It’s a big weekend in the SFC, with eight of the remaining nine teams in action, while there is also one IFC game on the agenda.

 

Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Round 2A

Clontibret v Scotstown, Saturday, 6.00, Ballybay

Ballybay v Monaghan Harps, Sunday, 6.00, Scotstown

 

The first semi-final places in this year’s SFC go up for grabs on Saturday and Sunday.

First up is the battle between two of the leading challengers, Clontibret and Scotstown. These teams are traditional heavyweights of Monaghan football and both are hotly tipped this year. Scotstown haven’t won the Mick Duffy Cup since 1993, but they have only lost once in the league this year and they ran out comfortable winners in their SFC opener against Magheracloone. Clontibret, who have claimed seven county championships in the 20 years since their opponents last won it, saw off Castleblayney in the first round.

No less than five current Ulster All-Stars could be on show in this game, as Scotstown trio Rory Beggan and Darren and Kieran Hughes and Clontibret duo Dessie Mone and Conor McManus all won awards on Thursday night for their parts in Monaghan’s Anglo-Celt-winning campaign, although Darren Hughes is struggling to be fit as he hasn’t played since going off early in the Magheracloone game. The influence of these players will go a long way towards deciding what should be an entertaining game, while Scotstown will also be looking to the fit-again James Turley to lead the way, as well as Dónal Morgan and Francis Caulfield, with Vincent Corey, Conor Boyle and Paul McGuigan other central figures for Clontibret.

County champions Ballybay will bid for a third SFC semi-final place in as many years when they take on Monaghan Harps on Sunday evening.

Ballybay ended a 25-year wait for a county title last October and they appear to be hitting form again, having won their last three games, including a dramatic defeat of Latton in the last round, when Hugh Malone scored a winning goal at the death. That followed up their preliminary-round win over Rockcorry, while the Harps eased past an understrength Doohamlet in their SFC opener. The Harps, who are second in the SFL, have won both league meetings between the teams this year, but Ballybay have held the edge in recent championship clashes.

Ballybay will again be depending on the players who led them to glory last year, like Paul Finlay, Drew and Ryan Wylie, Christopher McGuinness, Shane McQuillan, Fergal McArdle and Thomas Kerr, while Neil McAdam, Conor Galligan, Dónal Hahessy and Shane Smyth are among the main men for the Harps.

 

Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Round 2B

Latton v Rockcorry, Friday, 8.15, Emyvale

 

Latton will expect to bounce back from letting a lead slip late on against Ballybay in the last round when they face Rockcorry in another local derby under lights on Friday.

Latton have a win under their belts in this year’s championship at the expense of Carrickmacross in the preliminary round, although they then lost to a last-gasp Ballybay goal in round 1A. Rock also lost to Ballybay, while both teams got a bye through the first back-door round. Latton share fourth place in the league after winning their last three matches, while Rock have picked up just one win in their first year at senior level.

Latton’s experienced team is backboned by Owen Lennon, Hugh McElroy, Aidan Farmer, Owen and Kieran Duffy and Bernard O’Brien, while Rock, who haven’t been helped by injuries to Fergal McGeough and Keith Daly, need Mark Daly, Noel Carroll, Mark McGuirk, Lorcan Smyth and Damien Matthews to produce their best if they are to cause an upset. Latton have beaten Rock twice in the league this year, most recently last Sunday, and they should have too much for them once again.

 

Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Round 1B Replay

Carrickmacross v Doohamlet, Sunday, 1.30, Inniskeen

 

Carrickmacross and Doohamlet meet again on Sunday for the right to stay in the SFC and take on Magheracloone in the next round.

Even extra-time couldn’t separate the teams last Saturday evening, so another closely-contested game is expected. Doohamlet have competed well on their return to senior football this year, as they sit seventh in the league, while it has been a year to forget for 2011 IFC winners Carrick, who prop up the table. Doohamlet did lose meekly against Monaghan Harps in their SFC opener, but they were short a number of regulars that evening. Carrick gave Latton a scare in the preliminary round, only to fall short.

Doohamlet will be looking for big performances from Colin Walshe, Barry McGinn, Ted Duffy and Martin Hughes, while Shane McManus should return to the starting team, although Ciarán McManus is very doubtful with a knee injury. Carrick, who are again minus a number of players including Peter O’Hanlon and Conor McEnaney, will need Stephen Gollogly, James Conlon, Mark McNally and Cillian Cromwell on top form. Doohamlet may just have enough to get through at the second attempt.

 

McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Round 1A

Donaghmoyne v Tyholland, Saturday, 4.15, Ballybay

 

The curtain-raiser to Saturday evening’s SFC match is the long-awaited last game of the IFC first round between Donaghmoyne and Tyholland.

Both of these teams made good starts to the championship back in June when Donaghmoyne upset league leaders Truagh and Tyholland battled past Corduff in the preliminary round. Donaghmoyne are currently third in the league, three points ahead of Tyholland, although the north-Monaghan men ran out narrow winners when they met last month and they also have a game in hand.

Pádraig Donaghy, Ciarán Daly, Colm Connolly and Barney Kelly should be to the fore for Donaghmoyne, who will be able to select their county minors Mikey Murnaghan and Ciarán Martin. Tyholland have current county players Karl O’Connell and Ronan McNally in their ranks, along with former county men Gary McQuaid and Raymond Ronaghan, ex-Armagh dual star Paul McCormack, lively forward Dermot Coyle and the veteran Peadar Farrelly. It should be a serious battle, but if Donaghmoyne can replicate the intensity they showed against Truagh, they can take another step forward. Cremartin await the winners in Round 2A.

 

There are three games down for decision in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Sunday. Leaders Truagh are at home to Corduff, who they defeated in the championship last weekend, while there is a local derby between upcoming IFC opponents Clones and Currin, as well as a basement battle between Aughnamullen and Drumhowan. Before that, Inniskeen host Cremartin under lights on Friday night.

Sunday’s schedule also includes a full round in the Eurotech Junior Football League. Top plays bottom when Blackhill travel to Scotstown, while the Emeralds’ championship final opponents Emyvale are away to Seán McDermotts, who will be attempting to bounce back from their JFC semi-final defeat. Elsewhere, Killanny will expect to keep their good run going when they host Aghabog, while Éire Óg have home advantage against Killeevan and Toome make the fairly short trip to Oram.

Some of Saturday’s scheduled GRM Minor Football League semi-finals have been postponed due to the All-Ireland minor hurling ‘C’ final, but the Division Two game between Cúchulains Sarsfields and Killanny goes ahead, as does the Division Three clash of St. Tiarnach’s and Corduff.

The closing stages of the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions continues at pace in the next few days. There are Under-12 and Under-14 Football League finals at Aughnamullen and Gavan Duffy Park, Monaghan on Saturday, followed by Under-14 FL semi-finals and Under-16 Hurling Championship quarter-finals on Monday evening.