Saturday 13th Nov (all games at 2.00pm)
Round three in the new look under-21 football championship is scheduled for Saturday afternoon as the competition proceeds to the knock out stages.
Following the completion of the third round and there may be a few games awaiting completion to ensure such can go ahead after several postponements on the way.
Casement’s Portglenone v St Joseph’s Glenavy
Following a draw with Creggan in the opening round and a follow up win gained over St Comgall’s Casement’s will proceed to the quarter finals if they complete with a win as they welcome Glenavy to O’ Cahan Park.
The Bannsider’s were impressive on their latest outing and a big win recorded at Antrim and they will play hosts to the St Joseph’s men on the positive.
Glenavy did open their under-21 campaign with a win at Antrim but this does look a tougher assignment as they take the road to Portglenone.
The Chapel Hill residents will know that a victory will open the door into the quarter finals and they will travel with intent but a home win does look the most likely conclusion
Kickham’s Creggan v St Comgall’s Antrim
Creggan opened account with a drawn affair as they played hosts to the Bannsider’s and without a game since, the Kickham’s lads will look forward to this one as St Comgall’s arrive at their Staffordstown road arena.
The home side does include a fair share of ‘seniors’ employed within the ranks and they may well be capable of making impact at this level.
St Comgall’s are striving to advance but the Antrim men are finding the going tough at present and they did find the Casement’s men too hot to handle in their first game in the competition, and this looks difficult as well.
Creggan will start as firm favourites and anything other than a home win looks hard to envisage.
Tir na nOg Randalstown v Con Magees Glenravel
The 2017 B champions Tir na nOg opened their account this term in impressive fashion and a 5-11 to 1-13 win gained over Cargin on their own patch looks good.
The Whitehill lads can go into action in this grade with a good complement of ‘senior’s included and on the evidence produced thus far Damien Hagen’s charges do look contenders.
Glenravel gained the points from their first assignment with a win over Aldergrove but the Con Magees side failed to cope with Cargin in round two.
The Glensmen finished well adrift of the Cargin men at conclusion and this does look a more difficult assignment as they take the road to Randalstown.
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
Dunloy have impressed thus far and back to back wins gained on the road over Aghagallon and All Saints have underlined potential.
The Cuchullian’s did lower the colours of the Aghagallon side on the neutral Toome sod in round one before travelling to Ballymena and returning with another couple of points in the bag.
Moneyglass having an opening win under their belt when they proved too strong for All Saint’s lost out in round two when they were beaten by Aghagallon.
The St Ergnat’s lads did give the fancied St Mary’s a run for their money in that one and only a late charge and a 57th minute Adam Loughran goal saw their demise, and they will travel down to Dunloy requiring a full return if they are to book a quarter final spot.
Gort na Mona v St John’s
This looks a close one as Gort na Mona play hosts to the Johnnies with the points at stake certain to be fully contested as the eventual winners will likely claim a place in the quarter finals of the competition.
The Gorts found St Brigid’s too hot to handle last time following an easy win gained over St Paul’s in round one.
St John’s also found the South Antrim men too strong but they may well find this a slightly easier test.
St Gall’s v St Enda’s
St Gall’s having completed their assignments thus far with the points secured and back to back wins gained over Rossa and Lamh Dearg almost certainly assures the Milltown men a place in the quarter finals as they anticipate the visit of St Enda’s.
St Enda’s started with a win over the visiting defending champions, and a 1-15 to 3-06 win gained over Rossa and the Glengormley men do look strong.
They will take the road down to Milltown on the positive and although the home side are certain to provide stiff opposition a win for the visitors is possible.
Erin’s Own Cargin v St James Aldergrove
The Cargin men failed to cope with Tir na nOg last time following a win over Glenravel on the road but back on home base they will look to regain winning ways as Aldergrove come a calling.
The Toome men will start this one full in the knowledge that a full return of the points on offer would most likely lead to the quarter final stages.
Aldergrove did fail to cope with Con Magees in round one and they will take the road to Toome possibly anticipating another tough assignment.
St Paul’s v St Brigid’s
South Belfast based St Brigid’s have most certainly sounded out warning as to their intentions in this competition having compiled huge scores in their games to date.
They have notched up a huge 11-37 total in their two games to date and most certainly underlining the fact that they are strong favourites to go all the way.
St Paul’s have made struggled to make impact thus far and it would be difficult to envisage anything other than an away win in this one.
Lamh Dhearg v O’ Donovan Rossa
The 2017 under-21 champions O’ Donovan Rossa lost out on their opening outing when they finished a few points in arrears at Hightown and they are on the road again in this one as they travel up to Hannahstown to meet up with Lamh Dhearg.
The Shaw’s road side having claimed the minor title as well as the under-21 last term should be strong in this grade, and may well feel this is an easier assignment.
Lamh Dhearg gave St Gall’s a run for their money in their game to date and will return to their own abode seeking better but although the home side will not go down without a fight an away win does look probable.