Articles in the Sports News Category

Colm Shalvey reports Monaghan put their All-Ireland SFC hopes on the line when they travel to Castlebar for a first-round qualifier this Saturday. It’s as challenging a draw as it could have been for Monaghan, handing them a first-ever SFC meeting with Mayo, although it could be what they needed to refocus the minds after the disappointment of the Ulster semi-final loss to Derry, who of course went on to end their 24-year wait for a provincial title last Sunday. While this is a first championship meeting between the counties, these ...

The condensed nature of the All-Ireland SFC qualifier series increased the chances of the first round featuring some tasty pairings and so it proved when Monday morning’s draw dished up two all-Division-One clashes, including a trip to Castlebar for Monaghan to face perennial contenders Mayo on Saturday week, June 4. It’s as challenging a draw as it could have been for Monaghan, handing them a first-ever SFC meeting with Mayo, although there is a school of thought that it could be what they needed to refocus the minds after the ...

By Veronica Corr Veteran broadcast and print journalist Michael Fisher recently retired from The Northern Standard and at the outset of Monday morning’s meeting of Ballybay-Clones Municipal District meeting, Cathaoirleach Richard Truell led tributes to the esteemed reporter. Councillor Truell also presented Michael with a beautiful Clones Lace Celtic Cross, which our former colleague, who is also a qualified tour guide, vowed to treasure as a reminder of his time with the paper covering Clones News and the Municipal District meetings. Michael came out of retirement from national broadcasting and ...

Why Monaghan hadn’t seen the Derry game plan coming is one of the questions pondered by JACK MADDEN in his post mortem of Sunday’s Ulster Championship defeat Lightning doesn’t strike twice. In the most Bear Grylls manner possible you adapt. You improvise. You overcome. Obstacles are there to be knocked. Hurdles are there to be cleared. You might stumble, you might fall, but you inevitably get back up. You inevitably learn. Half-time and Monaghan are seven points down to Derry. The same Derry side that held a seven point lead at ...

Colm Shalvey reports Monaghan manager Séamus McEnaney was adamant that his team can still “have a big say” in the championship despite watching their Ulster title hopes slip away with a loss to Derry last Sunday. “We left ourselves with too much to do and in an Ulster championship match, 50-50, you can’t concede three goals and expect to win. We scored 17 points and we would have expected 17 points to win the game for us, but we conceded two very, very soft goals and we’d be disappointed with that. ...

Monaghan face Derry on Sunday to keep alive their Ulster title challenge Colm Shalvey reports Ulster SFC Final is the prize on offer as Monaghan take on Derry in Armagh this Sunday. Both teams go into this one on the back of double-digits wins, but while Monaghan’s comfortable path past an out-of-sorts Down was widely predicted in advance, the other side of the draw produced a red-letter day for Derry as they turned over All-Ireland champions Tyrone on their home soil. Tyrone were far from their best on the day, having lost ...

Colm Shalvey reports A place in the Ulster MFC semi-finals is up for grabs when Monaghan welcome Donegal to Clones this Saturday. Having put a heavy opening defeat behind them to win their last three Uster MFL games, Monaghan have regrouped from an upset against Antrim to knock out both Armagh and Down inside the last fortnight, rediscovering their goal-scoring touch to hit the net five times in Newry. Monaghan’s first three championship games saw them renew rivalries with teams they had previously met in the league, but this weekend brings ...

ARMAGH………..1-09MONAGHAN……0-15Venue: Athletic Grounds, Armagh Monaghan are still standing in the Ulster MFC after a hard-earned win over Armagh in an entertaining firstround qualifier at the Athletic Grounds last Friday night. A dominant first-half performance put Monaghan in the driving seat, but after going 16 minutes without scoring at one stage, they were left clinging on to a narrow lead until a late run of points saw them over the line. A week after being turned over on home soil by Antrim, Monaghan mixed their game up to good effect here, with ...

Colm Shalvey reports After getting back to winning ways in the Ulster MFC last weekend, Monaghan will be looking to extend their campaign further when they travel to Newry to take on Down this Saturday. Dusting themselves down after a surprise loss at home to Antrim, a vastly-improved firsthalf performance sent Monaghan well on their way to knocking Armagh out at the Athletic Grounds last Friday night. Down’s only championship game to date was in the preliminary round, where they fell short against Fermanagh. Down’s Ulster MFL campaign saw them win ...

On the eve of Ulster Championship season, JACK MADDEN says an overhaul of the GAA’s disciplinary system is needed if “a summer of controversy and farce” is to be avoided Rivalry. What does it mean? There is a fair share of hatred, and an abundance of history. The importance of winning, the pain of losing all magnified with the power of a telescope. Earn your stripes or watch your enemy earn theirs. Stand up and be the hunter or you yourself will be the one that is hunted. You can stand ...