Monaghan Football Development Squads are in full swing with the U16s just completed the Ulster Buncrana Cup competition. Our U15’s are preparing for upcoming national competition and our U14’s are currently going through trial process.

Monaghan U16 Development Squad

Our U16’s participated in Ulster Buncrana Cup comeptition and where grouped with Derry, Armagh, Down and Antrim. In all games Monaghan where very competitive and improved steadily as the competition progressed. In the first two games they where defeated narrowly to both Derry & Armagh. The scorelines where; Monaghan 1:05 – Derry 0:09 and Monaghan 0;05 to Armagh 1:05.  Both games where played in very challenging conditions, hence the reason for low scoring but Monaghan battled very well and until the final whistle in both  games.

In the next two games Monaghan beat both Down and Antrim convincingly in scorelines of; Monaghan 4:11 – Down 0:07 & Monaghan 0:14 – Antrim 0:04. Down where missing a number of players due to Schools football, but Monaghan played some lovely attacking football. This victory set Monaghan up knowing that a win against Antrim they would progress to the shield final. In this final group game Monaghan dominated from start to finish, defensively very strong and with Monaghan dominating the midfield sector give the team a great platform upfront to keep the scoreboard ticking over. As a result of this victory Monaghan progressed to play Tyrone in the shield final in Glen Maghara. Despite a good battling performance by Monaghan in the final they were beaten comprehensively by Tyrone in the final of a scoreline 3:11 to 5 points. Monaghan were missing a number of key players due to injury and the weather conditions played a part in Monaghan struggling on the day.

This group now will look forward to the Gerry Reilly tournament that takes place in July. The management team would like to thank the parents, players & clubs for their support to date.

Monaghan U16 Buncrana Cup Panel;

Darragh Croarkin, Liam Conway, Tiarnan O’Rourke, Nathan Laverty (Monaghan Harps), Thomas Keenan (Ballybay), Adam McSkeane (Inniskeen), Dylan Byrne, Daniel McCaughey (Magheracloone), Ryan Duffy (Latton), Lewis McElwain, Oran Maguire, Louis Kelly (Truagh), Jack McMenimen, Stephen O’Rourke & Flynn Holland (Carrick), Hugh McDonald, Kian Clerkin (Clones), Rio Corrigan & Ben Sherry (Emyvale), Mark McPhillips (Scotstown), Conor Ruxton (Corduff), Conor Moran (Clontibret), Gavin McSkeane, Liam Martin, Sean McGinnity, Dara Watters, Gerard Finnegan, Hugh Murnaghan, Dara Flanagan (Donaghmoyne)

Monaghan U15 Development Squad 

For upcoming U15 National competition Monaghan U15’s have played a number of challenge matches in preparation for this competition. See below a brief report on those challenge matches.

• They played Louth in Darver on Saturday 9^{th      March.}  As with all games at this age group 2 games where , one after the other. Both games were very competitive with Monaghan winning one and Louth winning the other. In all Monaghan used 42 players throughout the 2 games, with everybody getting at least 30 minutes football.

_{U15 Squad:}

Kyle Cassidy,Darragh Mee, Fionan Carolan, Oisin Mc Nally,  Cian Conlan, Sean Birdy(all Carrickmacross). Ben Mallon,  Joe Carey, Thomas Hughes (all Castleblayney),  Anton Smith, Patrick Farrelly, Kian Duffy, Mark Mc Cahey,  (all Magheracloone),  Micheal Mc Morrow, Shea Swift, Gary Devlin, Luke Mc Manus (all Monaghan Harps),  Dylan O Reilly, Ruairi Treanor,Dara Mc Kenna, Charlie Mc Elroy(Tyholland),  Cian Burns, Cillian Mc Gahon,  John Gartlan, (Killanny),  Myles Quigley,  Andrew Mc Caughey, Ryan Nolan (Clones), Ciaran Branigan, Philip Mc Nally,  Daithi Shevlin (Cremartin),   Dylan Mc Philips, Darragh Mc Dwyer, Caolain Foy ( Scotstown),  Aaron Reilly, Josh Brannigan ( Rockcorry),  Tom Mc Mahon, Joseph Mc Mahon (Toome),  Christopher Collier (Donaghmoyne), Cillian Hackett (Truagh),Ciaran Doyle (Clontibret), David Mc Ginn (Doohamlet), Dylan Sherry (Emyvale).

• Monaghan then played Derry in Cloghan on Saturday 30^th March, and similar to the Louth  2 games where played , one after the other. In all Monaghan used 44 players throughout the 2 games, with everybody getting at least 30 minutes football.

Darragh Mee, Fionan Carolan, Oisin Mc Nally,  Cian Conlan (all Carrickmacross). Ben Mallon,  Joe Carey,  (all Castleblayney),  Anton Smith, Patrick Farrelly, Kian Duffy, Mark Mc Cahey, (all Magheracloone), Shea Swift, Gary Devlin,  (all Monaghan Harps),  Dylan O Reilly, Ruairi Treanor,Dara Mc Kenna, Oran Hughes (Tyholland), Ciaran Doyle, Lewis Brady, Aaron Carey, Shane Myers and Shane Mc Cully (all Clontibret)  Cillian Mc Gahon,  John Gartlan, (Killanny),  Myles Quigley,  Andrew Mc Caughey, Ryan Nolan, Cian Mc Gorman (Clones), Ciaran Branigan, Philip Mc Nally,   (Cremartin),   Conor Mc Philips, Darragh Mc Dwyer, Caolain Foy, James Mc Elwaine ( Scotstown),  Aaron Reilly, Josh Brannigan ( Rockcorry),  Tom Mc Mahon, Joseph Mc Mahon (Toome),  Daire Martin (Donaghmoyne), Cillian Hackett (Truagh),  David Mc Ginn (Doohamlet), Dylan Sherry, Declan Mc Kenna (Emyvale), Dylan Mc Connell (Inniskeen), Andrew Collins (Corduff)

Over the coming weeks the U15s will play Dublin, Down and Sligo in the upcoming U15 National Academy league. Dates, times & venues for these games are yet to be confirmed.

Monaghan U14 Development Squads

Last trial for this squad is planned for 27th April from a 11 to 1pm in Cloghan. For further information please contact Rory Beggan on rory.beggan.gda.monaghan@gaa.ie