O’ Cahan Cup (first round)
Two further rounds in the South West premier competition, The O’ Cahan Cup are scheduled for Wednesday evening as the illuminations at Portglenone and Ahoghill will light up Casement’s v Glenavy and Ahoghill v St Enda’s.
The remaining first round pairing involving Moneyglass and Glenravel is set to proceed on March 4th.
Tir na Nog and Aghagallon have come through their initial tests with respective wins gained over All Saint’s and Rasharkin.
Wed 21st Feb
Casement’s v St Joseph’s Glenavy (8.00pm)
The pristine new arena at Portglenone features in this one as the Casement’s men welcome St Joseph’s Glenavy to their abode and an opening round game in the O’ Cahan cup under their floodlights.
Jude Donnelly has led the Ports to early post season activity and the Bannsider’s have several games under their belts already in the ‘Ulster League’ recording a good win in Cavan last time with a 3-10 to 2-10 victory over Cootehill.
The Portglenone men are gaining in improvement under the watchful eye of the former Bellaghy player and they will look to make further impression in the 2018 season.
Glenavy enjoyed an excellent 2017 season with success in taking the division two league title the ‘jewel in the crown’ as they bridged a 25 year gap in gaining promotion to division 1.
The Chapel Hill side are back in the top grade and will look at this game as an opportunity to test themselves against established division 1 opponents.
This does look an intriguing game which may well prove a close, hard fought affair but ground advantage could prove decisive and Casement’s may well shade it.
St Mary’s Ahoghill v St Enda’s (7.30 pm)
The Clooney sward is the venue for this one as St Mary’s Ahoghill play hosts to Glengormley based St Enda’s under the floodlights.
Ahoghill did look in some trouble last term in danger of relegation but the Clooney men have character aplenty within and a last round win up at Aldergrove ensured survival.
The Clooney residents have held their own in the top grade for a long time and they will be fully prepared for another campaign.
They did give residence to the O’ Cahan cup a few years back and they will be doing their best to welcome the silverware back again.
St Enda’s fared well in their 2017 programme on the domestic scene and the Hightown residents, with a youthful talented squad available will look to maintain progress this term.
St Enda’s are back in the top grade in the county employed in division one and they will most likely travel down to Ahoghill seeking to test themselves against division 1 opposition.
Ahoghill are usually strong and hard to unseat on their own domain and although St Enda’s may well provide a stern test the Clooney men are given the nod.