmoyne.

Doohamlet have a very settled team, with 12 players having started all ten of their championship games this year. Monaghan Young Footballer of the Year Colin Walshe is a key man in defence, along with Gabie Casey, Martin Hughes, Darren Connolly and Shane Johnny Connolly. Captain Glen Cumiskey and Intermediate Player of the Year Ciarán McManus man a strong midfield, while Shane McManus, Ted Duffy and Niall Johnny Connolly provide the main scoring threats, although the O’Neills will be without Niall Jim Connolly, who is in Australia.

Inniskeen will need Paul and Ronan Meegan and Michael Lennon on form up front, while Fergal Duffy and Gavin Dooley are certain to play key roles at midfield, with Stephen Callan and Raymond Lennon central players in defence.