Articles in the Sports News Category

MAITIU MONAGHAN It’s the nature of the new All-Ireland beast that Monaghan are forced to get straight back onto the horse, and solidify their place in the knockout stages of the All-Ireland series. The prospect of facing Clare on the bank holiday weekend initially perked the interest of Monaghan fans. There were dreams of a weekend away in Ennis or Killaloe. Alas, the fixtures did not fall that way. Instead, Monaghan are dreaming of another weekend, a bit further down the line, in North Dublin for All-Ireland quarter-final weekend, at the ...

COLM SHALVEY A storming start set Monaghan up for a high-scoring win over Antrim in the Ulster MFC qualifiers in Clones on Saturday. Kevin Nolan’s side raced out of the blocks, racking up 2-8 (plus another disallowed goal) by the time Antrim even managed a shot at the posts. Antrim went on to kick six two-pointers from the superb Odhrán Doherty to put a better look on the scoreboard, but Tristan Nugent netted a hat- trick in a rampant Monaghan attack, where James Ennis and Harry McQuillan hit 13 points between ...

MAITIU MONAGHAN The first time I met Aaron McKenna, was in a Largy College changing room in 2013 for u14 football trials. Then only a mischievous, gangly teenager, the Smithborough man was a ball of energy. He was never not scheming, joking, or generally acting the maggot. He has as much interest in the Largy College u14 football team as I had in marking him during the trials. At 13 years old, it was impossible to see the intense focus this care free kid had. It’s been well documented how the ...

Colm Shalvey Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan struggled to conceal his frustration at the conclusion to Sunday’s Ulster SFC loss to Donegal “Ryan O’Toole was ready to take the line ball, and the hooter went. Ryan took the line ball and then the game was blown. Our understanding was that when the hooter went after the ball went out was that we had that play – but I could be wrong on that, we could all be wrong on that and I haven’t got clarification on that.” Bannigan also had an issue with ...

When the fixtures were announced at the end of last year, Monaghan’s trip to Louth always looked likely to be, what former Ireland football manager Steve “Stan” Staunton would call “a banana skin”. With three wins in their opening four matches, Monaghan have looked impressive so far this season, but will nonetheless proceed with cautious facing a difficult trip to Drogheda this Sunday. Having said that, it’s difficult to imagine what it would look like if this Monaghan team did play with caution. They have played with the shackles off ...

COLM SHALVEY The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U- 19.5 football competitions wrapped up with the Faul Cup Final last Thursday, which saw Largy College, Clones edged out in a controversial finish against Bailieborough Community School at Breffni Park. After having a goal ruled out as they chased a late winner, Largy subsequently conceded at the other end as Bailieborough sealed a 3-8 to 0-12 victory. MacLarnon Cup winners Patrician High School, Carrickmacross turn their sights to the All-Ireland ‘B’ Championship when they contest a Paddy Drummond Cup semi-final against Cashel Community ...

MAITIU MONAGHAN Currin GFC, the oldest and smallest GAA club in County Monaghan, are hosting a Strictly Come Dancing fundraising event on 2nd February at the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan. This highly anticipated event is not just about an evening of entertainment, it represents a key step towards the future of the club. The funds raised during the event will contribute to the development of essential club facilities, including a new pitch, a gym, and a walking track. These new spaces will serve as vital resources for everyone in the community. Currin ...

COLM SHALVEY Scotstown were singing in the rain in Clones last Sunday after seeing their seniors and minors take home a double of top-tier championship titles. It was a first SFC/MFC double since 1981 for Scotstown, with their minors producing a strong second-half performance to see off Monaghan Harps and their seniors retaining the Mick Duffy Cup with a typically composed display against Clontibret.

COLM SHALVEY As the Monaghan football championship season races towards its conclusion, the finalists in each grade will be known by Sunday evening. Clones hosts an enticing SFC semi-final double-header, featuring the three most recent winners of the Mick Duffy Cup (Scotstown, Ballybay and Clontibret), as well as last year’s runners-up Inniskeen. The former three have won every county SFC title since 2011, with Scotstown blazing a trail with eight of those, with the other four being shared by Ballybay and Clontibret, who get things underway on Sunday at 2pm. Both ...

The passing at St James’s Hospital in Dublin on Sunday last, October 6 of Billy Bagster has evoked deep sadness among the followers of soccer in Monaghan. Rightly described this week as “a Monaghan United legend” by the club he led to First Division promotion in 1993 and subsequently to a top six finish in the Premier League, the man from Terenure was one of the most iconic characters in Irish soccer, deeply knowledgeable about the worldwide game, charmingly idiosyncratic and individual, erudite and dryly witty and instantly recognisable in ...