Articles in the GAA Category

COLM SHALVEY The long-delayed official launch of All Boro Floor Services, New York as Monaghan GAA’s main sponsor took place late last month. All Boro have been the county’s main sponsor since October 2020, replacing Investec, but the sponsorship launch had long been postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions until it finally went ahead on December 27 with a small gathering in the Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan Town. It was an emotional night for the family of the late Philip Traynor, who sadly passed away suddenly last July. Philip’s children Courtney, Ryan, ...

COLM SHALVEY As we face into a second Christmas with Covidenforced restrictions, the usual schedule of charity fundraisers and gettogethers has inevitably been impacted, although several events are set to proceed, some on a virtual basis. The traditional festive season charity matches, runs, walks and swims may not be allowed to go ahead in their usual guises, although some events will proceed on a ‘virtual’ basis. This year’s Goal Mile is set to go ahead at three Co Monaghan venues on St. Stephen’s Day: Carrick aces Running Track, Carrickmacross (11am); latton ...

Colm Shalvey reports Monaghan lGFa star Ciara Mcanespie has announced her retirement from inter-county football after a decade and a half of service. The pacy emyvale forward was a key player for Monaghan through the years, earning three all-Star awards in 2009, 2011 and 2016. Part of a family steeped in the Gaa, Ciara followed in the footsteps of her mother Brenda by representing club and county, taking another national title home when emyvale won the all-ireland Club iFC in 2008. Ciara, whose twin sister aoife was an ulster all-Star last ...

Colm Shalvey reports After a hugely eventful path to a first Ulster Club JHC Final, Carrickmacross will be hoping for an early Christmas present when they take on Armagh junior champions Craobh Rua in Newry on Saturday. Carrickmacross had a lengthy break after losing to Castleblayney in their first Monaghan SHC Final appearance since 2005, but they have crammed lifelong memories into the last few weeks, ousting Down and Derry opponents in the most dramatic fashion. Aidan Slevin’s men saw off Ballela after extra-time in a thrilling quarter-final, before pipping Na ...

Aaron claims WBC Youth world middleweight belt COLM SHALVEY Co Monaghan boxing brothers Aaron and Stevie McKenna both extended their unbeaten professional records with impressive wins at Crystal Palace last Friday, with Aaron claiming the WBC Youth World middleweight belt. A large Monaghan contingent in London watched the duo continue their rise up the ranks as part of the undercard of Isaac Chamberlain v Dilan Prasovic. Aaron claimed his first professional title with a unanimous decision over Carlos Gallego. ‘The Silencer’ was on the front foot from the start, but his ...

Colm Shalvey reports STEELSTOWN 4-13DONAGHMOYNE 2-07 Donaghmoyne exited the Ulster Club IFC when they fell to a heavy defeat against Derry-city side Steelstown at Celtic Park last Sunday. Donaghmoyne’s greater efficiency up front, via goals by Ronan and Liam McDonald, handed them a narrow interval lead, but after hitting the net within seconds of the throw-in, Steelstown outscored the Fontenoys by 2-6 to 0-1 in the first ten minutes of the second half to take command. Donaghmoyne struggled for primary possession throughout, winning less than a third of the game’s 38 kick-outs, ...

Colm Shalvey reports Seán McDermotts will aim to become the tenth Monaghan club to contest an Ulster Club JFC Final when they take on Donegal’s Downings in Ederney on Saturday. After putting several final defeats behind them to win the Monaghan JFC with an impressive performance against Toome (who lost just once in 13 league and championship games this year), Seán McDermotts have backed that up with wins over Cookstown (Tyrone) and Belleeks (Armagh) in the provincial series. Already no strangers to the Ulster Club JFC after winning two Donegal junior ...

Colm Shalvey reports Sunday’s Derry v Monaghan Ulster Club double-header begins with the IFC quarter-final between Donaghmoyne and Steelstown. Fresh from completing a Monaghan Intermediate double, Donaghmoyne will be looking to go one step further than in 2016, when they lost out to Pomeroy from Tyrone in the Ulster IFC Final. The Fontenoys have been in consistent form throughout 2021, winning 12 of their 13 league and championship games, with their only loss coming after a late goal by Emyvale in their last IFC group fixture. They now take on a ...

Colm Shalvey reports Scotstown launch their latest bid for a first Ulster Club title since 1989 when they take on Glen Watty Grahams at Celtic Park in Derry on Sunday. Scotstown have been regulars on the Ulster Club scene in recent years, although this is their first appearance at this stage since they went to the 2018 final, where they were pipped by Gweedore after extra-time. The four-time Ulster champions lost the 2019 county final to Clontibret, while their 2020 win over Ballybay was the end …

Colm Shalvey reports Almost two years since a ball was kicked in the Ulster Club Football Championships, Seán McDermotts and Cookstown get the highlyanticipated 2021 provincial series underway in Clones this Saturday. After Blackhill and Magheracloone claimed a memorable Ulster JFC and IFC double in 2019, the condensed 2020 season left no room for the ubercompetitive provincial championships, meaning Scotstown, Monaghan Harps and Aughnamullen didn’t get the chance to bid for further titles. Seán McDermotts will now bid to become the seventh Monaghan club to win the Ulster JFC, but to ...