AIB All-Ireland Club Junior Football Championship Semi-Final

Rockcorry v Ardnaree, Sunday, 2.00, Carrick-on-Shannon

Attention turns to Rockcorry this Sunday as they attempt to become the first Monaghan team to qualify for the All-Ireland Club JFC Final when they take on Mayo side Ardnaree in Carrick-on-Shannon.

After back-to-back relegations took them down to junior, Rock bounced back in style to win the Monaghan and Ulster JFC titles last year. They needed a replay to see off Blackhill in the county final, before impressing in the provincial series with wins over Coa (Fermanagh), Glasdrumman (Down) and Faughanvale (Derry).

Their opponents Ardnaree cruised through the Mayo championship, including a one-sided win over Killala in the final, before getting a bye to the Connacht decider. The Sarsfields them added more silverware by proving too strong for Clifden from Galway.

Rock had four players on duty in the Dr. McKenna Cup earlier this month, with Jamie Smith Niall McKeown, Mark Thornton and Fergal McGeough all making their senior debuts for Monaghan. That quartet will have a vital part to play on Sunday, along with the likes of Mark and Stephen McGuirk, Mark and Keith Daly, Noel Carroll and Lorcan Smyth. Eoin McCormack, Chris Walsh, Ronan Doherty and Cathal Noone are among the main men for Ardnaree.

Ulster Club Under-21 Football Championship Quarter-Final

Magheracloone v Kilcar, Saturday, 12.30, Creggan

Magheracloone fly the Monaghan flag in Saturday’s Ulster Club U-21 Championship tie with Kilcar in Creggan, Co Antrim.

Kilcar had to wait until January 8 to win the long-delayed Donegal U-21 Final against St. Eunan’s, but that could work in their favour against a Magheracloone team who won their county final against Donaghmoyne as far back as last July. Despite reports that Kilcar may withdraw due to Ryan and Eoin McHugh and Stephen McBrearty being unavailable because of county commitments, the Donegal champions will travel. They will now be depending on the likes of Aodhán McGinley, Conor Doherty and Andrew McClean.

No Monaghan club has yet won the Creggan Kickhams Paddy McLarnon Tournament, with Truagh in 2014 the only team from the county to make the final to date. Damien Freeman and Paudie Finnegan are earning their stripes in management with this Magheracloone team, who will need big performances from Alan McCahey, Allan Kieran, Paudie McMahon, Paul McArdle, James Lambe, Killian Rudden and Michael Metzger.