Clontibret take on All-Ireland Champions

On Sunday 4th November Clontibret embark on their search for provincial club honours when they take on reigning Ulster and All Ireland club champions Crossmaglen Rangers in Clones at 2:30pm.

It is a game that can launch a whole new dimension to Clontibret’s championship season but it is also one that could end their season very abruptly. Going in against a side that are seen as the club championship specialists Clontibret will know that it will take an even greater effort than it did to secure Monaghan championship back-to-back titles if they are to progress. Standing in their way is to a team of seasoned campaigners but also one that is now liberally sprinkled with emerging young talent. An indication too of how seriously Crossmaglen Rangers are taking this fixture and their ambitions of putting Ulster club titles back-to-back can be gauged from the fact that they withdrew Aaron Kernan from the Ulster Railway Cup squad for last weekend’s final in Croke Park. Clontibret on the other hand released Dessie Mone to join the panel and he came on to good effect in the second-half to cap a brilliant week for the Clontibret captain in which he took Monaghan senior championship honours and a Railway Cup medal.

It is not without coincidence that a previous winner of a Railway Cup medal from Clontibret was Dessie’s uncle, Benny Mone. Despite the fact that they are going in against the reigning champions Clontibret still enter this contest with very strong credentials. They played Crossmaglen Rangers in the semi-final last year, having defeated the Antrim champions, Cargin, after a replay, and came within an ace of snatching a dramatic victory. In the end though the greater experience of Crossmaglen told and they held out for a one point victory in an absolutely thrilling finish. Clontibret this time though will have to guard against giving the Armagh, Ulster and All Ireland champions the start they gave them last year in Breffni Park when they conceded an early goal that they were chasing for the remainder of the game.

In that regard Clontibret will look to replicate the start they got in the county final when an early goal gave them a strong foothold and put Castleblayney on the back foot from there on. The Clontibret route defence anchored by Dessie Mone at centre back along with Darach Mooney and Martin Corey will have to be at their best to restrict the influence of players like Oisin McConville whose accuracy from play and frees has been a feature of Crossmaglen’s record-breaking sequence in Armagh and Ulster. They will also have to guard against the influence of Aaron Kernan whose ability to come through for scores has also been a feature of Crossmaglen’s play. The experienced McEntee brothers will be central to Crossmaglen’s game plan while the accuracy of John Murtagh up front is also a factor. Clontibret will look to John Paul Mone to establish a foothold in midfield and keep the supply going in to full forward Vincent Corey whose pace and power can certainly trouble the Crossmaglen full-back line but the service in to him will have to be of good quality. Connor McManus whose performance against Crossmaglen last year won him many plaudits will again be central to Clontibret’s prospects. He scored a goal and five points in the county final on Sunday week last and a similar return on Sunday would go a long way to seeing the O’Neills through.

Like their meeting last year this one again promises to be a close marking, probably low scoring affair that could hinge on possibly a half chance or might even take a second meeting to sort out. Throw-in in Clones on Sunday is at 2:30 p.m..