By Shaun Casey

TRUAGH have the massive challenge of taking down Monaghan hurling kingpins Castleblayney on Sunday as they attempt to win the Senior Championship for the first time in their history, and boss Brian Cummins says they’ll give it their best shot.

The hurling end of the club was only created 30 years ago, and this weekend will mark their third appearance in the senior final. The previous two, 2019 and 2020, ended in defeat against ‘Blayney.

But Cummins and his men are optimistic about the fixtures.

“It’s our third occasion since the formation of the hurling side of the club 30 years ago so it’s a novel final for us. It’s rare but what’s rare is wonderful,” he said.

“We’re going to go and have a crack at it; we were obviously junior finalists in the last two years as well. There’s a good group there and we’re trying to get to the next level, and we’ll see what happens on Sunday.”

They overcame Inniskeen in the semi-final, the side that broke ‘Blayney’s stranglehold on the Mick Quigley Cup in 2023, with a second-half goal proving crucial in their 1-12 to 0-12 triumph.

“They were great champions (in 2023) and they’re a great club and they’re all sound fellas as well,” Cummins continued.

“We’d lost heavily to them in the league; we lost heavily to ‘Blayney as well. But that Inniskeen game was a good test for us and thankfully we got over the line.”

Having already experienced the big day twice before, some of the Truagh team will know what to expect come Sunday but Cummins points out that they have a few more fresh faces in the team that will be experiencing the senior county final for the first time.

“We obviously have a couple of elder statesmen, but we have seven or eight players playing in the senior final for the first time, so we are a little bit inexperienced going in there but we’re looking forward to it.

“It’s a big occasion for the boys; it’s our first time being back there in five years.

“We’re a fresh group which is good because we’ve had a good few with the Monaghan u-21s and they’re all coming good.”

‘Blayney are aiming for their eighth title in nine years and will be the favourites to do so.

“Blayney are a fantastic side, they’re county champions and they’ve been in nearly every county final whereas this is only our third in 30 years, so it’s bit unique for us.

“They’ve won an Ulster (Junior) title there too (2023) so they’re the kingpins, they’re the stalwarts of the county. They’re the backbone of the county team as well, they have some fantastic players and they’re doing very well.

“They do hurling well too through underage and dual clubs now are rare, you only have the likes of Sleacht Néill and clubs like that for the hurling and football side of it, we’re trying our best to keep the small ball going.”