HURLING. With the senior hurling championship taking centre stage this week there is no activity in the hurling leagues until Thursday July 9th when there will be a full round of matches in the senior hurling league. Last Thursday, June 25th saw Castleblayney with a comprehensive victory over Clontibret in the senior hurling league while Carrickmacross defeated Inniskeen and Monaghan Harps proved too strong for Truagh in the reserve hurling league. SILVER HILL FOODS SHC. The 2009 Silver Hill Foods sponsored Monaghan senior hurling championship gets under way this evening Thursday with two matches down for decision. The Competitions Control Committee had pencilled in three games for this evening at three different venues but the game between Inniskeen and Monaghan Harps that was due to have taken place in Castleblayney this evening at eight o'clock has been postponed due to the involvement of Inniskeen's Paul Meegan with the county senior football team. No date has been announced for the re-fixture of the Inniskeen v Harps game. The other two games see the reigning champions Castleblayney open the defence of their title against Carrickmacross while last year's defeated finalists, Clontibret start their campaign to regain the senior hurling championship title when they take on Truagh. Castleblaney v Carrickmacross: Inniskeen: Thursday July 2nd @ 8.00pm. Reigning champions Castleblayney will probably be regarded as favourites going into this one but it is something of a banana skin fixture for them as Carrickmacross will invariably lift their game against the champions. Castleblayney completed a five in a row of senior hurling titles last year and would dearly love to extend that winning sequence. They have players of proven pedigree and experience in the likes of Mickey McHugh, Paul Murphy, Alan Lambe, Stephen Lynch, Declan Crowe, if he is recovered from injury, Brian McGuigan and Stephen Lambe with a smattering of emerging talent in the likes of Daniel McGuigan, Barney Connor, Peter Treanor and Mark Treanor. Carrickmacross for their part will rely on players like Ronan Conlon, Eanna MacSuibhne, his younger brother Aongus and Barry Connolly along with players who have gained valuable experience at county minor and U21 level each year like Jason O'Rourke whose accuracy from frees could be vital and Stefan McKenna. They got the perfect appetizer for their championship start with a six points victory over Inniskeen last Thursday. In last year's championship Carrickmacross got a bye into the semi finals where they lost out to Clontibret by three points while Castleblaney booked their place in the final with victories over Monaghan Harps and Inniskeen, and both by substantial margins, before defeating Clontibret in the final by seven points. Truagh v Clontibret: Monaghan: Thursday July2nd @ 8.00pm. In last year's championship Clontibret started with a 1-15 to 0-5 victory over Latton and booked their place in the final with a three points victory over Carrikcmacross. Truagh exited the championship after one outing when they lost by a goal to Inniskeen back on June 9th, 2008. This year Truagh have been campaigning in the Ulster club hurling league but have only taken part in the reserve hurling league in Monaghan while Clontibret are competing in the senior hurling league. Clontibret will rely on experienced players like Arthur Hughes, Johnny Greene and Noel Morgan along with Aidan Kerr and the Greenan brothers to backbone their attempts at reaching the semifinals. They will hope to improve though on their showing in last Thursday's senior hurling league game when they could only register 1-4 against C'Blayney. Truagh for their part will rely on players of the calibre of John McAnespie and Paraic McKenna while youngsters like Vincent Campbell, Ciaran Keenan, Barry Todd and Cathal McKenna could also figure. Truagh were in action last Thursday evening in the reserve hurling league but slipped to a seven points defeat at the hands of Monaghan Harps. Tweet

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