Greenfield Foods Monaghan SFC semi-finals
For some people, with the modern structure of the championships in Monaghan, the sudden death nature of the quarter-finals and semi-finals is the only real championship action as it is a winner-takes-all situation.
That said though, only for the qualifier system, reigning champions Scotstown, would be out of the series, as would Clontibret.
Both suffered a defeat but recovered to now contest the penultimate stage tomorrow afternoon for a place in the final.
Ballybay and Magheracloone, on the other hand, are through to the semi-finals with two straight victories each, but there is little to separate all four sides from the point of view of scoring averages.
Magheracloone have slightly the better return, followed by Ballybay, Scotstown and Clontibret, though it’s only single points making the difference.
So it’s all to play for with the first semi-final between Magheracloone and Clontibret (3pm) and the second (4.45pm)seeing Scotstown, put their title on the line against a team that for many is poised to bring the senior championship title back to Ballybay for the first time since 2012.
If Scotstown are to retain their senior football championship title and thereby put titles back-to-back, there is literally no room for errors in their clash.
They are aware that the Pearse Brothers had their eye on such a meeting from day one in the league, as these two have fought out two fiery league games so far. Tomorrow’s game will be no different.
Scotstown have Conor McCarthy back and that bolsters their scoring potential but they will need big games from the Hughes brothers, Shane Carey and Francis Caulfield if they are to advance.
For Ballybay, Paul Finlay is still king, but the McGuinness brothers are getting back into scoring form and they have the Wylie siblings – Drew, Ryan and Shane – to keep it tight at the back.
Expect a close call and maybe a second meeting.
The Clontibret v Magheracloone game is also hard to call and Magheracloone will be aware that Conor McManus – who is top scorer in the senior championship so far with 1-39, and was top gun in last year’s series as well with 0-34 – is the one player who
poses the biggest threat to Magheracloone’s prospects of reaching the final.
Magheracloone too have their own talisman in the vastly experienced Tomas Freeman and they also have good young talent in the likes of Alan McCahey, Alan Kearns and John McMahon who have all contributed so far.
Clontibret also have experience in the likes of Dessie Mone, Vincent Corey and Paul McGuigan but they will be without Martin Corey on a one-game ban.
All told, though, Conor McManus holds the key and if Magheracloone don’t or can’t limit his influence then they will pay the price.
