Articles in the Sports News Category

Harte believes Monaghan should have won by more Monaghan got their NFL Division One campaign up and running last weekend with a surprise but merited victory over Tyrone with team-manager Seamus McEnaney admitting after the game in Castleblayney that the result was all-important. In the wake of his team’s defeat in the opening round of the NFL to Galway, McEnaney heaped praise on his players’ performance against Mickey Harte’s men but he couldn’t hide his pleasure at the team’s success in breaking their duck this season: “It’s a good result,” McEnaney ...

Magheracloone reach final rung of the ladder COLM SHALVEY COMMENTARY Magheracloone face the tenth and final step on the ladder to All-Ireland IFC glory when they take on Oughterard at Croke Park on Saturday. Magheracloone’s turbulent end to 2018 has been well documented – with the mine collapse on their facilities leaving them without their pitch ever since – but they managed to put that (and their surprise relegation) behind them to enjoy a great winning run on the playing fields of Monaghan and beyond. Wins over Tyholland, Monaghan Harps, Corduff and ...

A night to remember for all Gaels in Monaghan! PATRICK SMYTH reports Some nights are cemented in the GAA calendar in Monaghan. One such night is the Northern Standard Monaghan GAA Annual Awards. On Friday night last, the 2019 version did the Association and your favourite weekly provincial newspaper absolute justice! The Four Seasons Hotel in the county town played host to a veritable who’s who of famous Monaghan GAA names, past and present. A great sense of bonhomie prevailed at the special annual get-together with, among the highlights being the presentation ...

COLM SHALVEY COMMENTARY There was agony and ecstasy for Monaghan clubs in last Saturday’s AIB All-Ireland semi-finals, with Magheracloone marching on but Blackhill bowing out. Magheracloone became the third Monaghan team to qualify for the All-Ireland IFC Final after a storming second-half performance saw them put Mattock Rangers to the sword in Crossmaglen. After going in level at half-time, a goal by none other than Niall McKeown (a former Monaghan panellist who captained Rockcorry to Ulster Club JFC success in 2015) propelled Mattock Rangers into the lead after the restart. Magheracloone’s ...

Tyrone tester for new boss Banty Having somehow found themselves through to the Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup Final, Monaghan take on competition specialists Tyrone in Armagh on Saturday evening. Throw-in 7-30pm. Tyrone are bidding to win the McKenna Cup for the eighth time in nine years, while it’s Monaghan’s first appearance in this fixture since a ten-point defeat against Mickey Harte’s men back in 2013. The teams’ paths to the final could hardly have been more disparate, with Tyrone powering through via prolific wins over Cavan, Armagh and Down, ...

COLM SHALVEY REPORTS Saturday is a red-letter day for Monaghan clubs in the AIB All-Ireland series, with both Magheracloone and Blackhill bidding for a place at Croke Park later this month. Magheracloone are seeking to follow in the footsteps of two previous All-Ireland IFC winners from Monaghan – Inniskeen in 2006 and Truagh in 2014 – and at least make it through to the final by getting through a local derby of sorts against Mattock Rangers in Crossmaglen. The Mitchells’ turbulent end to 2018 has been well documented – with the ...

DONEGAL 1-12 MONAGHAN 0-14 KEVIN ÓG CARNEY Monaghan GAA has always been a great supporter of Scór in all its facets whether as competitors or hosts. On Saturday night last, the Ulster Scór na nÓg finals took place in Threemilehouse with the Sean Mc- Dermott’s club proving brilliant hosts as eight new Ulster champions were crowned. On a night when Irish culture was the undoubted winner, Monaghan GAA’s three entries did the county proud. In the Solo Singing section, Dearbhla Marron (Monaghan Harps) was the youngest singer in her section but her ...

John Graham reports At intermediate football Championship level, it was Magheracloone’s year despite the difficult circumstances that the club found themselves in as they were denied the use of their facilities due to the appearance of sinkholes as a result of subsidence in a disused mine. Magheracloone were now determined to overcome all obstacles in their search for a return to senior ranks at the first time of asking, having been relegated at the end of 2018 and they responded with a magnificent year that saw them not only win promotion ...

JOHN GRAHAM From the outset, the Safe Club Initiative was intended to help in setting a solid foundation stone on which clubs could build and develop a better understanding of health and safety standards. At the same time, the scheme was designed to deliver first-rate knowledge of the GAA’s public liability insurance guidelines and the scheme was also intended to focus attention on reducing the scale of accidents that was causing insurance premiums to multiply to unrealistic levels. The pilot programme was a year-long campaign that was primarily introduced to promote ...

The 2019 Northern Standard Monaghan GAA Award winners were announced at last Thursday night’s County Convention in the Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan Town. County full-back Conor Boyle (CIRCLED) has been named as Senior Footballer of the Year after his impressive form as Clontibret regained the SFC title, with his Monaghan team-mate Dessie Ward from Ballybay being selected as Young Footballer of the Year. Gavin Doogan, who recently retired from the county scene days after helping lead Magheracloone to an Ulster Club IFC title, is the Intermediate winner, while the Junior ...