Football

This weekend’s Monaghan GAA fixtures: Grattans hope not to slip and Ballybay eager to get revenge on O’Rahillys

Scotstown and Clontibret await the two winners of this weekend’s quarter-final clashes

John McEntee is enjoying Armagh's Championship adventure but urges caution
John McEntee is enjoying Armagh's Championship adventure but urges caution Inniskeen manager and former Armagh and Crossmaglen player John McEntee

CLONTIBRET and holders Scotstown will be joined in the semi-finals of the Monaghan title race by the winners of this weekend’s two quarter-finals.

A potential rematch of last year’s final is still on the cards as runners-up Inniskeen take on Corduff today, the latter looking to continue an impressive first season back in the senior ranks.

Tomorrow, 2022 champions Ballybay will be eager to right the wrongs of last year when they meet Latton, who just shaded them last time out.

Inniskeen manager John McEntee
Inniskeen manager John McEntee

John McEntee’s Inniskeen have impressed so far this season, with their only defeat in Group 2 coming against Clontibret, who ended up topping the group.

Corduff, who won last year’s intermediate championship, finished third in Group 1 with two wins and two losses.

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Speaking to Neil Loughran earlier this week, McEntee said: “We got to the county final last year, the team has been building there for a number of years, beaten in previous two or three semi-finals so last year was a step forward.

Ballybay players celebrate after winning the Monaghan Senior Football Championship
Ballybay players celebrate after winning the Monaghan Senior Football Championship in 2022

“Monaghan football is incredibly tight and any day you go out, you could be beaten by half a dozen different teams.”

Grattans will be favourites but Corduff, with a strong management team led by Rory Gallagher, are not to be written off.

The Pearse Brothers of Ballybay and Latton O’Rahillys travel to Clontibret for the other semi-final.

Ballybay will be confident going into this having finished second only to Scotstown in the group phase.

The last time these two sides played each other in championship, Latton ran out 2-6 to 0-8 winners and they will hope to repeat that and make their first semi-final since 2017, when they lost out to Magheracloone.