By Shaun Casey
IT’S the final weekend of the group stages in Monaghan and for some of the teams competing for the Mick Duffy Cup, their entire season hangs in the balance.
Group 1 is fairly straightforward, with only one game taking place. That is the meeting of Scotstown and Inniskeen in a repeat of last year’s decider that went all the way to extra time.
Latton and Corduff were due to face off in round five, but with both sides already destined for the relegation playoffs, the dead-rubber contest won’t go ahead.
So, it’s all about the top of the table and Ulster Club Championship winners Scotstown will secure their place in the semi-finals as long as they don’t suffer a heavy defeat.
They are on six points, as are Carrickmacross, who have a bye week. Inniskeen are on four-points but would need to overturn a huge score difference to knock David McCague’s men off first place.
Rory Beggan and Max Maguire are expected to be available having missed out in their huge win over Corduff, although both Shane Carey and Darren Hughes were subbed off early that afternoon.
Inniskeen will be keen to bounce back after their dramatic defeat to Carrickmacross two weeks ago. If John McEntee’s side can win on Sunday, then they can secure second place, with Carrick falling to third.
In Group 2, Magheracloone are the only team completely out of the running for the knockout stages, and they have a bye weekend in the final round.
They are on three points, and can’t finish above fourth place, and it’s whether Castleblayney or Cremartin, who lock horns on Sunday, will join them in the relegation playoffs.
Cremartin are currently at the bottom of the pile with one win from three outings, so they’ll need to pick up maximum points this weekend to advance to the quarter-finals.
‘Blayney are on three, so a draw will be enough to see them through, and they are going into the game off the back of a brilliant win over Clontibret in their last outing.
Clontibret will be aiming to bounce back in their top of the table clash with Truagh, at home, in a winner- takes-all contest. Whoever comes out on top will be guaranteed access to the semi-finals of the championship.
A draw would suit Truagh, who have a stronger score difference, while a draw (and a Blayney win) would see three teams tied at the top on five-points, where score difference would once again come into play.
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