Ballybay began their defence of the Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship with a 0-13 to 1-6 win over Rockcorry in Friday’s preliminary-round match at a wet and windy Aughnamullen. Rockcorry put it up to the county champions, with Dwayne Rooney scoring the game’s only goal from a penalty in the 22^nd minute, but Ballybay came back to lead by 0-8 to 1-3 at half-time and they pushed on in the second half, with star man Paul Finlay taking his tally to six points.

Their first-round opponents will be Latton, who battled past Carrickmacross (see report).

Donaghmoyne edged out Truagh in a fiery McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship preliminary-round game in Blackhill on Saturday. Despite having two men sent off, Donaghmoyne ground out a win by the narrowest of margins, holding off a late charge from league leaders Truagh.

Tyholland also ran out narrow winners against Corduff on Sunday (see report).

Seán McDermotts were too strong for Killanny in the Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship on Sunday (see report).

Monaghan Harps closed to within three points of Scotstown at the top of the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League when they defeated Castleblayney on Sunday, thanks mainly to goals from Gerard Gilsenan and Dean Fanning, while third-placed Magheracloone kept up the pace with a home win over Clontibret.

Currin missed the chance to move ahead of Truagh at the top of the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League when they lost to Inniskeen on Sunday.

Emyvale are now four points clear of nearest challengers Blackhill in the Eurotech Junior Football League after their comfortable win over Killeevan on Sunday. Oram’s second win in four days – at home to Scotstown – moved them into a share of third place, while Toome returned to winning ways at the expense of Aghabog.

Elsewhere on Friday, Blackhill booked their place in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship Division Three Final with an eight-point win over Clones, while Aghabog eased past Emyvale in their rescheduled quarter-final to set up a last-four clash with Monaghan Harps.

Like Ballybay’s footballers, Castleblayney made a winning start to their defence of the Silver Hill Foods Senior Hurling Championship when they came out on top of Thursday’s repeat of last year’s final against Inniskeen, but it is Carrickmacross who lead the way after they battled to a second victory away to Clontibret. Monaghan Harps opened their campaign with a comprehensive win over Truagh.

 

Meanwhile, Castleblayney retained the Monaghan Senior Camogie League title with a hard-earned win over Truagh in Friday’s final.