Published: Wednesday, 13th August, 2008 12:00pm

Monaghan Focus

With the county having no further interest at inter county level in either football or hurling the scene is now set for a complete return to the club scene and a series of busy weekends in both league and championship action looming. The action for this weekend gets under way on Friday evening with the meeting of Aughnamullen and Corduff in the intermediate football championship in Drumhowan at 7:15 p.m. with the winners facing Emyvale in the next round. There is further championship action on Saturday with two games in the junior football championship that see Toome taking all Oram in Clontibret at 6 p.m. followed by the meeting of the championship favourites Drumhowan and Killeevan at 7:30 p.m..

On Sunday there is a mixture of hurling and football championship action with the finals of the Silver Hill Foods sponsored hurling Shield competition and the final of the Silver Hill Foods senior hurling championship proper. In the championship final reigning champions Castleblayney take on Clontibret in what should be a cracking contest in Ballybay at 3.00pm a game that is preceded by the Shield final with Latton taking on Monaghan Harps at 1:30 p.m..

Junior double-bill

On Sunday evening then there is further action in the junior football championship with a double bill in Gavan Duffy Park that sees Fergal O"Hanlon"s taking on Currin at 6 p.m. while Aghabog and Clones meet at 7:30 p.m.. Sunday also sees a number of matches in the Credit Unions senior football league and the Harte Peat intermediate football league. In the Credit Unions senior football league Magheracloone are at home against Scotstown, Inniskeen travel to Monaghan Harps and Tyholland have home advantage over Carrickmacross with those games listed for 12:30 p.m.. In the intermediate football league Corduff are at home against Eire Og, Aughnamullen have home advantage over Emyvale, Sean McDermott"s travel to Truagh and Cremartin are at home against Rockcorry, all again at 12:30 p.m.. On Monday there are two games in the Credit Unions senior football league with Clontibret taking on Latton and Doohamlet visiting Castleblayney with both at 7:15 p.m. while in the intermediate football league Ballybay meet Donaghmoyne in Ballybay at 12:30 p.m.

This Friday evening sees the final of the Rooney Cup tournament in Carrickmacross with the meeting of Crossmaglen Rangers and Kingscourt Stars at 7:30 p.m.. Both sides were impressive in their semi-final victories and it is a pairing that should make for a fitting finale to what is a very popular tournament. The final will see a man of the match award which is sponsored by Fiddlers Bar and Restaurant, Carrickmacross.

Referee London bound

Monaghan Whistler, Jim O"Rourke is off to London this weekend to take charge of the final of the U21 Hurling Shield between the Metropolitans and Donegal in Ruislip. Donegal defeated Tyrone by 1-14 to 1-10 in the home final to book their place in the decider which this year is staged in the British capital as part of the twinning arrangement between London and Ulster.