Articles in the GAA Category

No silver linings in McEnaney’s cloud PATRICK SMYTH In the bowels of Kingspan Breffni, Monaghan U20 football boss Seamus McEnaney held court like he has done at countless county grounds over the years. This time around though, the Corduff clubman has scarcely sported a more piercing frown. It seemed like everything that could have gone wrong for his charges in the previous hour-plus against Cavan did go wrong and McEnaney wouldn’t or couldn’t hide his disappointment: “It’s a very disappointing result because the game was definitely in the balance at half-time and ...

Monaghan crash out ot All-Ireland Qualifiers while Counihan’s squad get what they deserve COLM SHALVEY COMMENTARY ARMAGH 2-17 MONAGHAN 1-12 Monaghan’s stop-start 2019 campaign came to an early end with last Saturday’s All- Ireland SFC Round 2 Qualifier loss to Armagh. On the day where the curtain came down on Malachy O’Rourke’s seven years in charge of the Monaghan team, the hosts fell away in the second half of their third local derby of this year’s championship. An Armagh side gaining some momentum after encouraging performances in the Ulster series proved too potent on ...

McEnaney happy to have clean bill of health for Breffni match JOHN GRAHAM Monaghan U20 football boss Seamus McEnaney says seeing his squad come through this week “unscathed” is the best he can have hoped for ahead of the Farney County’s provincial championship tilt with Cavan this weekend. McEnaney and co travel to Kingspan Breffni this Sunday (4pm) determined to overcome a Cavan side who are fancied to book their place in the semi-final of the competition. The former senior Monaghan manager acknowledges it hasn’t been easy for his players or his think-tank ...

Monaghan ‘Armed’ for battle in local derby COLM SHALVEY COMMENTARY Monaghan face another Ulster derby when Armagh make the familiar journey to Clones for Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC Round 2 Qualifier. Armagh have been infrequent visitors to Clones in recent years, with their first-round extra-time win over Down being their first time to clear the Ulster first round since 2002 All-Ireland-winning captain Kieran McGeeney took charge of his native county for the 2015 campaign. This is Armagh’s third game at St. Tiarnach’s Park this month, however, after their provincial semi-final against Cavan went ...

KEVIN ÓG CARNEY Former All-Star Niamh Kindlon (CIRCLED) is hoping to revive memories of her own youth when Monaghan under 14 footballers take to the field against the girls of Tyrone in the U14 All-Ireland final this coming Saturday at a venue to be confirmed. The joint county boss (along with sister Fiona) won an Under 14 all-Ireland medal in the mid-nineties with Monaghan and she is hoping that history can repeat itself this weekend. Joined in the county’s thinktank by another former Under 14 all-Ireland medallist in selector Aisling Tierney ...

Monaghan County Council hosted a barbeque at Carrickmacross Civic Offices recently, in memory of their late colleague Katrina Coleman Ó Roideáin, who worked in the Tourism Section of the Local Authority. A cheque of the proceeds of €4000.77 was accepted by Michael McMahon on behalf of Carrickmacross Cancer Society. Pictured left to right: Zac Rooney (baby) Pauline Clarke, Geraldine Gilmartin, Sean O’Riodain, Fiachra O’Riordain, Michael McMahon, Kathleen Coleman, Aoife Ni Riordain, Marie Rooney, Peter Coleman, AnnaKate Gilmartin and Ellie Rooney.

COLM SHALVEY – Championship round-up Donegal and Cavan will contest the Ulster SFC Final on Sunday week. Donegal were first to qualify after an impressive performance against Tyrone in Cavan on Saturday. Jamie Brennan and Michael Murphy were influential for Donegal, with the former’s first-half goal helping the holders to a commanding 1-9 to 0-5 lead. Tyrone were unfortunate to lose Peter Harte to a black card early on and with several of their big players making little impact, it was a disappointing evening for the provincial SFC favourites, who had ...

BY PATRICK SMYTH As he fielded questions from a posse of journalists gathered in the bowels of St. Tighernach’s Park last Sunday afternoon, it was obvious that relief was the name of the game for Malachy O’Rourke. The Monaghan manager was his usual composed self in the immediate aftermath of his team’s victory over Fermanagh in the All-Ireland SFC Qualfiers in Clones but he made it quite clear that his charges made life hard for themselves. After a hesistant start which saw them trail by 0-0 to 1-1 after seven minutes, ...

COLM SHALVEY COMMENTARY Monaghan put their 2019 campaign on the line when they host a local derby qualifier against Fermanagh in Clones on Sunday. Monaghan will be looking for a much-needed response when they take on a familiar foe, who of course ended their Ulster hopes last summer. Having failed to perform anywhere near their best when losing another derby against Cavan last time out, Malachy O’Rourke’s side know they need to raise their game if they are to avoid what would be their earliest exit of the Fermanagh native’s reign. ...

COLM SHALVEY Monaghan ladies will hope to put a challenging league campaign behind them when they face Armagh in Sunday’s TG4 Ulster LSFC semi-final at the Athletic Grounds. Monaghan were relegated from Division One of the league, while Armagh almost went in the opposite direction as they won six of their seven group games in Division Two, only to fall short in a semi-final against Kerry. Monaghan have been a traditional power of ladies’ football in Ulster, but Donegal …