The Intermediate Football Championship Final takes most of the attention on Sunday, but it is a very busy weekend with Castleblayney and Clontibret in Ulster club hurling championship action and finals down for decision in the Minor Hurling Championship, Reserve Football League (Divisions Two and Three) and the Minor Football Championship (Divisions Two and Three), as well as the final round of the Senior Football League.

McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Final

Doohamlet v Tyholland, Sunday, 3.45, Clontibret

 

For the second time in three years, Doohamlet and Tyholland contest the McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Final in Clontibret on Sunday.

Both of these teams would have been seen as front-runners at the start of the season and they have justified that status by going through the front door to reach the final. They also went head-to-head in the 2010 IFC decider, when Doohamlet ran out surprisingly comfortable winners.

Doohamlet were drawn in the preliminary round, but they made light of that by winning all four games to date. They survived a bit of a scare from Seán McDermotts in that opener, before holding off a late comeback from Inniskeen to win by three points after having led by ten coming up to half-time. Doohamlet then produced a powerful 60-minute performance to crush Rockcorry and book their place in the semi-finals, where they overcame a lengthening injury list and a strong challenge from Cremartin to battle through, thanks to a late goal from substitute Glen Comiskey.

Tyholland also have a 100% record in this year’s championship going into today’s final. The north-Monaghan men impressed in easing past Aughnamullen in the first round, before edging through a high-scoring game against Cremartin. Tyholland failed to hit top gear in their semi-final against a Donaghmoyne team who played more than half the game with 14 men, but goals from Brian McArdle, Raymond Ronaghan and Shane Treanor got them over the line.

Doohamlet have scored 5-48 in their four championship games to date – giving them an average of almost 16 points per game – while conceding 3-30, which is less than ten points on average. Tyholland’s tally of 7-32 three games gives them an average of just under 18 points with their scores against of 3-29 working out at nearly 13 points per game.

Doohamlet have led the Intermediate Football League almost all year, with their impressive form, including two hard-earned wins over today’s opponents, booking their place in the semi-finals with several games to spare. Tyholland are still involved in a battle for fourth place.

Doohamlet have a team full of experience and strength, with recent experience of senior football, having been relegated from the top flight last year. Colin Walshe is their star man from centre-back, anchoring a defence which should also include Gabie Casey, Martin Hughes and Kevin McArdle. They will hope to have Darren Connolly back after injury forced him out of the Cremartin match, although Shane J Connolly has once again been ruled out… They have a formidable midfield partnership in Ciarán McManus and Greg Duffy, while it will be up to Mark Murphy, Paul McArdle (who overcame injury troubles to play against Cremartin), Shane McManus and Ted Duffy to hit the bulk of the scores. Niall Connolly (who has had limited game-time this year) and Ollie Hughes are also options up front, while Jason McElroy can feature in attack or defence and Glen Comiskey and Stephen Gilsenan have contributed off the bench for Dessie McBennett’s men.

Tyholland are not short of quality themselves, with a number of players who have played at senior and who helped them to win the IFC title in 2007. They will be anxious to have the influential Gary McQuaid fit after he was forced off with a shoulder injury in the semi-final against Donaghmoyne, as he is a key player in making Tyholland tick. They will hope to have county man Karl O’Connell back from the USA to add real pace to their defence, which also features Gregory Ronaghan, Paul Coyle, Trevor Connolly and Michael McQuaid. Ronan McNally and Cyril Ronaghan are the most likely midfield pairing, with support from the likes of Brian McArdle and Ryan McKenna, while Dermot Coyle, Raymond Ronaghan, Shane Treanor and Peadar Farrelly are the ones to watch in the Tyholland attack.

Sunday’s game should be closer than these teams’ last championship clash, but Doohamlet have had the look of a team on a mission in their campaign and it is a mission they should be able to complete.

 

 

Doohamlet IFC scorers 2012: Mark Murphy 1-10; Paul McArdle 0-13 (8f, 1 ‘45); Shane McManus 2-4; Greg Duffy 1-3; Ted Duffy 0-6 (5f); Colin Walshe, Ciarán McManus 0-3 each; Glen Comiskey 1-0; Ollie Hughes, Kevin McArdle 0-2 each; Philip Mone, Stephen Gilsenan 0-1 each.

 

Tyholland IFC scorers 2012: Dermot Coyle 1-11 (0-4f); Raymond Ronaghan 3-2; Shane Treanor 1-4 (0-2f); Brian McArdle 1-3; Adam Askin 0-4 (1f); Paul Coyle 1-0; Peadar Farrelly, Ryan McKenna (1f, 1 ’45) 0-3 each; Gary McQuaid, Stephen Connolly 0-1 each.

Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Two Final

Donaghmoyne v Magheracloone, Sunday, 2.00, Clontibret

 

Magheracloone will be determined to atone for their league final defeat when they take on Donaghmoyne in the MFC Division Two decider in Sunday’s curtain-raiser at Clontibret.

Magheracloone, who finished four points behind Donaghmoyne in the league, ran out eight-point winners over their fellow south-Monaghan side in the semi-finals, only to lose to Emyvale after a replay in the final. Both teams were in Group A in the championship, with Donaghmoyne topping the section with three straight wins and Magheracloone taking three points before getting the better of Latton in a play-off. Magheracloone went on to defeat Cremartin in the semi-finals, while Donaghmoyne were comprehensive winners against Emyvale.

David Kirk, Michael Metzger, Alan McCahey, Daniel Irwin and Paul McArdle should lead the way for Magheracloone, who are set to be without Paudie Kirk after he was sent off against Emyvale last time out. Niall Garland, Darren McElroy, Michael Murnaghan and Niall Keenan are among the ones to watch on the Donaghmoyne team. This one has all the makings of a game that will go right down to the wire.

 

Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division Three Final

Corduff v Cúchulains Sarsfields, Saturday, 5.00, Oram

 

The MFC Division Three Final is also down for decision this weekend, as beaten league finalists Corduff face Cúchulains Sarsfields (Aughnamullen and Toome) in Oram on Saturday.

Despite losing their league clash narrowly, Corduff pipped Cúchulains Sarsfields to fourth place in the league and they went on to reach the final, where they lost out to St. Patrick’s. Both sides then topped their sections in the championship with three successive wins each – Cúchulains Sarsfields in Group A and Corduff in Group B. Cúchulains Sarsfields were convincing winners in their semi-final against fellow amalgamated outfit St. Tiarnach’s, while Corduff got their own back on St. Pat’s.

Having already lost the league final and an Under-16 championship decider in the last month, Corduff will be determined to make it third-time lucky. County minor captain Pádraic Keenan is the driving force for them, with Fergal Hanratty, Mark Treanor and Blain McEnaney leading the support cast, while Shane Conlon, Darragh McKenna and Aaron Kelly are key figures for Cúchulains Sarsfields. Keenan’s influence could be the decisive factor.

Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling Championship Final

Emmet Grattans v Truagh Harps, Saturday, 2.30, Cloghan * Note change of venue

 

The MHC Final brings together two amalgamated sides on Saturday, with Carrickmacross/Inniskeen combination Emmet Grattans up against Monaghan Harps and Truagh amalgamation Truagh Harps. Emmet Grattans, who won the league last year, ground out a narrow win over Clontibret in the championship semi-finals, while Truagh Harps saw off Castleblayney.

Emmet Grattans will be looking for big performances from Dónal and Colm Meegan, Kevin Crawley and Jamie Guinan, while Truagh Harps, who are set to be without the injured Brendan McQuaid, can still call on the likes of Ciarán McQuaid, Noel Flood, Conor Boyle and Cathal McAnespie. If Truagh Harps can replicate their semi-final performance they will be well in the thick of it, but Emmet Grattans may just have more scoring power in the shape of Dónal Meegan and Guinan.

 

Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Two Final

Cremartin v Drumhowan, Saturday, 4.30, Blackhill

 

The last two winners of the JFC, Cremartin and Drumhowan, contest the RFL Division Two Final in Blackhill on Saturday.

Drumhowan topped the league, two points and two places ahead of Cremartin, while both league meetings of the teams resulted in draws, so there is precious little between them. Both sides also needed extra-time to come through local derbies in the semi-finals, where Drumhowan saw off Ballybay and Cremartin got the better of Doohamlet. This is Drumhowan’s second reserve final of the year after they overcame all the odds to reach the O’Duffy Cup final, where they lost to Castleblayney, having edged past Cremartin in the opening round.

Much will depend on how Drumhowan have recovered from the exertions of winning the Junior Championship last Sunday, with several of the same players set to be involved once again, including Kieran Mooney, John Paul O’Neill, Martin and Kieran McElroy and Paddy Mulligan. Cremartin, who won this competition in 2010 only to make a quick return to the Division Two ranks, should be able to call on county minors Mark Magee and Shaun Buckley along with Barry Carragher, Liam McVicar and Kevin Atkinson. This one is evenly poised, but the confidence in Drumhowan at the minute could spur them on.

 

Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three Final

Emyvale v Scotstown, Sunday, 1.00, Scotstown * Note change of venue

 

Emyvale and Scotstown meet in a north-Monaghan derby in the RFL Division Three Final at Gavan Duffy Park on Sunday.

Emyvale, who will be keen to bounce back after their senior team, lost the JFC Final last Sunday, finished top of the league, one point above second-placed Scotstown. Emyvale needed a replay to get past Aughnamullen in a low-scoring semi-final, while Scotstown had five points to spare against Inniskeen. Emyvale were five-point winners when they made the short trip to Scotstown way back in March.

Scotstown’s third string already have silverware in the cabinet this year after they won the Crawley Cup championship, a competition in which Emyvale were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Seán McDermotts.

Adrian Carbin, Elliott Maguire, Paul Sherlock, Damien F McKenna and Fintan Treanor John Thomas Treanor, Emmet Colleran, Patrick and Cillían McCarron, James McAlister, Darren McKernan and Brendan Askin should be to the fore for Emyvale, who will hope that Michael Flannery is fit to start after injury restricted him to a cameo last Sunday. Scotstown are chasing a double, but Emyvale may have the edge in terms of hunger in this one.

 

Ulster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship First Round

Castleblayney v Cloughmills, Sunday, 3.30, Casement Park

 

Castleblayney will aim to repeat last year’s run to the Ulster Club IHC Final, starting with a trip to Belfast to take on St. Brigid’s, Cloughmills at Casement Park on Sunday afternoon.

Castleblayney have maintained their superiority in Monaghan hurling this year by winning the senior league and championship double as well as the inaugural Development Hurling League, which was achieved without their sizable county contingent. Blayney went through the group stage of the championship with a 100% record and they went on to crush Truagh in the semi-finals and hold off a strong challenge from Inniskeen in the county final. St. Brigid’s saw off Creggan and Gort Na Móna to reach the Antrim IHC Final, where they battled past St. Paul’s, Belfast. Cloughmills will be familiar to Monaghan hurling supporters as the team beaten by Inniskeen in the Ulster JHC final in 2010.

Blayney, who lost to Middletown in the final of this competition last year, have a good mix of youth in the likes of Mark and Peter Treanor and Fergal Rafter, along with experienced players such as Gary Boyd, Paul Murphy, Mickey McHugh, Brian McGuigan and Stephen Lambe. Conor Laverty, Liam Kearns, James Doherty and Michael and Darren Morrison should play central roles for Cloughmills. Blayney have it in them to win this one and kick-start another Ulster club campaign.

 

Ulster Club Junior Hurling Championship First Round

Clontibret v Na Magha, Sunday, 3.30, Maghera

 

Clontibret are also in action in Ulster club competition on Sunday, when they play Derry city-based Na Magha in Maghera.

Clontibret won three of their five group games in the SHC and they gave Inniskeen a bit of a scare in the semi-finals, only to lose narrowly. They then won the shield convincingly at the expense of Truagh to qualify for the Ulster JHC. Na Magha, who competed in Division 3B of the Táin Hurling League early this year, faced Monaghan opposition at this stage 12 months ago. They held off a Monaghan Harps comeback to win by a goal that day, before losing narrowly to Donegal side Burt in the semi-finals.

Clontibret will need everyone available to them if they are to come through this, including their dual players who are preparing for Sunday week’s SFC Final. Noel Morgan, Cormac Connolly, Fergal and Kieran Greenan, Eoin McGuigan, John Green and Ned McCann will have to produce their best form for the O’Neills, while Na Magha will be looking for big performances from Brendan Quigley, Alan Grant, Diarmuid Shiels and Leigh Hawkins.

The final round of the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League takes place on Saturday. Castleblayney will take the fourth semi-final place if they beat Latton, despite Scotstown getting the points from Magheracloone. SFC finalists Ballybay and Clontibret have conceded their games against relegated sides Truagh and Currin respectively, meaning the only other game set to go ahead is between Carrickmacross and Monaghan Harps.

The last remaining juvenile fixture of 2012 is down for decision in Rockcorry on Saturday, when Drumhowan and Feargal O’Hanlons contest the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-14 Football League Division Five Cup Final.