CLUB SCENE.
Championship action dominated the club scene last weekend with the opening round of matches in the Gormley uPVC senior football championship and three games in the McGuigan Builders intermediate football championship qualifier section. Overall the fare on offer varied from the downright mundane to the sublime with the best action of the weekend being the opening game in the senior football championship between Clontibret and Carrickmacross which produced a cracking contest last Friday evening in Inniskeen. The performance and the result saw Clontibret put down a strong marker as to their determination to retain the title. The two preliminary round matches saw Monaghan Harps and Ballybay finish all square in a game that built to a very exciting finish in Clontibret on Saturday evening last while the second preliminary round match was a most disappointing affair between Magheracloone and Truagh which was part of what was overall a very low key double bill in Ballybay on Sunday evening. The other game in that double bill was the meeting of Castleblayney and Drumhowan in the senior championship, a game that resulted in a comprehensive victory for Castleblayney by 18 points against a Drumhowan team who were almost completely overrun on the day. The meeting of Latton and Scotstown who both reached the semi-final of the senior championship last year produced a tough, at times fairly rugged contest in Emyvale on Saturday evening last with Scotstown edging the result by two points and Latton now forced to seek survival through the qualifiers. The replay of that game between Ballybay and Monaghan Harps took place in Inniskeen on Tuesday evening with Ballybay shading it by four points.
In the McGuigan Builders intermediate football championship replay between Doohamlet and Rockcorry Doohamlet got home with two points to spare in a game that was marred by the atrocious conditions in Castleblayney on Thursday evening last. The absence of Mark Daly at midfield for Rockcorry was vital and both sides will know they will have to improve next time out if they are to mount a serious championship challenge. In the other action in the McGuigan Builders intermediate football championship Currin had a runaway victory over Aghabog, 18 points separating the sides at the finish of a match that saw Dick Clerkin and his first cousin Jack McCarron top score with six points each in Emyvale. Meanwhile on Saturday evening in Carrickmacross Aughnamullen staged a strong finish to end Inniskeen's interest in this year's championship and on their form in the latter stages of this match Aughnamullen could be title contenders.

LEAGUES.
As well as that busy championship schedule there was also a round of games in the Gerry's Fresh Fruit & Veg junior football league and a couple of matches in the Streamline Coaches intermediate football league. In the Gerry's Fresh Fruit & Veg junior football league on Friday evening last Sean McDermotts has a five points victory at home over Clones as they now concentrate on qualifying for the final stages of the Dr. Ward Cup, Cremartin had a comprehensive victory over Killeevan who could only raise one white flag in the entire contest and Corduff had 11 points to spare over Toome. The game between Blackhill and Oram was postponed while Killanny had the bye in that particular round. Meanwhile in the Streamline Coaches intermediate football league Tyholland had two points to spare over Rockcorry.
In the Credit Unions senior football league a previously un-played game between Carrickmacross and Ballybay that was due to take place on Tuesday evening was postponed due to the replay in the senior football championship between Ballybay and Monaghan Harps.

U21.
Round 7 of the U21 football league division 1 was played on Monday evening last although one match was postponed, the meeting of Truagh and Monaghan Harps due to the involvement of Monaghan Harps players in the senior championship replay. Of the three games that were played Castleblayney had a comprehensive victory over Latton, Scotstown defeated Donaghmoyne by four points in Donaghmoyne and Aughnamullen pulled off a two points victory away at Emyvale.

MFL.
Monday night last also saw one of the semi finals in the minor football league division 2 where Corduff defeated Sean McDermotts by 3-10 to 2-6. As yet they do not know who they will be meeting in the final as the other semi final between St Patrick's and Carrickmacross was postponed.

HURLING.
Castleblayney gained a measure of revenge for their defeat last year in the final of the Silver Hill Foods minor hurling league when they overcame Clontibret in this year's final on Sunday afternoon last in Gavan Duffy Park where a cracking contest ended with Castleblayney winners by 3-10 to 2-8. Meanwhile in the Silver Hill Foods senior hurling league, the game between Carrickmacross and Clontibret that was due to take place on Thursday evening last was postponed and will now take place on Tuesday next, August 31st. Tomorrow evening Thursday, August 26th sees round 9 of the Silver Hill Foods senior hurling league down for decision where Inniskeen are at home against Clontibret, Castleblayney are away against Truagh and Monaghan Harps travel to Carrickmacross, all for a 7 p.m. start. The final round of the Silver Hill Foods senior hurling league will take place on Thursday week next September 9th.


PREVIEWS.
MC GUIGAN BUILDERS INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Currin v Aughnamullen: Emyvale: Friday August 27th @ 8.15pm.
With championship elimination for the losers this sudden death meeting of Currin and Aughnamullen has all the ingredients of producing a stirring contest when the sides clash under lights in Emyvale tomorrow evening, Friday, August 27th at 8.15 p.m.. Currin are back in the championship following their comprehensive victory over Aghabog but that is a result that Currin will not read too much into as Aghabog are still pointless at the bottom of the intermediate football league and have already been effectively relegated for next season. Currin suffered a disappointing defeat by Rockcorry in their opening game in the championship as did Aughnamullen which makes for the winner takes all situation this time around. Aughnamullen who lost out to Eire Og in their first game came through a fairly testing game against Inniskeen on Saturday evening last in Carrickmacross and it wasn't until the latter stages that they imposed themselves in the manner in which they will need to if they are to win tomorrow evening's match. The men who played a key role in that Aughnamullen victory were their big men like Thomas Hughes, Lee Conlon, Mark Meegan and Paul Mulligan. The aerial ability of the first three named and the finishing power of Paul Mulligan were all central to Aughnamullen building the momentum to edge in front in the closing stages. Dick Clerkin again will be central to Currin's prospects from his midfield berth and the outcome of the contest in that vital area will be a deciding factor. Currin will also look to Clerkin for scores, he registered six points against Aghabog last time out, three from frees with Jack McCarron doubling that amount to 12 points of Currin's tally on the day. McCarron is very accurate form frees so the Aughnamullen defence will have to be wary of over committing as mistakes could be ruthlessly punished. Currin attackers Jack McCarron, Philip O'Callaghan and Stephen Smith in particular along with Gerard O'Callaghan will rely on good service but they will also probably use Gerard O'Callaghan and Ben Clerkin in particular to drop out to around midfield to try and exploit the expected broken play in that area. The service too in to Aughnamullen full forward Paul Mulligan will again be vital and his battle with Connor McCaffrey could also be a deciding factor. Aughnamullen also have good finishers in Chris Keenan, Pete Dooney and Mark McArdle so there will be little to separate these sides at any stage and it could well take a second meeting to sort out.

MC GUIGAN BUILDERS INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Donaghmoyne v Tyholland: Drumhowan: Saturday August 28th @ 6.00pm.
Having come through their round 1 matches successfully Donaghmoyne and Tyholland now clash in this interesting round 3 game which takes place in Drumhowan on Saturday evening at 6.00p.m.. In their opening game in this year's McGuigan Builders intermediate football championship Tyholland beat near neighbours Emyvale by 1-16 to 2-6 on the same weekend that Donaghmoyne defeated their next-door neighbours and long-standing rivals Inniskeen by 0-15 to 1-7. Aerial power out around midfield and finishing power up front will be the vital ingredients in what has the potential to be an open, and exciting contest. John Kingham and Kieran Daly dominated for Donaghmoyne against Inniskeen with Kingham registering two excellent points and Daly converting three frees and their winning margin of five points probably doesn't under score Donaghmoyne's overall dominance in that contest. Rory Woods finished on that occasion with six points and is a central character in Donaghmoyne's attacking strategy while Pauric Donaghy at full forward will always pose problems. Tyholland though have experienced defenders in the likes of Peadar Farrelly, Gregory Ronaghan and Paul Coyle and the possible battle between Ronaghan and Rory Woods could be a deciding one. Tyholland also have the option of playing the experienced Gary McQuaid in either defence or attack and if Gregory Ronaghan is not delegated to mark Rory Woods then the county colleagues could find themselves in direct opposition.
Cyril Ronaghan and Brian McArdle will most likely man the midfield and that aerial battle looks set to develop into an interesting contest. Paul Askin and the pacy Karl O'Connell can add punch to the Tyholland attack that will also feature Raymond Ronaghan and Dermot Coyle. Ronaghan is always likely to find the net and if he is given any degree of freedom by Donaghmoyne fullback Joe Kelly he will cause problems.

MC GUIGAN BUILDERS INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Emyvale v Rockcorry: Gavan Duffy Park, Monaghan: Saturday August 28th @ 6.00pm.
Sudden death awaits the losers in this attractive pairing as both sides have suffered one defeat so far in the 2010 series. Emyvale lost out to Tyholland in their opening game but that was a match where they were at less than full strength, missing in particular the services of Brendan McKenna who was injured. Rockcorry got off to a flying start to their championship campaign with a resounding victory over Currin, they then fought out an absorbing draw with Doohamlet but minus the services of a key player they lost out in the replay against Doohamlet in a dour low scoring affair last Thursday evening. Emyvale who enjoyed singular success last year by winning the Monaghan and Ulster junior club football championship titles are missing a couple of key players from that campaign with both John Flannery and Jonathan Morrough having transferred away from the club. Of more concern to Emyvale was the fact that they had to field against Tyholland without the services of the influential Brendan McKenna and team captain Robbie McHugh, both of whom were on the injured list. Some good news though is that Brendan McKenna has recovered from injury and will be in their lineout on Saturday evening in Gavan Duffy Park. Brendan McKenna gives Emyvale options in that he is equally at home in midfield or at full forward although given the fact that Mark Daly can be so influential for Rockcorry at midfield it could well turn out to be a battle between the two big men. Daly was central to Rockcorry's draw with Doohamlet in their second match in the championship, scoring 1-4, all from placed balls, having defeated Currin on day one but Rockcorry sorely missed his presence in the replay and they will be more confident now that their playmaker in chief will be back directing operations. Emyvale also have accomplished performers in the likes of Gregory Devlin, Killian McKenna, Patrick J McKenna and the vastly experienced Martin McAree while Daniel McMahon and Patrick McCarron both gained vital experience in Emyvale's successful run last year. Keith Daly and Johnny Reilly are key defenders in the Rockcorry halfback line and if Mark Daly gives them the degree of dominance in midfield that he usually generates they have the finishers in the likes of Stephen McGuirk, Noel Carroll, Paul McKeown and Dwayne Rooney to keep their championship aspirations on course.

MC GUIGAN BUILDERS INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Doohamlet v Eire Og: O'Neill Park, Clontibret: Sunday August 29th @ 5.30pm.
While defeat is not the end of the championship road for the losers in this interesting pairing neither side will be taking much solace from that when they meet in Clontibret on Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. as the shortest route to the intermediate championship final is via the winners section. Doohamlet go into this game though somewhat more battle hardened that Eire Og in that this will be their fourth championship outing. They'd defeated Aghabog in their opening game back on June 13th and then got over the challenge of Rockcorry but only after a replay while Eire Og had their only championship outing so far against Aughnamullen whom they defeated by a point, also back on June 13th. If there is one area where Doohamlet will seek to improve on from their performances so far it will be to cut out some of the simple , unforced errors that have caused them and their supporters such a degree of frustration. It was quite late in their meeting with Aghabog before they impose themselves and while they dominated play for long periods against Rockcorry in the drawn game they were scrambling for a draw in injury time after Rockcorry took a late lead. Their second meeting with Rockcorry was marred by the poor conditions but even those could not be blamed for some of their scrappy play that saw possession squandered needlessly and over elaboration seeing too many players unwilling to go for a score. That said though it will be the tried and trusted that they will look to on Sunday with the bulk of responsibility up front falling on Ted Duffy, Shane McManus and Ollie Hughes while Ciaran McManus, Kevin McArdle and Darren Connolly in the half back line are vital to their prospects.
Eire Og had just one point to spare over Aughnamullen and then met in Cremartin back in June and they too will be seeking to improve on their ratio of scores to possession and chances. Team captain Colin Casey will probably man the full-back berth again but they have options there with Mark McCaffrey although he too can operate just as effectively out around midfield. Mark McBride is another quality defender while up front Pauric McKenna and Johnny McMahon in particular in the half forwards are key players, McKenna the instigator of a lot of their attacking strategy. They have options to in the full forward line but the bulk of responsibility here will rest of the shoulders of Paddy Croarkin who is also their main free taker but the service in will determine how effective he can be.

HARTE PEAT JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Clones v Killanny: Shamrock Park, Cremartin: Sunday August 29th @ 1.30pm.
A place in the semi finals for the winners while elimination from the championship will be the lot of the losers, when Clones and Killanny meet in Cremartin on Sunday afternoon. Clones got their championship campaign off to a winning start with victory over Oram but then lost out to Corduff on a day when they wear are without the services of the influential Declan McKernan. The recovered from that setback though to record a good victory over Toome to see them through to what is effectively a quarter-final against a Killanny team who also suffered defeat at the hands of Corduff after an opening round victory over Killeevan. Clones will be fielding a somewhat more experienced side than Killanny and in that regard will probably go into this contest as slight favourites. However they will not be taking any thing for granted but will rather seek to impose themselves from the early stages. Midfield will be a vital area where Killanny will rely on Conor and Eamon Hoey while Clones have options in the likes of Fintan Kelly, Fintan Cunningham and Ross Adamson. Firepower in attack though is probably where Clones will have the advantage with quality finishers like Adrian Alford, Darren Freeman who was simply on fire against Toome last time out, and one of the outstanding players in the junior championship so far, Colm Connolly. Declan McKernan at full forward is the chief playmaker in the Clones attack and if Killanny do not restrict his influence by limiting the quality of ball that Clones can get in to him they could struggle. Killanny for their part have promising young players in the Duffy brothers, Tiernan and Ronan in their defence along with the likes of Locky Byrne and Cian Wakely. Andy McElroy is a key player for them in attack and could most likely line out on the '40 where his ability to win possession and distribute it to good effect could be vital. In the full forward line they will rely almost exclusively on the experienced Peter Dooley who is also their chief free taker for scores and therein may lie a cause for concern.


GORMLEY U PVC SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Carrickmacross v Latton: Pairc Grattan, Inniskeen: Saturday August 28th @ 8.15pm.
Both Carrickmacross and Latton entertain serious championship aspirations but for one of them Saturday evening will spell the end of their interest in this year's championship as both of them lost out in their games last weekend. Carrickmacross, who played in the opening game of this year's championship against the reigning champions Clontibret were unable to match the champions power play in the final stages of their match in Inniskeen while Latton lost out to a late goal in a robust, physical game against Scotstown in Emyvale. So where will both sides be seeking to improve to keep their championship prospects intact. Carrickmacross will most likely still be without the services of James Conlon who is carrying an ankle injury and they did miss his presence around midfield last time out. Eoin Lennon and Aidan Farmer form a very effective partnership for Latton in midfield and if the most likely Carrickmacross pairing of Mark McNally and Peter O'Hanlon cannot match them they could struggle. Defensively both sides have players with pace and experience, the youthful Kieran Duffy at centre back for Latton a player with great promise. Gary McEnaney will shore up the Carrickmacross defence at centre back but ultimately it will be the return that the respective forward divisions can generate that will decide the outcome of what is a fascinating contest. Carrickmacross will look to Stephen Gollogly to instigate and orchestra a lot of their attacking strategy while the Downey brothers, Mark and Sean, along with Andrew Callan have the finishing power to clinch it but they are up against a tight marking, at times uncompromising Latton defence. Latton for their part will be looking to Owen Duffy and Hugh McElroy to man the central attacking positions, Duffy with pace and finish and McElroy one of the most accurate forwards in the county from play and frees. Eoin Lennon coming through from midfield is always capable of picking off a couple of scores but they will also look to the likes of Shane Coyle and in particular Bernard O'Brien to help them keep their noses in front. It promises to be another closely contested affair where perhaps a half chance for a goal might decide the outcome.

GORMLEY U PVC SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Ballybay v Magheracloone: Pairc Grattan, Inniskeen: Friday August 27th @ 8.15pm.
It's still only round 1 and yet Ballybay are heading into their third senior football championship match when they travel to Inniskeen tomorrow evening Friday, August 27th to take on Magheracloone in what should be an open a free-flowing contest. Ballybay were in Inniskeen on Tuesday evening last and have just three days to recover from their exertions in beating Monaghan Harps in a replay of their preliminary round game but the extra match practice can benefit them as they improved considerably in their replay over their performance in the drawn game. Magheracloone on the other hand were not really tested to any great extent in their victory over Truagh but they will be up against a Ballybay team that will be growing in confidence and a team also that has a good mixture of youth and experience. A cursory glance at this fixture would lead some to see it as a shoot-out between Ballybay's Paul Finlay and Magheracloone's Tomas Freeman but there will be much more to this contest although both will certainly have an influence on the outcome. Peter and James Ward will again man the central defensive positions but this will not be a defence dominated game as both sides like to push forward particularly from their half back lines. The midfield battle could well hold the key with Paul Finlay likely to be in direct opposition to Francie Doogan although Ballybay could deploy him in the half forward line and put Thomas O'Neill in to contest the high ones with Doogan. Gavin Doogan has good pace and likes nothing better than driving forward so that is a threat that Ballybay will have to come to terms with. That said though their prospects to some extent at least will rely on how they come to terms with the scoring power of the Tomas Freeman. He did not have to extend himself particularly in Magheracloone's last game and yet finished top scorer with nine points, six from frees, and his accuracy from placed balls will dictate that Ballybay will be wary of conceding frees as a similar return tomorrow evening could go a long way to seeing Magheracloone through to the next round. Hugh Malone got among the goals in Ballybay's replay victory over Monaghan Harps on Tuesday evening as did Christopher McGuinness and given the right service that pair can give the Magheracloone full-back line a serious examination.

GORMLEY U PVC SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Drumhowan v Monaghan Harps: O'Neill Pk. Clontibret: Sunday August 29th @ 7.00pm
Both Drumhowan and Monaghan Harps are already keenly aware that the step up from intermediate championship football to senior championship football is considerable as they are both already fighting for championship survival after just one round. These sides contesting the final of the intermediate football championship last year, a game that Monaghan Harps won and went on to reach the semi-final of the Ulster club intermediate football championship. If Drumhowan face an extra problem going into this game it is getting over what was a very difficult, even demoralising, day for them last Sunday when they were comprehensively beaten by Castleblayney and most disappointing for them will have been that they did not perform to their usual standard at any stage. Monaghan Harps on the other hand can take some heart from their two games against Ballybay in that they fought to the bitter end in both and but for the concession of goals early in both the drawn game and the replay they could well be going through the winners section. That is an aspect of play that they will be wary of this time around and they will be seeking to get early scores on the board as opposed to conceding them. However going all out in search of early scores could leave Monaghan Harps vulnerable at the back and they could suffer a backlash from Drumhowan as will be determined to put the huge disappointment of last Sunday behind them. Dermot McDermott and Anthony Mulligan will be hoping to establish a base in midfield thereby creating a supply line in to, James McElroy, David Millar and Stephen McGinnity. Monaghan Harps though are strong in midfield with Stephen McAleer and Shane Coyle building up a good understanding and they have good finishers in the likes of Nicholas Treanor, Nicholas Scott and Niall Hahessy, the latter especially from frees. Given the results from their opening rounds neither of these sides would be very high up the ratings as far as title contenders is concerned but on Sunday evening they are playing for pride as much as anything else.

FIXTURES.
Championship action again dominates the club scene in Monaghan this weekend with three losers group games in the Gormley uPVC senior football championship, three round 3 matches in the McGuigan Builders intermediate football championship and a quarter-final in the Harte Peat junior football championship with those games spread over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next sees a variety of activity spread across various leagues particularly the reserve football leagues which are approaching the final stages and this weekend there is also a semi final in the Maguire Transport minor football championship division 2.

CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Tomorrow evening, Friday, gets the busy championship weekend under way with the meeting of Ballybay, who defeated Monaghan Harps in their replay on Tuesday evening, and Magheracloone in the Gormley uPVC senior football championship in Inniskeen at 8.15pm the same time that Aughnamullen and Currin meet in the McGuigan Builders intermediate football championship in Emyvale in what is a sudden death situation for both. Moving to Saturday and two games in the McGuigan Builders intermediate championship when Donaghmoyne take on Tyholland in Drumhowan at 6 p.m. at the same time as Emyvale meet Rockcorry in Gavan Duffy Park. The senior championship action on Saturday sees the meeting of Carrickmacross and Latton under lights in Inniskeen at 8.15pm
Meanwhile on Sunday there is a double bill of intermediate and senior action in Clontibret. In the intermediate series Doohamlet and Eire Og form part of that double bill when they meet at 5:30 p.m, followed by the sudden death senior championship clash between Drumhowan and Monaghan Harps at 7.00pm. This weekend also sees one game in the Harte Peat junior football championship with the meeting of Clones and Killanny in Shamrock Park, Cremartin, on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.. Should any of the championship games over this weekend finish all square the replays ate fixed for Tuesday evening next August 31st. Meanwhile in the Maguire Transport minor football championship the division 2 semi-final between Corduff and St Patrick's takes place in Aughnamullen on Monday evening next, August 30th at 7.00p.m.

RESERVE LEAGUE'S.
There are two games in the Monaghan Electrical reserve football league division 4 down for decision on Monday evening, Currin at home against Rockcorry in Scotshouse at 7 p.m. while Castleblayney B make the short journey out to St. Victors Park, Toome, also for a 7 p.m. start. The results of those matches in division 4 will determine the semi-final pairings with those semi finals listed for Wednesday, September 1st at 7 p.m. and the venues will be determined by the pairings with the teams finishing in first and second places having home advantage. Wednesday next also sees one game in the reserve football league division 2 between Doohamlet and Inniskeen in Doohamlet at 7 p.m.. It is now down to the final in the Foxhound Travel reserve football league division 1 where C'Blayney will meet Clontibret following their semi final victories over Scotstown and Magheracloone respectively on Tuesday evening last. That final will be played on Wednesday evening next September 1st. Tweet

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