Shamrock Cup First Round

Monaghan v Antrim, Saturday, 2.30, Clones

Monaghan’s Under-21 footballers start their Shamrock Cup campaign against Antrim in Clones on Saturday.

Monaghan lost to Tyrone in the final of the Cremartin-organised competition last year and they will hope to get off to a winning start after encouraging performances in recent challenge matches against Louth and Dublin. Monaghan have players with senior inter-county experience like Kieran Duffy, Rory Beggan, Daniel McKenna and Pete Dooney, while Owen and Shane Coyle, Keith McEnaney and Jack McCarron can also play important parts. Conor McCann and Hugh McNulty may not feature for Antrim as they are involved with Creggan in the Ulster Club Under-21 Championship, but they should be able to call on the likes of James Laverty, Christopher McGuinness and Eamon McNeill.

The other two teams in the competition – Tyrone and Meath – also go head-to-head on Saturday.

Monaghan Shamrock Cup Panel: Thomas Connolly, Owen Coyle, Shane Coyle, Kieran Duffy, Stephen McElroy (Latton); Conor Boyle, Pauric Boyle, Donal Carragher, David Savage (Clontibret); Rory Beggan, Shane Carey, Damien McArdle, Stephen Sherry (Scotstown); Pete Dooney, Seán Sheridan (Aughnamullen); Thomas Kerr, Brent Wylie (Ballybay); Conor McEnaney, Peter O’Hanlon (Carrickmacross); Jonathan McGuigan, Patrick McGuigan (Cremartin); Cathal Crowe, Berat Turker (Oram); Ryan Courtney (Blackhill); Brendan McElroy (Castleblayney); Keith McEnaney (Corduff); Jack McCarron (Currin); Anthony Mulligan (Drumhowan); Niall McKeown (Rockcorry); Daniel McKenna (Truagh).

Dowd Cup

Monaghan’s senior ladies will attempt to retain the Dowd Cup this weekend. After winning the Ulster championship and reaching the All-Ireland final last year, Monaghan have started 2012 with convincing wins over Fermanagh, Armagh and Tyrone, setting up a semi-final against Queen’s at the Belfast university’s playing fields tomorrow at 2.30. Monaghan manager Gregory McGonigle has used a mixture of established players and emerging talent and can be expected to do the same this weekend. If Monaghan win, they will play either Tyrone or UUJ on Sunday at 3pm.