2010: A REVIEW: THE CLUB SCENE.
The club scene in Monaghan in 2010 produced yet another invigorating series of contests in the championships while in the leagues issues regarding promotion and relegation went right down to the last day's play. The championships though were again the big talking points and they lived up to expectation producing some fantastic matches and all three football championships producing thrilling finals, two of which went to replays, the senior and junior. The senior championships last year was played in a more condensed format with clubs opting to wait until after Monaghan had completed their inter county season with the result that the games were coming thick and fast in August and September.
In hurling the championship had an historic ending with Inniskeen making the breakthrough for a first-ever senior hurling championship title and going on from there to win the Ulster club Junior title. The football leagues had something of a mixed season with frustration again over the Star Games and the mix of reserve and first-team matches. Latton got some reward for their efforts when they came back from championship defeat to take the league title defeating Magheracloone in the final, a game where a Tomas Freeman penalty was again a big talking point, and Sean McDermotts make their return to intermediate ranks after they annexed the junior football league. At this moment in time the intermediate football league final between Doohamlet and Inniskeen has yet to be played having been postponed on a number of occasions first of all due to Doohamlet's involvement in the Ulster intermediate club championship where they reached the final only to lose out to Lisnaskea of Fermanagh and secondly the game also falling victim to the Arctic weather on a number of occasions as well.

THE 2010 JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD.
Date Score Score Venue
27/5/10 Corduff 3-17 Fergal O'Hanlons 1-1 Blackhill
28/5/10 Clones 2-15 Oram 0-14 Gavan Duffy Park
29/5/10 Cremartin 1-13 Blackhill 3-4 C'Blayney
5/6/2010 Killanny 1-8 Killeevan 0-8 Aughnamullen
13/6/2010 Sean McDermotts 1-12 Toome 0-9 Ballybay
20/6/2010 Corduff 2-9 Clones 1-8 Ballybay
20/6/2010 Killeevan 2-12 Blackhill 1-5 Ballybay
3/7/2010 Toome 1-11 Oram 1-8 Drumhowan
4/7/2010 Corduff 1-10 Killanny 0-7 Inniskeen
4/7/2010 Cremartin 0-9 Sean McDermotts 0-8
9/7/2010 Killeevan 3-16 Fergal O'Hanlons 0-0 Threemilehouse

14/8/2010 Clones 1-15 Toome 0-8 Gavan Duffy Park
15/8/2010 Killeevan 2-10 Sean McDermotts 0-12 Clones
29/8/2010 Clones 1-9 Killanny 0-6 Cremartin
S/Finals
3/9/2010 Corduff 2-11 Killeevan 1-9 Emyvale
4/9/2010 Cremartin 1-14 Clones 0-8 Emyvale
Final
26/9/2010 Corduff 1-10 Cremartin 1-10 Aughnamullen
Replay
2/10/10 Corduff 0-14 Cremartin 2-6 Aughnamullen

ULSTER JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP.
Corduff went on to defeat Killyman of Tyrone in the preliminary round of the Ulster club championship after a replay and they then accounted for Donegal champions Colmcilles in Clones before disposing of the challenge of Grange in the semi-final to reach the final where they met Cavan champions, Swanlinbar.
On the day a sharper, slicker Corduff deservedly took the Ulster junior football club championship title in what was an entertaining final in Kingspan Breffni Park on Sunday December 5th last. It finished Corduff 2-7, Swanlinbar 0-8.

ULSTER CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD.
Corduff 1-12, Killyman 1-12
Corduff 1-10 Killyman 0-7
Corduff 1-8, Naomh Colmcille 0-6
Corduff 0-15, Grange 0-10. (Semi Final)
Corduff 2-7, Swanlinbar 0-8 (Final).

MC GUIGAN BUILDERS INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
It took 18 matches, one of which was a replay, to resolve last year's McGuigan Builders intermediate football championship. The intermediate championship in Monaghan over the years has been renowned for producing good competitive and exciting football and while last year's competition may not have lived up to the highest standards that have pertained in the recent past it nevertheless produced some stirring encounters before Doohamlet and Tyholland won their way through to the decider.

THE 2010 INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCORE BOARD.
Date Score Score Venue
12/6/2010 Currin 0-8 Rockcorry 0-21 Aghabog
12/6/2010 Tyholland 1-16 Emyvale 2-6 Truagh
13/6/2010 Doohamlet 1-17 Aghabog 0-8 Ballybay
13/6/2010 Èire Og 0-7 Aughnamullen 0-6 Cremartin
2/7/2010 Donaghmoyne 0-15 Inniskeen 1-7 Carrickmacross
13/8/2010 Doohamlet 1-8 Rockcorry 1-8 C'Blayney
19/8/2010 Doohamlet 0-7 Rockcorry 0-5 C'Blayney replay
20/8/2010 Currin 1-19 Aghabog 0-4 Emyvale
21/8/2010 Aughnamullen 1-13 Inniskeen 2-6 Carrickmacross
27/8/2010 Aughnamullen 2-6 Currin 0-11 Emyvale
28/8/2010 Tyholland 1-8 Donaghmoyne 0-10 Inniskeen
28/8/2010 Rockcorry 0-14 Emyvale 0-10 Monaghan
29/8/2010 Doohamlet 1-8 Eire Og 0-4 Clontibret
4/9/2010 Aughnamullen 0-17 Donaghmoyne 2-10 Inniskeen
5/9/2010 Rockcorry 3-16 Eire Og 2-6 Clones
S/Finals
11/9/2010 Tyholland 1-12 Rockcorry 0-8 Emyvale
12/9/2010 Doohamlet 2-15 Aughnamullen 2-6 Ballybay
Final
3/10/2010 Doohamlet 3-9 Tyholland 1-6 Clontibret


ULSTER CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP.
As Monaghan champions Doohamlet then moved on to the provincial series where they showed that their Monaghan campaign was no flash in the pan and worked thjier way through to the Ulster club final with victories over Donegal champions, Bundoran, Armagh champions, Sarsfields and Tyrone champions Derrylaughan to book their place in the final against Fermanagh champions, Lisnaskea. That game proved a bridge too far for the Monaghan champions as Lisnaskea staged a strong finish to wrap up victory by three points in a game where Doohamlet enjoyed their best spells in the minutes before the break and the opening ten minutes of the second half.

ULSTER CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS.
Doohamlet 1-12, Bundoran 1-10,
Doohamlet 1-10, Sarsfields 0-8
Doohamlet 2-12, Derrylaughan 1-5
Doohamlet 1-7, Lisnaskea 0-13.


GORMLEY U PVC SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Clontibret and Magheracloone met three times in the 2010 senior football championship but the O'Neills prevailed in that crucial third meeting, the county final replay to retain their senior championship title. The back door system has been the subject of much debate but it has served Clontibret well in the last few years, coming as they did through the back door to win the title. It took 20 games to resolve last year's senior championship. In the early stages there were two draws and the final made for a third as Clontibret and Magheracloone battled it out in two thrilling encounters in Inniskeen. Another feature of last years championship was that the competition did not start until the second half of August, Friday August 20th to be exact when the reigning champions Clontibret opened the defence of their title with a five points victory over Carrickmacross. Over the 20 games last year's championship produced some stirring contests but also some fairly mundane and disappointing fare although the two teams that reached the final would be among those who produced the most exciting football in certain matches.

THE 2010 SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCORE BOARD.
Date Score Score Venue
20/8/2010 Clontibret 0-19 Carrickmacross 1-11 Inniskeen
21/8/2010 Monaghan Harps 0-14 Ballybay 2-8 Clontibret
21/8/2010 Scotstown 1-9 Latton 0-10 Emyvale
22/8/2010 C'Blayney 1-22 Drumhowan 0-7 Ballybay
22/8/2010 Magheracloone 1-16 Truagh 0-5 Ballybay
24/8/2010 Ballybay 2-13 Monaghan Harps 1-11 Inniskeen (replay)
27/8/2010 Magheracloone 1-17 Ballybay 1-7 Inniskeen
28/8/2010 Carrickmacross 2-5 Latton 1-4 Inniskeen
29/8/2010 Monaghan Harps 1-12 Drumhowan 3-4 Clontibret
10/9/2010 Truagh 2-10 Monaghan Harps 1-9 Emyvale
11/9/2010 C'Blayney 0-10 Scotstown 1-5 Clontibret
11/9/2010 Carrickmacross 2-12 Ballybay 1-10 Inniskeen
12/9/2010 Magheracloone 2-5 Clontibret 0-10 Aughnamullen
17/9/2010 Clontibret 1-12 Truagh 1-8 Emyvale
18/9/2010 Scotstown 0-9 Carrickmacross 0-7 Clontibret
S/Finals
24/9/2010 Clontibret 0-18 C'Blayney 0-11 Inniskeen
25/9/2010 Magheracloone 1-11 Scotstown 1-11 Clontibret
Replay
2/10/2010 Magheracloone 0-11 Scotstown 0-4 Clontibret
Final
10/10/2010 Clontibret 1-10 Magheracloone 1-10 Inniskeen
Replay
17/10/2010 Clontibret 1-11 Magheracloone 0-12 Inniskeen

ULSTER CLUB.
No luck for Clontibret again in the Ulster club when they exited the series at the first hurdle, going down by 2-12 to 0-9 to Donegal champions, Glenties in Ballybofey. The final margin does not do complete justice to Clontibret who could have been closer but for some poor finishing. Conor McManus finished top scorer in championship football in Monaghan hitting a total of 1-60 with seven of those points coming in the Ulster club championship game v Glenties.

MINOR & U21.
Clontibret won the minor football championship, defeating Latton in the final by 0-19 to 0-6. Killanny won the division 2 title and Emyvale won out in division 3.

THE LEAGUES.
A central feature of the Leagues in Monaghan is that they are promotion giving competitions in that the winners of the junior and intermediate Leagues are promoted to intermediate and senior grade respectively each year along with the winners of those championships. There are also regulations in place to determine who wins promotion via the league should a team in either junior or intermediate grade win the double of leagues and championship. Last year was no exception with all three leagues going down to almost the last day's activity and even then there was a hint of drama in the senior league in particular with Clontibret avoiding relegation to intermediate grade for this year by virtue of the fact that they were the senior football champions and as such had to remain in senior to defend their championship. That particular aspect saw Carrickmacross relegated to intermediate with the mathematics of the result of their two head-to-head meetings with Truagh determining that they made the drop and Truagh survived. At the other end of the table Latton and Magheracloone got through to contest the final and a pairing that produced a thrilling climax to what had been a good competition all through. If Magheracloone were involved in late drama in the final of the senior football championship and the replay of that final then they were involved in further drama in the final minutes of the league final with a penalty again crucial to the outcome. Tomas Freeman had seen his late penalty kick saved in the replay of the senior football championship final and he was in a similar position in the senior league final, this time opting for power but his shot rose sharply and cannoned back off the crossbar to leave Latton victorious and Magheracloone facing a second day of utter dejection.

FINAL PLACINGS.
Senior Football League sponsored by Drumlin Group of Credit Unions

Played Won Drew Lost PTS
Magheracloone 18 11 1 6 23
Monaghan Harps 18 11 1 6 23
Latton 18 9 4 5 22
Castleblayney 18 10 1 7 21
Scotstown 18 8 4 5 20
Ballybay 18 8 3 7 19
Carrickmacross 18 6 4 8 16
Truagh 18 7 2 9 16
Clontibret 18 5 2 11 12
Drumhowan 18 3 2 13 8


INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE.
Donaghmoyne, Doohamlet and Tyholland were the front runners in the intermediate football league right throughout the season and had booked their places in the semi finals quite some time before a late flurry saw Inniskeen move up to take fourth spot at the expense of Rockcorry. At the other end Aghabog were in some trouble throughout the season failing to win a match and Emyvale were also struggling from the early stages with both of them making the drop to junior for the 2011 season, Emyvale's relegation coming just a season after winning the Monaghan and Ulster junior football club titles.

THE FINAL PLACINGS.
Intermediate Football League sponsored by Streamline Coaches

Played Won Drew Lost PTS
Donaghmoyne 18 14 1 3 29
Doohamlet 18 11 3 4 25
Tyholland 18 12 1 5 25
Inniskeen 18 10 2 6 22
Rockcorry 18 10 2 6 22
Aughnamullen 18 7 2 9 16
Currin 18 7 1 10 15
Eire Og 18 7 1 10 15
Emyvale 18 4 3 11 11
Aghabog 18 0 0 18 0


JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
Corduff, Sean McDermotts, Cremartin and told us made most of the running in the junior football league in 2010 sold was no surprise to see that those teams finished in the top four although Currin made a real fight of it coming in fifth place, four points behind Clones and Corduff.

THE FINAL LEAGUE PLACINGS.
Junior Football League sponsored by Gerry's Fresh Fruit & Veg

Played Won Drew Lost PTS
Cremartin 16 11 2 3 24
Sean McDermotts 16 11 2 3 24
Clones 16 10 1 5 21
Corduff 16 10 1 5 21
Toome 16 8 1 7 17
Oram 16 6 0 10 12
Killanny 16 4 2 10 10
Killeevan 16 4 0 12 8
Blackhill 16 3 1 12 7

MINOR & U21.
Truagh gained some recompense for losing out in the championship when they recovered to take the minor league division 1 title, division 2 honours went to St.Patrick's, the Ballybay/Drumhowan combination while Emyvale complete the division 3 double of league and championship.
In U21 competition Monaghan harps won the division 1 title, Truagh won the division 2 title and Oram won division 3.

HURLING.
The hurling year in Monaghan in 2010 definitely belonged to Inniskeen who turned it into a history making season with a clean sweep of titles including an Ulster club championship. Inniskeen had been knocking on the door for some time but 2010 saw them make a major breakthrough, completing the senior hurling double of league and championship and defeating Castleblayney in both finals left it all the more rewarding as Castleblayney had been their bogey team over the last few years. The senior hurling final itself produced a memorable match as Inniskeen stormed to victory to bring an historic first ever senior hurling title to the banks of the Fane and in the process deny Castleblayney the feat of completing a seven in a row of senior hurling titles. On the day Inniskeen were deserving winners, putting in a storming finish that saw them open a four points lead going into stoppage time. In the end they were still hanging on by their fingertips as Castleblayney struck back with an injury time penalty goal but ultimately they ran out of time and the result saw the passing of the baton to the new kids on the block as Inniskeen earned the right to dine at the top table. That victory though was only the start of Inniskeen's long march to glory as they went on from there to defeat Fermanagh champions Lisnaskea in the opening round of the Ulster junior hurling club championship, following that up with victories over Craobh Rua in the semi-final and St Brigid's, Cloughmills in the final to take the trophy that is dedicated to one of their own and the man who started the hurling revival in Inniskeen, the late Paddy O'Rourke, back to the banks of the Fane.
By the time they had taken the Ulster title they had also annexed the Silver Hill Foods senior hurling league title again defeating C'Blayney in the final staging a strong finish to pull away from 14 man C'Blayney in a very entertaining and at times highly exciting gamel that built to an exhilarating finish in Clontibret. It finished Inniskeen 0-18, C'Blayney 1-10. They then went on to add the Reserve Hurling league title for good measure. At minor level Clontibret won the minor hurling championship and C'Blayney won the minor hurling league.

FINAL PLACINGS.
Senior Hurling League sponsored by Silver Hill Foods

Played Won Drew Lost PTS
Inniskeen 10 8 0 2 16
Castleblayney 10 7 0 3 14
Truagh 10 5 1 4 11
Monaghan Harps 10 5 1 4 11
Clontibret 10 3 0 7 6
Carrickmacross 10 1 0 9 2

RESULTS.
SHC.
Inniskeen 6-13, Carrickmacross 0-6
Inniskeen 0-17, C'Blayney 2-10 (Final).
ULSTER CLUB.
Inniskeen 2-17, Lisnaskea 0-8
Inniskeen 0-16, Craobh Rua 1-9
Inniskeen 0-14, Cloughmills 1-9.