Articles in the Sports News Category

COLM SHALVEY CORK 3-19 MONAGHAN 2-10 Another strong year for Monaghan’s minor footballers came to an end with last Sunday’s All-Ireland MFC quarter-final defeat against Cork in Tullamore. After retaining the Ulster title, a second consecutive semi-final appearance at Croke Park was on the radar for Monaghan, but a physically powerful Cork side proved too strong on a good day for football in the resurgent Rebel County, who also saw their impressive U-20 side qualify for an All-Ireland Final. Monaghan just couldn’t deal with Cork’s power and pace in several positions and they ...

COLM SHALVEY Monaghan’s minor ladies will bid for a first All-Ireland MFC ‘A’ title since 1999 on Bank Holiday Monday. O’Connor Park in Tullamore hasn’t proved to be a happy hunting ground for Monaghan teams in recent years, most recently last Sunday when the male minor team exited the All- Ireland series by losing to Cork, but the ladies will hope to turn the tables on the Rebel County in their decider. Monaghan saw off Meath in a high-scoring semi-final last month to set up a clash with a Cork side ...

Perfect ten for 2-in-a-row Monaghan MONAGHAN 1-13 TYRONE 1-11 Monaghan retained the Ulster MFC title after edging an exciting final against Tyrone in Armagh last Sunday. This win saw a Monaghan side featuring three starters from 12 months ago became the first male team from the county to win back-to-back provincial titles since the minors of 1939 and 1940. The first half was end-toend throughout, with Tyrone hitting three of the first four scores, only for Monaghan to hit the front via five unanswered points. Monaghan, who had seven players on the mark ...

Monaghan minor captain Jason Irwin raises aloft the Fr Murray Cup. (Circled) Manager Mark Counihan with selector Mark O’Connor. PICTURES © NORTHERN STANDARD

Monaghan bid for rare Ulster minor double COLM SHALVEY are preparing for a second con- secutive Electric Ireland Ulster MFC Final, where they will re- new rivalries with Tyrone in Ar- magh on Sunday. rn to the Athletic Grounds – which was also the venue for last year’s final – will be a good omen, with several players still involved from the class of 2018. To make it a ‘perfect ten’ straight wins in the competition and to become the first male team from the county to retain an Ulster title in almost eight ...

EIRGRID ULSTER UNDER-20 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER FINAL CAVAN 1-13 MONAGHAN 2-04 COLM SHALVEY Drumhowan earned the headlines as they led the six Monaghan representatives at the 2019 John West Féile Peil na nÓg in Connacht last weekend. On the mid-Monaghan club’s first trip to a Féile outside the county, they enjoyed a perfect run through their Division Seven campaign. Wins over Milltown (Galway), Castlemaine (Kerry) and their host club Northern Gaels from Glenamaddy saw Drumhowan top Group D. The Geraldines advanced to the Cup section, where they knocked out Arravale Rovers from Tipperary and ...

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 ...