On a championship weekend where the holders, Clontibret, were held to a draw in a disappointing affair in Castleblayney the Faughs served notice that they are ready to challenge for championship honours with probably the most impressive performance of the entire weekend's programme. Castleblayney though will not get too carried away by their result against Scotstown as the blues were well below par and struggled for long periods. In fact there were those who expressed the opinion that this was Scotstown's most disappointing performance for some considerable time. Castleblayney on the other hand were full of inventive running and support play and with the predatory instinct of Ciaran Hanratty there was always going to be a couple of goals that would have a major influence on the outcome. Former Castleblayney and county great Declan Loughman has his charges in good shape and with talented young players coming through he has options in most positions. Castleblayney's victory over Scotstown sees them through to the semi finals where they will be joined by the winners of the Clontibret/Latton replay. That pair must then await the outcome of the two quarter-finals involving the four teams that have lost one championship match, Scotstown, Carrickmacross, Magheracloone and the losers of the Clontibret/Latton replay who will be drawn in two quarter-finals. As Magheracloone and Scotstown have played in an earlier around they will be kept apart at this stage with the result that Carrickmacross will play Magheracloone and Scotstown will play whoever loses in the replay between Clontibret and Latton. Last Saturday's victory by C'Blayney over Scotstown provided most of talking points from the weekend's action but the games also saw Monaghan Harps and Doohamlet go out of the championship following defeats by Magheracloone and Carrickmacross respectively. Powered by Tomas and Damien Freeman Magheracloone proved too potent for a Monaghan Harps side who are not only now out of the championship but are also relegated to intermediate ranks for next season and a four points winning margin probably doesn't do justice to the dominance that Carrickmacross enjoyed in their meeting with an out of sorts Doohamlet. Tweet

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