Senior Football Championship (Qtr Finals)
The quarter finals of the senior football championship are down for decision at the week-end at venues in both South and South West Antrim and with a spell of good weather forecast sizeable attendances at the various venues are anticipated.
Senior Football Championship
Friday 1st September
St Gall’s v Lamh Dearg (Corrigan) at 6.00pm
The opening game features former champions, and last year’s beaten finalists St Gall’s, who had to work hard to make progress over Casement’s in the opening round set to cross swords with Lamh Dearg who were not troubled in their opening round game against St Paul’s.
St Gall’s did have to come from behind and the unerring accuracy of CJ Mc Gourty from placed efforts to gain a 1-14 to 1-12 victory over the Bannsider’s whilst the men from the Hannahstown hill ambled over the winning line with a ten point margin, 1-14 to 0-07 in their opening round assignment with the Shaw’s road men.
St Gall’s having dominated the Antrim scene in championship fare for some time saw their extended reign ended by Cargin in 2015 when the Toome men proved too strong in the second round and the Milltown Blues endured a similar fate last term when the Erin’s Own men prevailed in the decider.
Former player Sean Kelly has taken on management this year and the cultured defender who still pulls on a jersey at times will look to lead his charges back to the podium.
They have looked good in league offerings and although far from impressive in the opening round only a fool would dismiss their chances.
Although only called on as a replacement in their opening round affair, CJ Mc Gourty concluded with a hefty personal haul of 0-09 in the opening round will most likely spearhead an attack which will also include Kevin Niblock, who needs no introduction, as well as the pacy Brendan Bradley and Michael Pollock.
Sean Burke and Niall O’ Neill are the likely central partnership, with Jackson Mc Greevey, Ruairi Wilson, Andy Mc Clean and new boy Eoghan McCabe in a strong defensive unit in front of Chris Kerr.
Lamh Dearg have threatened to make the breakthrough for a time and the Hannahstown men made it to the decider in 2015.
They did not fire in the league in the early stages but they do seem to have peaked at the right time and a home win gained over Cargin preceded an easy passage gained over St Paul’s in the opening round.
The Lamhs who will feature the Murray brothers, Conor and Ryan in a pace laden forward department in which Domnaill Nugent and Paddy Cunningham are also likely to figure will most likely employ Gerard Walls and Pearce Fitzsimmons in the middle with Marc Mc Garry, Christopher Nolan, Declan Lynch and Brendan Mc Comb employed in the rear guard.
This one could go either way and will attract a good crowd to the West Belfast arena on the Whiterock road.
Erin’s Own Cargin v St Mary’s Aghagallon (Ahoghill) at 7.30
This all South West affair brings together the reigning senior and intermediate champions at Clooney as Cargin who impressed on their first step in defence of their title in a convincing 3-15 to 0-06 win over Rossa seek to move onwards at the expense of a talented Aghagallon side which gained a 3-10 to 2-12 win at the expense of St Teresa’s in round one.
Cargin have already secured both the division one league title as well as the O’ Cahan Cup are on the trail of three in a row and those who would make odds on them to make such ambition become a reality have installed the Toome men as firm favourites.
Some had suggested that although Cargin claimed the league title they had failed to impress in the latter stages but when John Brennan’s men ascended the championship trail there was no mistaking their intent.
The Erin’s Own men do have a strong panel at their disposal and although neither Tony Scullion or Kevin O’ Boyle figured in their opening round victory both may well lay claim to start berths this time in a defensive unit to include Justin Crozier, Marty Kane, James Laverty and John Mc Nabb.
John Carron and Gerard Mc Cann will most likely man the middle but Kevin Mc Shane is also a contender with the Mc Cann brothers, Michael, Tomas, and Paul likely included in a forward line up in which Kieran Close, Ciaran Bradley, Michael Magill, Benny Laverty, Jamie Gribbin, Michael Clarke and Keir Johnston may also be in contention.
Aghagallon had to dig deep and come from behind to gain access in the opening round against St Teresa’s but the reigning Intermediate champions are on a learning curve and with youth very much a companion they will gain from that experience.
Ruairi Mc Cann looks an excellent target man and more than capable of causing problems in an attack force which may well include Shane Russell, Oisin Lenaghan, Des Marshall and Gareth Magee.
Magee hoisted a half dozen white flags in the win gained over St Teresa’s in the opening round while Russell weighed in with 1-03.
Having sustained a broken ankle in round one the St Mary’s men will miss the high fielding Eunan Walsh in this one with a new partner for Caolan Farr sought for the central role.
The Aghagallon defence is packed with pace with the half back department which may well include Pat Brannagan, Ryan O’ Neill, and Paul Mulholland always ready to stride forward at the drop of a hat.
Cargin will most certainly enter the fray as warm favourites and they may well gain the day, but the youthful St Mary’s men will not make it easy.
Sat 2nd September
Kickham’s Creggan v St Mary’s Ahoghill (Toome) at 6.00pm
This all country affair brings together Creggan and Ahoghill at the shore road venue in Toome and a big attendance is anticipated at the Cargin venue.
The Kickham’s men make their entrance into the championship this term as do the Clooney men and although Kevin Madden’s team will enter the fray as favourites this may well be close.
Creggan have been knocking on the door to success in both league and championship for a few years and many of those followers of the green and gold may feel this can be the year in which breakthrough is made.
Despite enduring the absence of several of their top players for much of the season the Kickham’s men acquitted themselves with credit again in league fare and if back to full strength they may well make another bold bid in thechampionship.
Strong at the back where the Maguires, Aiden and Sam will be prominent together with the likes of Charlie Bateson, Oisin Kerr, and Thomas Mc Cann and possibly Ricki Johnston will form a strong defensive unit.
Dermot and Conor Mc Cann may feature in the middle with the Small brothers, Kevin and Conor likely spearheading an attack force which will likely include Oran Mc Larnon, David Mc Guckin and possibly Fintan Burke.
St Mary’s Ahoghill struggled to make impact on the league scene this term and again the Clooney men may well have been hindered by the dual nature of their panel, with most if not all within mixing football and hurling throughout.
They were haunted by the prospect of relegation this season but with backs against the wall they came through that test with flying colours and a last gasp win secured over Aldergrove up at Crumlin underlined the character within the side.
The St Mary’s are a close unit with a strong family connection within and such ingredient has seen them stand tall in times of adversity.
The O’Connell’s, Neil, Sean, Stephen, PJ and James, the Grahams, Diarmud, Patrick, Bernard, Patrick, Gerard, Donal and Aiden, the O’Neill brothers Fionnbar and Danny, will figure prominently within the ranks and with the likes of Tom Mc Glone, Noel Crossey, James Magee and Eamon Brady in the mix they can come together to form a more than capable unit.
This one is certain to be keenly contested and little may separate them at conclusion.
St John’s v St Joseph’s Glenavy (Hannahstown) at 6.00pm
A town versus country affair in this one as St John’s cross swords with division two champions St Joseph’s Glenavy up at the Hannahstown arena.
It has been a while since the Whiterock road side ascended the podium in senior championship but Paddy Nugent’s men have hinted broadly at intentions to take that route in 2017 and performances to date have caught the eye.
The Corrigan residents have completed their league programme with a second place finish and brushed aside the Aldergrove challenge in their opening championship test with the minimum of fuss and they do look on track.
The Johnnies have built their team on the success of their under-age development and back to back under-21 titles and although they lost out to eventual winners Cargin in last year’s semis they may well have gained plenty from that one.
Strong at the back in a rigid defensive structure in which Aaron Douglas, Stephen Tierney, Jack Hannigan, Anto Press, and Patrick Mc Bride will figure the Corrigan men may post Ryan Mc Nulty and Matthew Fitzgerald in the middle with Luke Peden, Brian Neeson, Conor Johnston, and Conal Mc Glade based in attack.
Glenavy have also fared more than well in the league, albeit in the second grade and they may well provide a test for the Johnnies.
The Chapel Hill residents had the silverware secured in the race for the division two title a long ways out and they will be well prepared for the championship assignment.
The St Joseph’s men will be asked to take a step upwards in this one and with the Gallagher brothers, the back bone of a side which will include such as Martin Clenaghan, Matthew Nelson, Ciaran Hamill, Neil Mc Cann, Michael Johnston, Ciaran Loney and Michael Mc Court they will give it a real lash.
St John’s will start in this one as short priced favourites and although Paddy Nugent’s men will not find it easy they should progress.