Following the opening round of the hurling leagues last weekend the football leagues get under way on Saturday and Sunday. A full list is scheduled in all of the divisions and in anticipation of good weather ahead more than a few will be looking forward to the resumption.
Division One
Sat 30th March at 3.00pm
Lamh Dhearg v St John’s
The 2017 senior champions Lamh Dhearg made exit from last year’s championship at the quarter final stage and although the Hannahstown men fared better in the league they failed to finish in the top four.
The Hannahstown men were undoubtedly hampered by a lengthy injury list last term and will look for the return of those absentees this season for better times ahead.
St John’s made exit at the semi-final stages of the championship last year and having supplemented their panel with a couple of new arrivals the Whiterock men will be aiming high.
They will start with a good test here as they visit Hannahstown but are certain to be well prepared.
Could be close but home advantage may tilt the balance in favour of the Lamhs.
Sun 31st March (all games at 3.00pm)
Casement’s Portglenone v Kickham’s Creggan
An all country affair as the Portglenone men play hosts to the current league champions Creggan.
The Bannsider’s participated in the Ulster winter league and are certain to be well prepared under a new management structure with Derry man Barry Dillon at the helm
Kevin Madden’s Creggan enjoyed an excellent 2018 season and although beaten by Cargin in the senior championship decider the Kickham’s men gained ample consolation with the Division one league title.
They are certain to have been well prepared for the season ahead and will travel down to Portglenone in a confident mode.
This looks a close one but the home side will be keen to impress and should push the champions close.
St Brigid’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon
St Brigid’s enjoyed a good 2018 campaign and although they did make an early exit from the championship the South Belfast side did gained promotion from division 2.
Strength in depth was underlined when winning the under-21 title and they will be on the trail of further gains in the top grade with the visit of Aghagallon as their first test.
Aghagallon did not make the progress anticipated by many observers last term but with a youthful panel at disposal Kevin Murray’s charges may well gain in improvement this season.
The South West side make their way to Belfast in this opening round encounter and will be seeking a good return.
St Brigid’s will be looking for a good start to boost confidence and may well start with a win.
St Enda’s v Erin’s Own Cargin
This one features the meeting of the champions as the current County and Provincial Intermediate champions from St Enda’s play hosts the reigning Antrim senior champions, Erin’s Own.
The Hightown men proved superior to the Toome men last year in the early part of the season and will be keen to deliver again.
Cargin may well have focus on the championship again but although Damien Cassidy’s charges have only been ‘on the grass’ for a couple of weeks they should be more than capable of giving a good account.
They have enjoyed a couple of ‘friendly’ games and game time for the extended panel was the prime aim.
St Enda’s will be hoping to continue as they finished last year but Cargin may well gain the day this time.
St Mary’s Ahoghill v St Gall’s
St Mary’s Ahoghill have been working hard in their preparations for the season ahead under a new management team with former Cargin man Dualtach Johnston at the helm.
The Clooney men finished their league campaign with some zest last term unbeaten in their last five games and they will be in search of such form as they play hosts to St Gall’s.
The Milltown Blues did had an extended winning run in league competition last term and they may well be hoping to make a similar impact this term.
Sean Kelly has his hand on the tiller again and they will travel down to the country in a positive mode.
St Gall’s will start this one as firm favourites but they would do well not to under estimate the Clooney side and this one may well be close.
Gort na Mona v St Teresa’s
This is an all city affair as newly promoted Gort na Mona play hosts to Glen road side, St Teresa’s.
The Gorts had an excellent 2018 campaign and although losing out to St Enda’s in the Intermediate championship decider they went on to claim promotion and a return to the top division after nearly a generation in exile.
St Teresa’s did well to hold onto hard their place in division 1 last term and they will be looking to get away on the positive this year with an opening win.
The home side will be giving it their all in their first encounter back in with the ‘big boys’ and they may well gain the verdict.
Division Two (all games at 3.00pm)
All Saint’s Ballymena v St Joseph’s Glenavy
An all country affair here as All Saint’s play hosts to Glenavy. The visitors to Quinn Park endured a poor return from their campaign in 2018 and despite their best efforts the ‘Chapel Hill’ side were relegated after one season in division 1.
All Saint’s nade a poor start to the league in 2018 and indeed it took a strong late revival to banish the dark shadow of possible relegation.
The Ballymena men will be hoping for a better start this season and hoping for an early win.
Another close one is in prospect with just a tentative vote awarded to the home side.
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v Con Magees Glenravel
Having enjoyed the fruits of their labours last term in completing the division 3 league and junior championship double Con Magee’s Glenravel will look to continue on the upward trail in 2019.
The Glensmen have a trip to Moneyglass in their opening game in division 2 and a far from easy task awaits.
Moneyglass are strong in this grade and the St Ergnat’s side may well be contenders with the acquisition of the under-21 B title underlining strength in depth.
The home side will start as firm favourites and they may well gain the verdict.
St Mary’s Rasharkin v Tir na nOg
Tir na Nog had an excellent winter campaign with Damien Hagen’s men finishing with a win over St Patrick’s Gortin to secure the Ulster Intermediate league title.
The Whitehill men impressed en route to the Provincial title and they look in fine form as they anticipate a domestic campaign with a trip to Rasharkin.
St Mary’s Rasharkin had a good 2018 campaign and the Dreen men will be looking to continue on the positive this season.
They will be looking forward to this one, boosted by an O’Cahan Cup win over Moneyglass last night and that win will prove a confidence boost to the St. Mary’s side.
Tir na Nog had a good win over Rasharkin in the Ulster league and they may well make it a double but home advantage could swing it in Rasharkin’s favour.
Michael Davitt’s v Cuchullian’s Dunloy
Davitt’s are quite capable but a trifle enigmatic at times but when fully focused the West Belfast side are more than capable in this grade.
They will play hosts to Dunloy in this one and may well relish the visit of the dual club to their excellent new facilities.
Dunloy are more than a match for most in this division and strength in depth has been more than evident within the ranks of both their under-21 and minor sides.
This does look hard to call with a share of the spoils not out of the question.
O’Donovan Rossa v St James Aldergrove
Despite recent success in both under-21 and minor championships Rossa were relegated from the top grade last term and the Shaw’s road side find themselves in the second tier for 2019.
They struggled for most of last season, hampered by a lengthy injury list and despite a gallant last stand and a couple of late positive results they failed to hold on to their division one status.
No doubt a return to the top grade is the focus for Rossa and they will seek a good start as they play hosts to Aldergrove in game one.
Aldergrove descend the rating themselves a couple of years back and although they led the second division last term for a time they lost their way somewhat in the latter stages.
Paddy Nugent is back in charge of the Crumlin side and the former Johnnies man will be hoping to lead his charges back to the top grade again this term.
This looks a close one which could go either way and a share of the points is a strong possibility.
St Patrick’s Lisburn v Patrick Sarsfield’s
Lisburn based St Patrick’ endured disappointment in both the league and championship last term when they finished runner’s up in both to Glenravel in division 3 league and Junior Championship. They did however make the step up to division 2 as runners up to the Glensmen.
They start with a home fixture and a visit from Sarsfield’s. The 2017 Junior Championship winners have not been seen at their best lately but they are capable of better.
The home side will be striving for a quick getaway and an early victory but the visitors may well prevail.
Division Three-all games at 3.00pm
St Malachy’s v Eire Og
St Malachy’s enjoyed a fair 2018 campaign and the men from the Markets were not far away in the race for the top.
They will be hoping for improvement this year and may well start with a win against Eire Og.
Kickham’s Ardoyne v St Paul’s
St Paul’s had a poor 2018 season by their standards ending with relegation from division 2 and following the drop from division 1 a year previous. The Shaw’s road side start with a visit to Ardoyne with a good start and the gaining of early points the plan. Ardoyne have been there or there about in division 3 in recent years and will provide a stern test for the visitors.
St Agnes v Patrick Pearses
Pearses did hint at better last term and the North Belfast side will be focusing on a good start to 2019 as they visit Woodlands and the Aggies in round one.
St Agnes have struggled for a time and although they cannot be faulted for effort results are proving elusive.
A close one in prospect with Pearses just getting the nod but it could go either way.
St Comgall’s Antrim v Laochra Loch Lao
Laochra Loch Lao are still in their infancy as a club and are finding it tough to gain reward for effort.
The new club struggled to get points on board last term and this looks a tough assignment as they visit St Comgall’s.
The home side will start as firm favourites and they should gain the verdict.
Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle v O’ Donnell’s
Mc Crory Park residents O’ Donnell’s struggled to gain consolidation in the second grade last term and having paid the price in relegation the West Belfast side will be looking for quick return.
Mc Quillan’s have struggled to make impact on the football front and they may well find their visitors in this one a trifle too hot to handle.