PREVIEWS: A final weekend of group action on Monaghan

THE Monaghan championship waves goodbye to the group stages this weekend with plenty at stake,

Here are the fixtures…

MONAGHAN SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FIVEGROUP 1

CREMARTIN V CLONTIBRET

Sunday, Cremartin, 5pm

EVEN a home victory for Frank Fitsimmons’ side wouldn’t be enough to see them through to the next round. Clontibret will want to finish the group stages in style and secure top spot in Group 1.

Verdict: Clontibret

CORDUFF V SCOTSTOWN

Sunday, Corduff, 5pm

CORDUFF didn’t rise to the occasion of the opening round against Clontibret, but they won’t make that mistake again. Scotstown are the team to beat of course, and this should go right down the stretch.

Verdict: Scotstown

GROUP 2

BALLYBAY V LATTON

Sunday, TBC, 5pm

LATTON suffered their first defeat of the campaign last weekend against Inniskeen, but they will be confident enough that they’ll have too much for Ballybay, who will want to get a good result on home turf.

Verdict: Ballybay

AUGHNAMULLEN V MAGHERACLOONE

Sunday, Aughnamullen, 5pm

IT’S must-win territory now for Aughnamullen, who are at the bottom of the group with four defeats on the bounce. Magheracloone finally got their first win last weekend and will want to back that up.

Verdict: Magheracloone

MONAGHAN INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FIVE

GROUP 1

DOOHAMLET V CARRICKMACROSS

Sunday, Doohamlet, 2pm

CARRICKMACROSS suffered their first loss of the championship season last weekend and Sunday’s showdown will be a shootout for second place so both sides will want to come out on top.

Verdict: Carrickmacross

TOOME V DRUMHOWAN

Sunday, Toome, 2pm

TOOME can’t alter their place at the foot of the table, but Drumhowan can avoid the relegation battle if they win and Doohamlet lose, depending on score difference, so they’ll have more motivation.

Verdict: Drumhowan

GROUP 2

KILLANNY V CLONES

Sunday, Killanny, 2pm

BOTH sides are vying for second place in the group as Castleblayney can’t be shifted from the number one spot. Killanny have scored slightly more in the competition and home comforts could aid their cause.

Verdict: Killanny

TYHOLLAND V MONAGHAN HARPS

Sunday, Tyholland, 2pm

TYHOLLAND aren’t exactly out of the competition just yet but will need results to go their way this weekend. Monaghan Harps will have their eyes set on second place and to do so they’ll need to win here.

Verdict: Monaghan Harps

MONAGHAN JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FIVEGROUP 1

CURRIN V SCOTSTOWN

Saturday, Currin, 5.30pm

EVEN if Emyvale lose out at the weekend, Scotstown can’t reach top spot due to their head-to-head record, but they’ll still feel that they’ll have too much for Currin.

Verdict: Scotstown

KILLEEVAN V EMYVALE

Saturday, Killeevan, 5.30pm

IT’S top against bottom on Saturday evening and Emyvale are already straight through to the last four. Killeevan will be fighting for their lives but may just come up short.

Verdict: Emyvale

GROUP 2

AGHABOG V ROCKCORRY

Saturday, Aghabog, 5.30pm

BOTH sides will battle it out on Saturday to see who makes it through to the next round and who’s destined for a relegation battle. Aghabog may just edge a keenly-contested affair.

Verdict: Aghabog

ORAM V BLACKHILL

Saturday, Oram, 5.30pm

ORAM can’t make it out of the bottom two while Blackhill have their sights set on claim top position in the group so motivation and greater want will favour Blackhill here.

Verdict: Blackhill