Five county teams are in action this week, with the minor hurlers getting the weekend underway on Saturday, the senior footballers, hurlers and ladies all in action on a packed Sunday and the Under-21 footballers entering the Ulster championship on Wednesday. Schools fixtures, including a Monaghan derby in the MacLarnon Cup Final on Tuesday, and club games are also part of a busy schedule

 

 

Allianz National Football League Division One

Monaghan v Derry, Sunday, 2.30, Clones

 

Monaghan’s bid to move towards safety in the NFL Division One continues when they return to the familiar surrounds of Clones for Sunday’s game against Derry.

Having started their league campaign with an impressive win over Tyrone, Monaghan fell to defeats against Cork and Mayo, but they bounced back in a tense battle with Donegal last Sunday. Derry, who reached the Division One Final last year, are now bottom of the table with just one point to their name. The Oak Leaf County, who have been without a number of players including their All-Ireland finalist contingent from Slaughtneil, gained their only point to date via a draw with Tyrone, amid losses to Donegal, Kerry and Mayo.

These counties developed an intense rivalry in the last decade, but their meetings have been few and far between in recent years. Derry won the last two – in 2014 McKenna Cup and 2012 National League – but they lost on their last NFL visit to Monaghan back in 2010.

The Monaghan team named by Malachy O’Rourke is unchanged, with Ryan Wylie and Stephen Gollogly listed among the substitutes after both served a one-match suspension resulting from red cards in Castlebar. Brian McIver has made two changes to the Derry team, with goalkeeper Thomas Mallon and full-forward Emmett McGuckin coming in for Eoin McNicholl and Aidan McAlynn.

Monaghan have also been without some big names, but they can call on Conor McManus for Sunday, along with Darren and Kieran Hughes, Drew Wylie, Dessie Mone and Paul Finlay. Despite serving a one-match suspension for a controversial red card against Kerry, Mark Lynch remains the leader of this Derry team, particularly in the absence of Gerard O’Kane, who has opted out for now due to work commitments. They will also need big performances from Niall Holly at full-back, the versatile Seán Leo McGoldrick and forwards Benny Heron, James Kielt and Eoin Bradley (whether from the start or off the bench).

 

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Conor Boyle, Vincent Corey, Drew Wylie; Dessie Mone, Fintan Kelly, Karl O’Connell; Neil McAdam, Darren Hughes; Ryan McAnespie, Paul Finlay, Dermot Malone; Daniel McKenna, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus (Capt.).

Subs: Enda Duffy, John McCarron, Paddy McGuigan, Ryan Wylie, Dick Clerkin, Shane Carey, Stephen Gollogly, Pádraig Donaghy, Thomas Connolly, Thomas Kerr, Paul Meegan.

 

Derry: Thomas Mallon; Oisín Duffy, Niall Holly, Dermot McBride; Brian Óg McAlary, Kevin Johnston, Seán Leo McGoldrick; Mark Craig, Brian Óg McGilligan; Benny Heron, Mark Lynch (Capt.), Enda Lynn; Daniel McKinless, Emmet McGuckin, Carlus McWilliams.

Subs: Eoin McNicholl, Aidan McAlynn, Michael McIver, Jarlath Bradley, Daryl Mullan, Gary Doyle, James Kielt, Barry McGoldrick, Eoin Bradley, Emmett Bradley.

 

Allianz National Hurling League Division 3A

Monaghan v Fingal, Sunday, 12.30, Clones

 

Sunday’s curtain-raiser at St. Tiarnach’s Park sees Monaghan’s hurlers aim to continue their unbeaten run in the NHL.

Monaghan continued their fine start to Trevor Hilliard’s reign when they again finished strongly to defeat Louth at Dowdallshill, Dundalk last Sunday, keeping them joint-top of the table, following a draw with Nicky Rackard Cup champions Tyrone and a win over their predecessors, Roscommon. Fingal would have been fancied in this campaign after being relegated from Division 2B last year, but their form has been patchy. They followed up a win over Fermanagh with a one-point loss to Tyrone, before falling to a heavy defeat against Roscommon last Sunday.

Ronan Meegan (0-22) and Stephen Lambe (2-6) have been in prolific form and will be central to the hosts’ chances on Sunday, along with the likes of Peter and Mark Treanor, Éanna Mac Suibhne and Fergal Rafter. Fingal will need players like John Matthew Sheridan, Danny Butterley, Colm Byrne, Ross McGarry and Ian Kennedy on top form if they are to return to winning ways.

 

Ladies National Football League Division One

Monaghan v Mayo, Sunday, 2.00, Blackhill

 

Monaghan will be trying to stay on top of the Ladies NFL when they welcome Mayo to Blackhill on Sunday.

Monaghan have enjoyed success at the mid-Monaghan venue already in last month’s win over Cork and they have also comfortably beaten Laois and Tyrone; having slumped to an opening-round defeat in Dublin. Mayo’s campaign so far mirrors Monaghan’s, as the Connacht side lost to Cork first time out, before bouncing back with three consecutive wins over Laois, Dublin and Tyrone. These teams are in a three-way tie for first place in the table along with Cork, although Monaghan are currently top due to their superior score difference. Monaghan and Mayo have served up many cracking contests in recent years and Sunday should be no different.

Monaghan will be looking to Cora and Sharon Courtney, Caoimhe Mohan, Ciara and Aoife McAnespie, Cathriona McConnell, Laura McEnaney and Gráinne McNally to lead the way. Mayo are still led and captained by star forward Cora Staunton, with support from the likes of Fiona McHale, Martha Carter and Yvonne Byrne.

 

Ulster Minor Hurling League Division Two

Monaghan v Tyrone, Saturday, 12.00, Cloghan

 

Monaghan will attempt to build on their winning start to the Ulster MHL when they face Tyrone in Cloghan on Saturday.

Monaghan held off a late challenge from Louth last Saturday and they will hope to claim a second win at the expense of Tyrone, who are playing their first competitive game of the year. County senior Ronan Curran is a doubt with a knee injury, but Monaghan should again be able to call on the likes of Cathal Power, Conor Flynn, Reece Treanor, Mark Murphy and Alan Nugent.

 

Eirgrid Ulster Under-21 Football Championship Quarter-Final

Monaghan v Derry, Wednesday, 8.00, Inniskeen

 

Monaghan enter the Ulster Under-21 FC when they take on Derry under the floodlights at Páirc Grattan on Wednesday night.

Derry already have a win under their belts after they defeated Down in the preliminary round at Celtic Park on Wednesday, March 11. Monaghan’s extensive build-up for the championship saw them compete in the Hastings Cup, where they contested a shield semi-final against Kerry, and Cremartin’s Shamrock Cup, where they lost the final to Tyrone.

Monaghan are backboned by the 2013 Ulster MFC winners and the previous year’s runners-up and they can call on current senior players Ryan Wylie and Ryan McAnespie, as well as the likes of Conor McCarthy, Brian Greenan, Fearghal McMahon, Kevin Loughran, Pádraic Keenan and Dónal Meegan. Niall Loughlin, Terence O’Brien, Neill McNicholl and James Kearney are key players for Derry, who were able to bring rising star Danny Tallon on as a substitute to help them get through their opener.

 

Danske Bank Ulster Colleges MacLarnon Cup Final

Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney v Patrician High School, Carrickmacross, Tuesday, 11.00, Athletic Grounds

 

A unique all-Monaghan Danske Bank Ulster Colleges MacLarnon Cup Final between Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney and Patrician High School, Carrickmacross takes place in Armagh on St. Patrick’s Day.

Both schools had comprehensive wins over Tyrone opposition in the quarter-finals, where Our Lady’s put St. Ciarán’s, Ballygawley to the sword and Patrician powered past Holy Trinity, Cookstown. They both also got through their semi-finals with a bit to spare, as Our Lady’s proved too strong for St. Louis, Ballymena and Patrician got the better of St. Malachy’s, Belfast.

A cracking local derby is in store between two teams who can call on several players with county minor experience, as well as members of last year’s double-winning Donaghmoyne minor team. Patrician’s attack is led by David Garland – who fits both of those criteria – and rising Meath star Dáire Rowe; a duo who will take some watching. Aaron Jones, Conor Duffy, Ronan McDonald, Thomas Finnegan and goalkeeper Shane Garland give them strength in all sectors. Our Lady’s have two current Ulster Colleges All-Stars in centre-half back Barry Kerr (who won his second award in December) and chief marksman Barry McGinn, who captained the Monaghan minors last year. Micheál Bannigan, Aaron Courtney, Conor Marray, Jamie Walshe, Damien Ward and James Wilson are other key players for the Blayney school.

Our Lady’s claimed the MacLarnon Cup for the only time to date on their way to an All-Ireland Colleges ‘B’ championship ten years ago, while Patrician last got to this stage when they retained the title in 1998.

Both of these teams were earmarked as leading challengers for this title before the competition began and it will be difficult to separate them on Tuesday in a game likely to go down to the wire.

Before all that, Largy College, Clones when they contest the Markey Cup semi-final against Donegal’s Coláiste na Carraige in Irvinestown on Friday * note change of venue from Trillick. Largy will be looking for big performances from the likes of Dermot Gleeson, James Mealiff, Michael and Ryan Tierney, James McElwain and Eoin McQuaid.

 

The Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Leagues continue over the weekend and on St. Patrick’s Day. Last year’s league and championship winners go head-to-head in Division 1A on Sunday, when Clontibret host Scotstown, while the other games in that section is between Cremartin and Magheracloone and Latton and Truagh. The Division 1B fixtures are spread out, with local derbies Ballybay v Aughnamullen (on Saturday) and Monaghan Harps v Tyholland (on Tuesday) sandwiching Emyvale v Castleblayney on Sunday. Doohamlet and Drumhowan have home advantage against Éire Óg and Donaghmoyne in Division 2A on Sunday, with Drumhowan then travelling to Smithborough on Tuesday. Inniskeen host Blackhill under lights in Division 2B on Friday night, with Carrickmacross making the short trip to Killanny on Sunday. Aghabog and Toome host Monaghan Harps and Killeevan respectively in Division Three on Sunday, before Clones and Emyvale meet on Tuesday.

St. Patrick’s and Seán McDermotts will both be attempting to build on winning starts to the McElvaney Recycling Minor Football League Division One when they clash in Drumhowan on Saturday, while Clontibret and Monaghan Harps get their campaigns underway on Tuesday.

The juvenile year gets underway on Saturday, with a full programme of games in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-14 Football Leagues.