Green Field Foods Monaghan Senior Football Championship semi-final: Scotstown v Magheracloone
It’s down to the really serious business of the 2018 Green Field Foods Monaghan Senior Football Championship now with no room left for errors as the last four teams standing battle it out for final places.
Scotstown take on Magheracloone and are looking for a fourth senior football championship title in a row,
The former were installed as one of the favourites to take the title again this year even before a ball was kicked and by reaching the semi-final they have vindicated that rating.
But they will also admit that at times, in matches they have been less than convincing and have struggled.
While Scotstown will look to their tried and trusted in the likes of Ulster All-Star goalkeeper Rory Beggan, Frank Caulfield, Darren Hughes, Kieran Hughes and Conor McCarthy, they will have to establish a foothold in this contest earlier than they were able to against Ballybay last time out in particular.
Magheracloone, when they get a grip on a game early, can be difficult to unseat.
Scotstown will hope that Donal Morgan will be available this time around as his leadership and role as an organiser, particularly in defence, was missing last time out.
Magheracloone likewise have their marquee players in the Ward brothers, Peter and James, along with the McMahon’s, John and Paudie.
They will also be hoping that Gavin Doogan is able to start this time around as his presence in midfield would be vital,
They will need a steady supply going in to the likes of Allan Kieran, Michael Metzger and Alan McCahey, while minor player Liam Og Murray can also have an impact.
While Scotstown have certain areas of their game that they will seek to improve on, Magheracloone will certainly be concentrating on keeping their defence a little bit tighter than it was last time out.
Against Castleblayney last Friday evening, they were opened up on several occasions and but for the brilliance of Jack Kirk in goals they could well have been punished more.
The same situation against a team that has quality finishers in the likes of Kieran Hughes and Conor McCarthy in particular could also prove fatal.
Therein may lie an indicator as to the eventual outcome.
Scotstown have featured in five finals since 2013, winning that year by defeating Clontibret, 2015 when they defeated Monaghan Harps, 2016 when they denied Clontibret again and last year, 2017, when they got the better of Magheracloone, to take the club’s 18th senior championship title in all.
Magheracloone for their part last won the Senior Football Championship title in 2004 but they have contested the final on seven occasions since 2002 with 2004 being their only success.
The odds favour Scotstown to stay on course for another final appearance.
Green Field Foods Monaghan Senior Football Championship semi-final: Ballybay v Clontibret
There was a time when this pairing was synonymous with all that was best in club football in Monaghan.
But that has changed somewhat, although both teams will certainly have their sights set on doing better than each of them did over the last couple of years.
Clontibret last won the senior football championship title in 2014 and lost out in the final of 2016 while Ballybay go back to 2012 when they ended a 25-year Championship famine, their previous title coming in 1987.
There is no doubting the talent that is spread throughout this Ballybay team.
The Wylie brothers, Ryan at full-back, Brent at corner back and Drew at centre back, give them a strong, firm base on which to build.
In attack they have undoubted talent in the likes of Dessie Ward, veteran Paul Finlay, Shane McGuinness and Christopher McGuinness along with the likes of Aaron Toner and Hugh Malone.
A feature of Ballybay’s play this year though, and one that they will seek to improve on for Sunday’s semi-final, is that they have been creating great scoring chances, particularly for goals, but have failed to finish them off.
If they cannot improve on that, this time around they could suffer the same fate as they have at the semi-final stage in both 2016 and last year, when they missed out on a place in the final.
Mention of Clontibret and the one name that springs to mind is Conor McManus, who had an outstanding year at inter-county level and has been producing the goods in the Championship to boot,
HIs accuracy was demonstrated clearly by his eight points against Castleblayney, six of those from frees.
Add in the likes of the experienced, Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey, Conor Boyle and Colum Greenan and it gives an indication of the potential for a real thrilling contest.
Midfield will be a vital area where Ballybay will look to Ciaran Galligan to give them an edge but Clontibret will be competitive there through the Francis Hughes/Vinny Corey combination.
In attack young Michael Paul O’Dowd is showing great promise.
Ultimately though the outcome could be decided on how well Ballybay can limit the influence of Conor McManus but it could also hinge on the shoot-out between McManus and Paul Finlay.
