The under-21 football championship takes a step forwards at the week-end with the quarter finals set for completion.
The bulk of the games are scheduled for Saturday with one on Sunday and the last tie on Wednesday 5th December.
Sat 1st Dec
Under-21 Football Championship (qtr finals)
St Gall’s v Cuchullian’s Dunloy at Woodlands (2.00pm)
Having remained unbeaten from the outset of the competition and impressed in each outing Dunloy will travel to Belfast for this quarter final assignment against St Gall’s at Woodlands burdened with the favourites tag.
The Cuchullian’s did have to come from away off the pace and a nine point deficit to earn a draw and a second chance in their game with Moneyglass but their performance in the replay made strong suggestion that they have taken a long stride onwards.
St Gall’s have also impressed in their outings to date and following wins gained over the current holders of the under-21 title Rossa and Lamh Dhearg in the group stages they had a ten point win over Cargin in the preliminary round of the knockouts.
The Milltown side has a strong panel at disposal and will fancy their chances on the artificial surface with which they are more familiar than the South West lads.
This may well be a close affair but the Cuchullian’s may well have the edge.
St Brigid’s v St Johns (3.30pm)
This all Belfast affair features the competition favourites from St Brigid’s set to meet the challenge of St John’s and another attractive game looks in prospect.
South Belfast based St Brigid’s have recorded a huge 11-23 tally in their outings in the group stages and included was a win over the Johnnies.
Their record to date does make strong suggestion that they are contenders for honours and St Brigid’s will start as firm favourites.
The Johnnies having lost out to their opponents in the group stage will look for improvement but it would be folly to under estimate the Whiterock men in championship affairs.
St Brigid’s will start as favourites and although they may well make progress they will most likely have to earn passage to the semis.
O’ Donovan Rossa (holders) v Tir na Nog Randalstown (2.00pm)
Randalstown based Tir na Nog claimed the B title last term when they saw off the challenge of Dunloy in the decider and progress thus far in the present season has suggested the Whitehill men are contenders for the silverware.
They started with a win over Glenravel in the opening group game and followed with a win over Cargin and with a big contingent of ‘senior’s included within the ranks they do look in contention for honours.
Rossa did take the title last term and although the Shaw’s road side took a time to get it together this term a good win over Lamh Dhearg on Tuesday evening last has earned them a place in the last eight again.
Rossa will not go down without a fight but the Randalstown men do look strong and Damien Hagen’s side can book a semi-final berth.
Under-21 B Football Championship (qtr finals)
Gort na Mona v Con Magees Glenravel (2.00pm)
Con Magee’s Glenravel did well to start in the group stages with a victory over Aldergrove and although they failed in their ensuing assignments against Cargin and Tir na Nog they were far from disgraced in either.
The Glensmen have enjoyed a successful season with league and championship success gained and they will approach this latest assignment as they cross swords with Gort na Mona in the positive.
Gort na Mona have failed to gain a win thus far in the under-21 competition but have encountered strong opposition in St Brigid’s and St John’s but they did give the Whiterock men a run for their money.
The Gorts have enjoyed a good season and will celebrate a return to the top division at senior level and may well still hold on to the ‘feel good factor’.
A close one in prospect with just a tentative vote awarded to the Glensmen.
All Saint’s Ballymena v St Joseph’s Glenavy (3.30pm)
An all South West affair in this one as Ballymena based All Saint’s line out against the men from Glenavy in what may well be a close one.
The Ballymena side has failed to raise a flag in the competition thus far but the All Saints were sited in a very strong group which included Dunloy, Moneyglass and Aghagallon.
They did not gain a point from any of their group encounters but were far from disgraced in any of those assignments.
Glenavy struggled to make impact in their group games against Creggan and Casement’s but the Chapel Hill side will most likely look on this as a less severe test.
This one could go either way but the All Saints are given the nod with the winners set to meet up with Moneyglass in the semis.
Sunday 2nd Dec
Under-21 Football Championship (qtr final)
Casement’s Portglenone v Kickham’s Creggan (2.00pm)
This Sunday affair is possibly the ‘game of the round’ as Portglenone based Casement’s line out against the men from Kickham’s Creggan with a place in the Under-21 semi-finals the prize for the winners.
Both were included in section one of the opening phase and have remained unbeaten in the group stage, and indeed played out a drawn affair in the opening round finishing inseparable at 1-13 apiece.
Both enjoyed respective ‘hard held’ wins over St Comgall’s and Glenavy but the Portglenone lads really impressed in their win over Aghagallon in their quarter final preliminary test.
The Bannsider’s started against the St Mary’s as outsiders in the eyes of the pundits but leading from the outset a first period Ronan Kelly goal and a well-organized defense ensured a fully deserved 1-07 to 0-04 win over the fancied Aghagallon.
This does look an intriguing contest, and it will certainly attract a big attendance.
Nothing separated them in the opening encounter and another drawn affair cannot be ruled out again this time.