Magheracloone aiming to upset Donaghmoyne in final

Niall Keenan

Donaghmoyne and Magheracloone meet in Sunday’s Monaghan Ladies Senior Championship final with two very different motivations, but the same prize in their sights.

For Donaghmoyne, it is about reclaiming their place as the county’s standard-bearers.

For Magheracloone, it is about ending a 29-year wait.

The Mitchells have not lifted the senior crown since 1997, when current captain Chrissy Reilly was part of the victorious side.

There is therefore something particularly fitting about Reilly leading Magheracloone into Sunday’s decider, while members of the management team – Niamh Kindlon, Fiona Kindlon and Susan McCahey – were also involved in that last title triumph.

Almost three decades on, Magheracloone have another opportunity to bring the senior championship back to the parish.

And there is a real sense of momentum behind them.

Their 47-strong panel has developed a genuine family feel, with experienced players helping to guide those coming through while the younger generation have embraced the senior team in equal measure.

Grace Kieran’s return from travelling has further strengthened their ranks, while the buzz around the parish has been fuelled by a thriving underage section.

The u14s completed a Division Two Cup and Championship double this season, while the minors have secured back-to-back championships. The u16s narrowly missed out on Monday evening when Scotstown prevailed in their championship final.

Those young players are looking up to the senior side and aspiring to follow in their footsteps.

A senior title on Sunday would therefore mean more than ending a near three decade-long drought. It would provide the next generation with tangible proof of what is possible – and perhaps create another group of players for future Magheracloone teams to emulate.

The Mitchells earned their place in the final by dethroning reigning champions Emmet Óg in the semi-final, scoring five second-half goals to run out with the win.

Leanne Maguire, who hit 1-6 in the 7-7 to 1-8 victory, has already proved a popular figure among the younger generation, with many u14 players recently naming her as their favourite athlete in their player profiles ahead of their own triumph.

But standing between Magheracloone and glory is a Donaghmoyne side with plenty of unfinished business of their own.

The county’s dominant force for more than two decades, Donaghmoyne won 21 consecutive senior titles before their remarkable reign was ended by Magheracloone in 2024.

The Mitchells won that semi-final by five points, but Emyvale went on to claim the title.

Donaghmoyne returned to the decider last year, only to lose to Emmet Óg.

Under manager Anne Marie Burns – herself a member of the all-conquering Fontenoy teams of the past – Donaghmoyne are back in another final and intent on restoring themselves to the summit and their form this season suggests they will take some stopping.

They won all six of their senior league games, including an 8-12 to 4-11 victory over Magheracloone in July.

They have also been rampant in the championship, scoring 13 goals and 77 points across four matches – an average of more than three goals and 19 points per game.

Their group-stage meeting with Magheracloone produced another emphatic result, Donaghmoyne running out 3-20 to 1-7 winners.

Scotstown did provide a sterner examination in the semi-final, but Donaghmoyne still emerged with a 2-16 to 2-12 victory.

Those two convincing wins over Sunday’s opponents will provide Donaghmoyne with confidence, although they will know a championship final is a different proposition entirely.

Magheracloone, meanwhile, can point to the fact that they have already ended Donaghmoyne’s extraordinary run once before.

Now they want to go one step further.

The senior final takes centre stage at 4.15pm on Sunday at the home of Monaghan Harps, following the meeting of Latton and Truagh, and there will be no shortage of motivation for either side.

Away from the larger setting of Clones, it should provide a more intimate atmosphere – one in which the Magheracloone support will hope to make itself heard.

There is a 29-year story waiting to be completed on one side, and a dynasty waiting to be rebuilt on the other.

Something will have to give in what promises to be a fiercely contested final.