History beckons for Truagh in SHC Final

By Colm Shalvey

The AM Sports Monaghan Senior and Junior Hurling Championship Finals take centre stage at Gavan Duffy Park this Sunday afternoon, September 13, (3:45pm).

The SHC decider is a repeat of last season; pitting a Castleblayney side bidding for their fourth consecutive Monaghan SHC title against challengers Truagh, attempting to win it for a first time.

Truagh’s previous three appearances in the final resulted in losses to Castleblayney in 2019, 2020 and last year.

Blayney have been the dominant force in Monaghan hurling for some time, having lifted 22 county SHC titles since 1999, including two six-in-a-row spurts, as well as several provincial championships.

Back-to-back JHC winners in 2023 and ‘24, Truagh have progressed at Senior level since, reaching three finals, including this year’s league, where they once again lost out to Blayney.

The holders earned a bye to the semi-finals, where they held off a strong challenge from a Niall Arthur-inspired Inniskeen; while Truagh had a comfortable win over Latton, and a one-point victory against Monaghan Harps.

Blayney manager Jimmy Lacey can call on current and former county players in every line of the pitch, starting with Fergal Rafter (so often a match-winner up front) in goals.

Game changers

Eoin Leonard, Brian Flanagan, Paudie Heavin and Paddy Finnegan could play key roles in defence, while their half-forward line of Leo Moloney and joint-Captains Conall McHugh and Declan Hughes were at their most impressive, contributing a combined total of 1-13.

Thomas Hughes, Niall Garland and the evergreen Brian McGuigan provide real scoring threats inside.

While Truagh look to lift the Mick Quigley Cup for the first time, David and Ethan Carvill both have championship-winning experience with Middletown. David, a former Armagh captain, hit 1-2 against the Harps, while Conor Boyle landed three crucial scores down the home stretch.

He is part of a strong half-back line also featuring Daithí McMeel and dual player Ronan Boyle. Matthew Flood captains the north-Monaghan side, who will also need big performances from Páidí Treanor, Conor McKenna and Oisín Hagan.

Truagh kept Blayney honest throughout last year’s county final and will be hugely determined to turn the tables on the favourites, but the evidence of their recent meetings and semi-final performances suggest there will be no change to the status quo.