All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

Monaghan v Tyrone, Sunday, 3.30, Croke Park

 

A huge double-header for Monaghan at Croke Park on Sunday sees the county’s senior and minor football teams both contest All-Ireland semi-finals.

Tyrone stand in Monaghan’s way once again in the senior game, where they are bidding to qualify for their first final since 1930. Having beaten Tyrone in the Ulster quarter-finals, Monaghan then lost to Fermanagh, but they got their championship campaign back on track with comfortable qualifier wins over Waterford, Leitrim and Laois. Monaghan then topped Group 1 in the new ‘Super 8s’ series via wins against Kildare and Galway, either side of a dramatic draw with Kerry. Tyrone, meanwhile, recovered from that opening-round defeat to knock out Meath, Carlow, Cavan and Cork in the qualifiers, before finishing second in their ‘Super 8s’ group behind Dublin. The Red Hands lost to the Dubs in the second phase in Group 2, but saw off Roscommon and Donegal to secure their place in the last four.

Monaghan’s win in Omagh in May was their second victory over Tyrone this year, as they also edged out their neighbours in the Allianz NFL at Castleblayney, but they will be looking to avenge 2013 and 2015 All-Ireland quarter-final defeats. Malachy O’Rourke has announced a team showing one change, with Dessie Mone named in place of Conor McCarthy. There is also one change on the Tyrone side named by Mickey Harte, with Rory Brennan replacing the injured Conor Meyler.

Tyrone have had good showings from Peter Harte, Colm Cavanagh, Pádraig Hampsey, Mattie Donnelly, Niall Sludden, Connor McAliskey and Frank Burns this summer, with the likes of Lee Brennan and Kieran McGeary making an impact off the bench. Monaghan will be looking for experienced players such as Conor McManus, Rory Beggan, Darren Hughes, Karl O’Connell, Fintan Kelly, the Wylie brothers and Ryan McAnespie to lead the way, with McCarthy joining Kieran Hughes and Jack McCarron among the subs.

 

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Colin Walshe (Capt.), Vincent Corey, Karl O’Connell; Niall Kearns, Darren Hughes; Ryan McAnespie, Shane Carey, Dessie Mone; Dermot Malone, Fintan Kelly, Conor McManus.

Subs: Conor Forde, Conor Boyle, Barry Kerr, Dessie Ward, Neil McAdam, Kieran Hughes, Owen Duffy, Paudie McKenna, Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, David Garland.

 

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Michael McKernan, Ronan McNamee, Rory Brennan; Tiernan McCann, Frank Burns, Peter Harte; Colm Cavanagh, Pádraig Hampsey; Mattie Donnelly (Capt.), Niall Sludden, Cathal McShane; Mark Bradley, Richard Donnelly, Connor McAliskey.

Subs: Michael O’Neill, Lee Brennan, Michael Cassidy, Harry Loughran, Cónall McCann, Declan McClure, Aidan McCrory, Hugh Pat McGeary, Kieran McGeary, Pádraig McNulty, Ronan O’Neill.

 

Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Semi-Final

Kerry v Monaghan, Sunday, 1.30, Croke Park

 

Sunday’s curtain-raiser sees Ulster MFC winners Monaghan bid to qualify for a first All-Ireland Final since 1939 when they take on Kerry.

Monaghan lost to Derry in extra-time in the first round, but wins over Antrim, Donegal, Down and Cavan earned them an appearance in the Ulster final, where they turned the tables on the Oak Leaf County. Séamus McEnaney’s charges then defeated Kildare at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage. Kerry, who are chasing a remarkable five-in-a-row of All-Ireland MFC titles, retained the Munster crown by seeing off Tipperary, Cork and Clare. Peter Keane’s side also had too much firepower for Roscommon last time out.

Monaghan will hope to have big performances from Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh, Aaron Mulligan, Andrew Moore, Seán Jones, Jordan McGarrell, Karl Gallagher, Lochlainn Power and Ronan Grimes. Paul Walsh, Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoích, Dylan Geaney and Killian Falvey, Darragh Rahilly and Dan McCarthy are among the main players for Kerry.