Kevin Small who has been in fine form for Creggan as they lead division 1 while County panelist, Michael McCarry will be hoping to lead his side, All Saints to a first win in division 2 when they visit O’Donnell’s today.
With the football leagues stalled for a time and with the next round not scheduled until 22nd June it is an opportune moment to look back at the progress thus far in all of the divisions.
DIVISION 1
In division one only two teams remain undefeated as Kickham’s Creggan top the pile just ahead of St Gall’s by virtue of a slightly better score difference.
Kevin Madden’s side have impressed in all of their six outings to date and in particular their 1-11 to 0-11 win secured over St John’s at fortress Corrigan does plenty to underline their potential.
The Creggan men will be tested again in the next few weeks with visits to Cargin and St Gall’s to follow on 29th June and 4th July and if they can gain anything from those back to back assignments in Toome and Milltown few can doubt the credibility of the Kickham’s.
Although former All Ireland and Ulster club champions St Gall’s are not renowned for their interest in the bread and butter affairs of the league Sean Kelly’s charges do seem to have intent on such this term.
The Milltown Blues really have hit the ground running this term and akin to Creggan they remain unbeaten to date and are just slightly in arrears of the South West men with a slightly lesser score difference.
The West Belfast men have also impressed in their exploits and their demolition of the reigning league champions Cargin when they travelled to Toome and returned with points secured and a ten point winning margin.
The Gall’s do look as if they mean business again and if they can retain such form then they will undoubtedly remain as leading contenders.
A full four points behind the front running duo comes Erin’s Own Cargin and they will need to pick up the pace if they are to reduce the deficit.
Cargin did gain some compensation for defeat in the championship last term when they managed to hold on to the league title but having lost a couple of games in their outings to date it looks a tough ask if they are to hold on to the silverware for another term.
Damien Cassidy’s charges have struggled with a lengthy injury list to date in 2018 but a good victory up at Hannahstown last time out when they recorded a seven point win over the current county champions strongly suggested they are making recovery.
The reigning county champions Lamh Dhearg have made a reasonable start to the current season although they have lost out to both St John’s and Cargin it is possible that the men from the Hannahstown Mountain have championship and the retention of their hard earned 2017 title for another term as their priority.
At present they are still in touch with the goings on at the top and the Lamh’s are not to be discounted.
St John’s, last year’s beaten county finalists presently occupy fifth spot in the league ratings and having endured a trio of defeats to date and the Corrigan men will look to pick up the pace.
They did lose to Casement’s last time down at Portglenone but the Corrigan men had a few ‘missing in action’ in that one and it is more than possible that Gearoid Adams will be looking to lead his men on a positive trail in search of championship compensation.
Portglenone based Casement’s are resident in sixth position at present, and with the top six at the cut-off point (after the completion of 11 rounds) the Bannsider’s will be keen to retain and improve on such.
Jude Donnelly’s charges gave a broad hint that they may well be on the upward when they recorded a good 2-09 to 0-09 win over the Johnnies last time out and to continue in such positivity will be the aim.
The ‘new kids on the first division block’, Glengormley based St Enda’s, who returned to the top grade at the start of 2018 after quite a time in exile have started in their new niche quite well and only score difference separates them from Casement’s and St John’s.
Frank Fitzsimmons, former county manager currently holds the reins up at Hightown and a win over the visiting Cargin men in round four measures improvement and they will be seeking a top six finish to complete further in section A.
Despite getting their 2018 campaign off to a good start, O’Donovan Rossa have failed to sustain that promising start and the Shaw’s road men with just a couple of positive returns currently reside in 9th.
Having taken both the minor and under-21 championships last term strength in depth is not in question and Rossa are certainly capable of better.
St Joseph’s, Glenavy celebrated a return to division 1 having secured promotion last term but the Chapel Hill men are struggling to secure status.
Having gained just a single positive return to date they are just a couple of places above the bottom and better is required if they are to consolidate.
St Mary’s Ahoghill failed to raise a flag in their opening five games but the dual club burdened with a lengthy injury list gave broad hint at improvement last time with a resounding 3-10 to 1-06 win over fellow strugglers St Teresa’s.
The Clooney men have character a plenty within and are capable of better.
Glen road based St Teresa’s languish at the bottom of the pack at present with just a single point acquired and they really require better if they are to take the upward route.
DIVISION 2
In division two it is close at the top with only score difference dividing the top three teams in the ratings and in fact only three points separates the top six.
Gort na Mona have underlined improvement in the 2018 season to date and the former residents of the top division having lost just a single game to date lead the way at present.
The West Belfast side were without defeat until in round five they lost out to Aldergrove down at Crumlin.
They did regain the winning habit again next time when the proved four points too good for All Saint’s and they do look the real deal this term.
Moneyglass have a similar profile as the Gorts and although the St Ergnat’s men lost out to Tir na Nog in round two they returned to winning ways in their next two assignments with back to back wins gained over All Saint’s and Sarsfield’s respectively.
Having endured relegation from the top grade at the end of 2017 St James Aldergrove look on a mission for a quick return judged on efforts to date.
Having come a cropper in the opening round in their new niche this term and losing their first assignment at St Brigid’s when the South Belfast side had a 4-09 to 0-11 win, Aldergrove have not bent the knee since that reversal and a win gained at St Paul’s last time made it five on the trot.
Michael Davitt’s are in close proximity to the top and only a point in arrears of the top three ensures they remain in contention.
The Falls Road side have proved a trifle enigmatic in their returns over the years but there is no doubting potential within the ranks.
Tir na Nog, having lost their opening game up at Davitt’s really got it together following that one and the Whitehill men seemed to have learned the lesson well when they followed that reversal with four wins on the trot.
Damien Hagen’s men were forced to bend the knee in round six when reigning Intermediate champions St Brigid’s came a calling and duly departed with the points secured on a 0-13 to 0-10 winning verdict.
The Whitehill men are a youthful combination and improvement may well be forthcoming under the guidance of ‘Scotchy’.
St Brigid’s have proved a trifle enigmatic in their league offerings having endured defeat in a couple of their assignments to date, but there is no doubting ability within the ranks of the South Belfast men.
St Mary’s Rasharkin currently reside in 7th position in the ratings having passed the winning post three times to date assuring six points gained.
The Dreen residents will look for better to come and a place in the top six which is certainly within their grasp.
St Paul’s are currently in 8th with a couple of wins gained for their endeavours with a slightly better score difference ensuring a rating just ahead of Cuchullian’s Dunloy who have also collected four points.
Patrick Sarsfield’s gained promotion from the basement level at the end of last term arestruggling to adapt to their new niche and with just a single win the Stewartstown road men will be hoping for better times ahead.
All Saint’s Ballymena continue to disappoint and although more than a few pundits had assigned them in the role of a contender for honours in the second grade the South West side have failed to gain a point losing all five games to date. The Ballymena side have a chance to open their account when they visit fellow struglers, O’Donnell’s this evening.
There is no doubt that the Ballymena men are capable of better but such remains to be seen.
O’Donnell’s secured promotion from the third level at the end of last term but despite plenty of effort the McCrory Park residents remain without a point to date.
The West Belfast men do need to get onto the winning trail soon or a return downwards will prove their fate.
DIVISION 3
Con Magee’s Glenravel, who started the season as the favourites to secure honours in the third division lead the way at present and although they lost out to St Comgall’s last time the former residents of the top division seem on the upward.
Lisburn based St Patrick’s are on the same points return (12) as the front running Glensmen but Con Magee’s do have a game in hand.
St Malachy’s follow closely on eleven points to hold third in the ratings with Kickham’s Ardoyne a place behind on ten points with St Comgall’s having gained nine points residing fifth.
Glenravel remain as strong favourites to take the upward route at season’s end but the question as to who will accompany them looks to involve several.
McQuillan’ Ballycastle having passed the winning line in front on three occasions this term are residing in sixth spot just ahead of Pearses on score difference.
Eire Og have a couple of wins and are 8th in the ratings ahead of St Agnes and Laochra Loch Lao with both on one win apiece.