Monaghan’s senior, Under-21 and minor footballers and minor hurlers are all in action this weekend.

Allianz National Football League Division Two

Monaghan v Laois, Sunday, 2.00, Clones

 

Monaghan continue their promotion bid in the Allianz NFL when they host Laois on Sunday.

Monaghan started with a draw against Down, a win over Meath and a loss to Donegal, but they have found some consistency with comfortable dismissals of Louth and Armagh. Laois won two of their first three games against current bottom two Galway and Louth, but defeats against Armagh and Meath mean they are just a point above the relegation zone.

Monaghan exited the 2012 championship with a six-point defeat in a second-round qualifier against Laois, but the last league meeting of the counties resulted in a comprehensive win back in 2009.

Malachy O’Rourke has named an unchanged Monaghan team, with Fintan Kelly overcoming an injury doubt and the Under-21 contingent again rested ahead of their Ulster semi-final on Wednesday night. Dessie Mone, Colin Walshe and Kelly have been in good form in defence, while Owen Lennon is returning to full fitness at midfield and Conor McManus and Jack McCarron have been prolific in attack. An experienced substitutes’ bench includes Darren Hughes and Peter O’Hanlon, who both came on against Armagh for their first appearances of 2014.

Laois, who finished third in Division Two last year, will be looking for big performances from the likes of Munnelly and Dónie Kingston, John O’Loughlin, Kevin Meaney, Colm Begley and Darren Strong. Tomás Ó Flatharta has made two changes to the Laois team, with Denis Booth and Evan O’Carroll replacing Mark Timmons and Gary Walsh.

 

 

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Drew Wylie, Fintan Kelly; Colin Walshe, Vincent Corey, Dessie Mone; Owen Lennon, Gavin Doogan; Karl O’Connell, Jack McCarron, Pádraig Donaghy; Dermot Malone, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus (Capt.).

Subs: Gerard McCaffrey, Conor Galligan, Ryan Wylie, Martin McElroy, Dick Clerkin, Peter O’Hanlon, Paul Finlay, Shane Carey, Stephen Gollogly, Christopher McGuinness, Darren Hughes.

 

Laois: Graham Brody; Pádraig McMahon, Denis Booth, Peter O’Leary; Darren Strong, Paul Begley, Colm Begley; Kevin Meaney, John O’Loughlin; Ross Munnelly, Conor Meredith, Billy Sheehan; Evan O’Carroll, Dónal Kingston, David Conway.

 

Ulster Minor Football League Group B

Armagh v Monaghan, Saturday, 12.00, Athletic Grounds

 

Monaghan will attempt to get a first win of their defence of the Ulster MFL title when they travel to Armagh on Saturday.

Monaghan lost narrowly to Down last Saturday, while Armagh are also yet to get off the mark after they fell to a fairly heavy defeat against Cavan.

Barry McGinn and Mikey Murnaghan were the only two regular players from last year to play last week, but David McAlister and Shane Treanor could return for this one, as could Daithí Colton and Barry Kerr.

 

Ulster Minor Hurling League Division Two

Monaghan v Tyrone, Saturday, 12.00, Clones

 

After putting Louth to the sword in their opening Ulster MHL game, Monaghan’s minor hurlers will look to continue their impressive start in their refixture against Tyrone in Clones on Saturday.

Monaghan racked up a huge score in their first game, while Tyrone lost to Cavan in their only game to date. The teams were due to meet two weeks ago, but it was postponed on that occasion. Conor Boyle, Ronan Curran, Ciarán McQuaid, Jamie Dooley, Micheál and Neasán Mac Suibhne, Ryan O’Neill and Noel Flood give Monaghan an experienced backbone of players who have featured in the last couple of years, helping Monaghan to league and championship success at this grade. The hosts will be confident of picking up another two points.

 

Cadbury’s Ulster Under-21 Football Championship Semi-Final

Cavan v Monaghan, Wednesday, 8.00, Athletic Grounds

 

Monaghan take on their four-in-a-row-chasing neighbours Cavan in Wednesday’s Ulster U-21 semi-final in Armagh.

Monaghan battled past Down in the quarter-finals, while Cavan, who have won the last three provincial titles at this grade, already have two wins under their belts, having convincingly beaten Derry and a highly-rated Tyrone team. Earlier this year, Cavan lost narrowly to eventual winners Roscommon at the semi-final stage of the Hastings Cup, while Monaghan exited the Shamrock Cup at the group stage, with a win over Louth being followed by defeats against Antrim and Tyrone. Monaghan gave Cavan a scare in a thrilling Ulster quarter-final last year, but the Breffni County eventually went through after extra-time.

Monaghan will need big performances from their players with county senior experience – Ryan Wylie, Pádraic Keenan, Conor Boyle, Thomas Kerr and Paudie McKenna – as well as captain Johnny McGuigan and top scorer against Down, Christopher McKenna. Killian Clarke, Conor Moynagh, Brian Sankey, Michael Argue and Kevin Bouchier make up a strong spine to the Cavan team, while Dara McVeety, Joe Dillon, Paul Graham, Conor Madden and St. Macartan’s, Monaghan student Tom Hayes also provide options up front.

 

 

Inniskeen host Seán McDermotts in their rescheduled Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League opener on Saturday evening.

 

There is a busy schedule of Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League games over the weekend. The winners of last year’s championship and league, Clontibret and Scotstown, go head-to-head in Division 1A on Saturday, while Truagh and Latton host Monaghan Harps and Magheracloone on Sunday. Tyholland, Emyvale and Drumhowan have home advantage against Ballybay, Castleblayney and Cremartin respectively in Division 1B on Sunday, while in Division Two, it’s Corduff v Doohamlet on Saturday and Éire Óg v Aughnamullen and Rockcorry v Carrickmacross on Sunday. There are also Division Three games on Sunday between Blackhill and Clones and Aghabog and Toome.

 

The Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League continues on Saturday with games between Monaghan Harps and Truagh and Castleblayney and Carrickmacross.

 

The McElvaney Recycling Minor Football League Division One continues on Tuesday, while the MFL Division Three gets underway. Donaghmoyne and Scotstown, who both made winning starts in Division One last Tuesday, are away to Monaghan Harps and St. Patrick’s respectively, while Killanny host neighbours Carrickmacross. The Division Three opening fixtures are: Inniskeen v Corduff, Latton v Aughnamullen, Emerald Sarsfields v Castleblayney, Tyholland v Seán McDermotts and Patrick Emmets v Killeevan.

 

The Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions are now in full swing, with games in the Under-12 Football Spring League on Saturday, the Under-14 Football Leagues on Tuesday and the Under-14 Hurling Championship semi-finals on Monday: Inniskeen v Castleblayney and Clontibret v Monaghan Harps.