Monaghan focus by John P Graham

BALLYBAYand Donaghmoyne are just one step away from promotion back to senior ranks after they both won their way through to the final of the Intermediate Football Championship at the expense of Truagh and Emyvale respectively. Both were deserving winners in their respective matches. They were both games that really failed to ignite into classic championship action although neither side will complain much in that regard. There were key elements in both contests that went a long way to deciding the outcome. Paul Finlay and Hugh Malone orchestrated Ballybay"s victory against a Truagh team that never really recovered from the loss of Keith Sheerin just before half-time. Ballybay, too, were that little bit more inventive in their play with a number of Truagh players particularly in their attack failing to live up to the form they had shown in previous rounds. For Emyvale it was a disappointing weekend as it confirmed their relegation to junior ranks for next year and even though they were in their game against Donaghmoyne for most of the match, they lacked the forward power to push on for victory. The final of the IFC will be played on Sunday, October 5 in Clontibret at 4 p.m. At minor level there were two quarter-finals played in the Boyle and Curran sponsored MFC with Aughnamullen defeating Cremartin by five points and Latton defeating Emyvale by nine. In hurling Inniskeen caused something of a surprise when they defeated Castleblayney by five points in the second semi-final of the senior hurling league. That game created a first for hurling in the county in that it was the first official fixture in hurling to be played under floodlights with the teams agreeing to meet under the new floodlights in Inniskeen"s new home and they made home advantage pay. Inniskeen are now due to meet Monaghan Harps in the final of the senior hurling league but a date for that game has not yet been arranged. Monaghan Harps were due to play Carrickmacross last weekend in the first semi-final but the game failed to materialise with Carrickmacross unable to field a team. The game was subsequently awarded to Monaghan Harps by CCC following the receipt of the referee"s report but there is every possibility that that decision will be the subject of an appeal to the Ulster Council by the Carrickmacross club. Last Sunday also saw the replay of the minor hurling league final with Monaghan Harps recording a relatively easy victory over a Latton team that failed to re-produce the form they showed in the drawn game. Harps blow Latton away in replay onaghan Harps 3-12 Latton 0-5. Monaghan Harps made no mistake in the replay of the Minor Hurling League Final at Clontibret on Sunday last as they coasted to victory with 16 points to spare at the finish. In the drawn match it was the concession of goals to Latton that let the town side down. Latton"s Gerry Connors rattled in three goals the last day but this time around the Harps cut out the danger man with some wonderful defending from players like Eamon Curley and Conall McKenna as well as great goal keeping by Paul Toal. Other players to shine were Raymond Lee, Aidan Óg McAnespie and Niall Hahessy. Latton failed to get into the game with only Thomas Connolly and Gerry Connors really giving Monaghan much to think about. However, one would have to credit the Latton boys as they fought to the very end and showed their wonderful battling qualities. The opening quarter was close with the Harps holding a slender 0-3 to 0-2 lead. The score that set them on their way come on 18 minutes with a major slice of luck. A long range free from the excellent Aidan Óg McAnespie dropped short but skidded off the ground past a bewildered Owen Coyle in the Latton goal. A further four unanswered points from McAnespie soon had eight points between the sides and that was the difference at the break as Harps lead 1-8 to 0-3. McAnespie extended the lead with a further free seven minutes after the resumption. Latton, though, were not going to lie down and Harps "keeper Paul Toal was forced into a succession of fine saves to deny Gerry Connors, Shane Coyle and Stephen McElroy. Immediately at the other end the Harps all but wrapped up the contest with their second goal and what a beauty it was. Niall Flynn showed his footballing skill with a class finish to the roof of the net from the boot. The same player added an equally stunning point via the boot as he turned to kick the sliotar over the bar from about 25 meters out. As the game entered the final quarter Gerry Connors pointed for Latton. With six minutes remaining the eventual winners netter their third major through Gavin Baxter to seal a comfortable victory and the title. Monaghan Harps: Paul Toal, Daniel Duffy, Conor Cahill, Eamon Curley, Aidan Óg McAnespie (1-7, 5f), Conall McKenna, Niall Hahessy (0-1), Raymond Lee (0-2), Gavin Baxter (1-0), David McCarville (0-1), Paul Lee, Niall Flynn (1-1), Liam Hahessy Subs: Andrew McCaughey for P Lee, Aaron Nutley for N Hahessy, Emmett Connolly for C Cahill Latton: Owen Coyle, Shane Coyle, Sean Coyle, Stephen McElroy, Paudie Hamilton, Stephen McGuinness, Declan Naughton, Kieran Duffy (0-1, f), Andy Connors, Thomas Connolly (0-3, 1f), Shane Conlon, Damien Duffy, Gerry Connors (0-1) Subs: John Naughton for P Hamilton, Thomas Kerr for A Connors, Dylan Phutaree for D Duffy, Seamus Hughes for S Conlon. Referee: Malachy Treanor (Clontibret) Woods key man for Donaghmoyne Donaghmoyne 0-16 Emyvale 0-13 The ability of Rory Woods to pick off points from a range of distances and angles from both play and frees was the key element as Donaghmoyne booked their place in the final of the McGuigan Builders sponsored IFC at the expense of Emyvale in Clontibret on Saturday evening last. That finishing power was ultimately the difference between the sides as Emyvale matched Donaghmoyne in most aspects of the game but they lacked real penetration in the final third of the field and ultimately paid the penalty. The Intermediate Championship was Emyvale"s last hope of avoiding relegation but they are now consigned to junior ranks for 2009 although, even in relegation and defeat last Saturday, they showed that they have some talented and enthusiastic young players on which to build for promotion in the years ahead. Emyvale were always within striking distance of Donaghmoyne and in fact a led a couple of times during a contest that was always interesting if never spectacular but they lacked the finish to push home any advantage they held at those vital times. Donaghmoyne on the other hand were always able to respond any time Emyvale threatened and it was mostly the accuracy of Rory Woods who hit three early points in the second-half and responded with another brace when Emyvale had the margin down to the minimum going into the final ten minutes. Woods got best support from Paudie Donaghy, Seamus Markey and John Farrell while at the back Joe Kelly put in a tremendous display at full-back and was repeatedly the rock on which many Emyvale attacks floundered. Emyvale for their part relied mostly on Martin McAree and Colm McKenna up front with Brendan McKenna trying all he knew in midfield and his battle with John Kingham in that sector was one of the features of the game. John Flannery was given the unenviable task of policing Rory Woods and while he did a creditable job, Woods" greater experience saw him steal a march on a number of occasions for vital scores. Jonathan Morrough at full-back was repeatedly seen to good effect while Brendan O"Brien and Lorcan McGee tried hard in the halfback line. The sides were level at 0-7 apiece at half time with Emyvale briefly taking the lead on the resumption but Donaghmoyne grew in stature as the second half progressed and always held an edge to get through safely. Donaghmoyne: Tomas Deery, Stephen Martin 0-1, Joe Kelly, Seamus Meehan, Matthew O"Reilly, John Cumiskey, Bernard Kelly, Seamus Markey 0-1 (f), John Kingham, John Farrell 0-1, James Connolly, Christopher Deery, Paul Kelly 0-1, Paudie Donaghy 0-1, Rory Woods 0-10 (4f). Subs: Paul Kingham for P Kelly, Fergal McMahon 0-1 for J Farrell, Francis McBride for M O"Reilly. Emyvale: Declan Callery, Ciaran Connolly, Jonathan Murrough, John Flannery, Brendan O"Brien, Lorcan McGee, Sean McMeel, Brendan McKenna, Paddy J McKenna, Gregory Devlin 0-2, Martin McAree 0-3 (1'f), Colm McKenna 0-5 (2f), Adrian McGee 0-1 (f), Gerard McCaffrey, Robbie McHugh 0-1. Subs: Darren Farmer 0-1 for G McCaffrey, Brendan Askin for A McGee, Paddy McCarron for G Devlin. Brilliant Ballybay sink favourites Truagh Ballybay 1-14 Truagh 0-11 IT WAS billed as the clash of the favourites but in the end failed to produce the level of performance that was expected as Ballybay finished strongly to book their place in the final at the expense of a Truagh side who never really hit top to your. Truagh"s prospects though were dealt a severe blow just before half-time when they lost Keith Sheerin with an ankle injury and while they introduced Noel Clerkin as his replacement they missed Sheerin"s physical presence up-front and struggled thereafter. The game was also seen as a possible shoo-tout between Paul Finlay and Gary Meehan and both did not disappoint in that regard, Meehan hitting seven points, six from frees, while Finlay finished with a personal tally of 1-4, with three of his points also coming from frees. Ballybay"s scoring was effectively the Paul Finlay and Hugh Malone show as between them they registered all but four points of Ballybay"s total, Malone finishing with six excellent points, all from play. By the time Keith Sheerin had retired he had registered a point for Truagh but Mark Counihan was the only other member of the six starting forwards to get on the score sheet as the Truagh attack failed to gel on the day. Ballybay were only ahead twice in the entire contest, the first after nine minutes when a point from a free by Gary Meehan gave Truagh a one-point lead and the second some seven minutes later when Mark Counihan was on target but thereafter Ballybay always held the edge the scoring stakes with a brilliant solo goal by Paul Finlay in the 18th minute helping them to a two points half-time lead. Finlay was simply magnificent in all aspects of his play and his ability to win possession, create space and bring others around him into the game was a feature of Ballybay"s victory. The Ballybay defence worked feverishly throughout to disrupt Truagh"s forward momentum while the midfield pairing of Cillian McAviney and Drew Wylie finished with credit. Shane McQuillan and Christopher McGuinness gave best support to an attack that was led by Paul Finlay on the 40 with the skilful Hugh Malone causing untold problems at full forward. Barry Cuddy and Bernard Treanor worked hard in midfield for Truagh but it ended in disappointment for Treanor as he also picked up a red card in the final minutes following an off the ball incident involving Hugh Malone, the dismissal signalling the end of Truagh"s dwindling prospects at that stage.Ballybay: Sean Gorman, Sean McCabe, Fergal Smyth, James Kerr, Fergal McArdle, Mickey Lennon, Marc McArdle, Cillian McAviney, Drew Wylie, Shane McQuillan 0-2, Paul Finlay 1-4 (3f), Bryan McCabe, Christopher McGuinness 0-1, Hugh Malone 0-6, Pauric Kerr. Subs: Gerry Connors for S McCabe, Paul Stuart for J Kerr, Pauric Duffy for C McAviney Truagh: Anthony Treanor, Niall Feely, Rory Treanor, Alan McKenna, Damien McRory, Neill McRory, Niall Coyle, Bernard Treanor, Barry Cuddy 0-1, John Treanor, Mark Counihan 0-1, Niall McMeel, Keith Sheerin 0-1, Gary Meehan 0-7 (6f), Martin Owens. Subs: Noel Clerkin for K Sheerin, Justin Halligan for N McMeel, Daniel Finnegan for A McKenna, Niall McMeel for M Owens. Referee: Kevin Murtagh (Toome).