Ballybay Pearse Brothers and Donaghmoyne meet in the Monaghan Intermediate Football Championship final in Clontibret on Sunday, 25 October, and one county player who has faced both sides this year expects it to be close.
Bobby McCaul, the Aughnamullen and Monaghan forward, told the We Are Monaghan podcast that he sees a keenly fought decider, the Irish News reported. Aughnamullen met both finalists this season. They beat Ballybay, the 2022 senior champions, in the league semi-final, but they were beaten in the league final and knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the championship.
"I'd go Ballybay"
Both clubs know this stage well. Each has won the intermediate title twice this century, and Ballybay also won senior titles in 2012 and 2022.
"Donaghmoyne have a knack of winning intermediate championships. They won't be fazed by the occasion. Ballybay, they on the other hand, have senior experience, and a lot of it," McCaul said.
Asked to pick a winner, he gave Davy Harte's Ballybay a slight edge. "It'll probably light a fire in the Donaghmoyne bellies when an Aughnamullen man says they're not going to win the final, but if I had to put my money where my mouth is, I'd go Ballybay."
The players to watch
County star Davy Garland leads the Donaghmoyne attack, and the Irish News points to big championship displays from Aaron Courtney and Liam McDonald, who made his Monaghan debut in 2026. Ballybay's best-known names include Dessie Ward, Ryan Wylie and the McGuinness brothers.
There are fitness worries for Donaghmoyne. Wing forward Stephen Finnegan is a doubt with a hamstring injury and midfielder David Kerley is a doubt with a knee problem. Manager Paddy Martin has called Ballybay "big favourites", but he says that with promotion already secured under the county's club restructure, his players can enjoy the day.
"It doesn't matter what we (management) want. It always matters what the players want. I have to say, they've been absolutely fantastic," he said. Recalling their nervy semi-final win over Emyvale, he added: "Maybe we can play a bit in the final, now we're up, maybe we can let loose a bit."
McCaul on the road back
McCaul himself will be watching rather than playing for some time yet. The 20-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament for a second time in 14 months when he came off the bench against Mayo in the All-Ireland series in Clones at the end of May, a game in which he scored 1-1 and helped drag Monaghan back from 11 points down before they lost by a point, the Irish Times reported. He had first done the same knee while playing for the Monaghan under-20s in April 2025.
He now expects to be back playing around July next year, and says the second recovery is easier in some ways. "Funny enough, I'm finding the second time round, in some aspects, easier. Especially mentally, people might expect that would be harder," he said. His physio, Fearghal Kerin, has worked with rugby international Josh van der Flier and footballer Enzo Fernández.
Throw-in details
The Irish News lists the intermediate final for Clontibret at 3.30pm on Sunday. Supporters should check the Monaghan GAA fixtures page for any late changes, especially with Storm Boelo forecast for the weekend. The day before, Drumhowan and Aghabog meet in the junior final in Scotstown at 4pm (our preview).
