Monaghan’s Under-21s secured their place in the Shamrock Cup Final with a 3-15 to 3-8 win over Down in Cloghan on Saturday. Shane O’Brien, Shane Carey and Thomas Kerr got the goals as Monaghan won their third successive game, setting up a rematch with Tyrone in the decider.

The county senior ladies continued their winning start to the defence of their NFL title with a 3-8 to 2-8 win away to Meath on Sunday. Monaghan trailed by a point at half-time, but second-half goals by Caoimhe Mohan, Cathriona McConnell and substitute Ciara Duffy won it for Gregory McGonigle’s side.

St. Macartan’s College edged through to the Danske Bank MacRory Cup semi-finals in the most dramatic fashion when an injury-time penalty by Fearghal McMahon saw them pip St. Pat’s, Dungannon by a point in Emyvale on Saturday.

Emerald Sarsfields fell just short in their bid to qualify for the Ulster Club Under-21 Football Championship Final when they lost out to Down champions Bryansford in Creggan on Sunday. A Ciarán Courtney goal had the Blackhill/Oram amalgamation on level terms at half-time, but Bryansford pulled away in the second half and even a late rally by the Monaghan champions could only reduce the gap to three points (0-16 to 2-7).

Monaghan players were to the fore in Ulster’s entertaining 1-14 to 1-13 interprovincial football semi-final win over Munster in Armagh on Sunday. Scotstown’s Darren Hughes captained the team from centre half-back, while Clontibret forward Conor McManus kicked four points from play and the younger Hughes brother, Kieran, came on as a sub for the last 25 minutes.

There was no luck for Monaghan teams in the Ulster Club Intermediate Football League on Sunday. Aughnamullen fell to a three-point defeat at home to Claudy, while Truagh lost to Edendork by the narrowest of margins.