The Football leagues continue tonight with another full round of fixtures as the opening phase passes the half way mark.
Wed 8th May
Division One at 8.00pm
Gort na Mona v St Brigid’s
This all Belfast affair features the two promoted clubs from last season as St Brigid’s travel to the west of the city to meet Gort na Mona.
The home side with a couple of wins gained to date seem to have settled to life in the top grade and will look to continue on the positive as they play hosts to St Brigid’s who have just a single victory to date. The South Belfast side did earn a draw at Milltown however and may well fancy their chances on the road again.
This does look a close one which could go either way with just a tentative vote awarded to the visitors.
St Mary’s Ahoghill v Lamh Dhearg
Ahoghill burdened with a long injury list have struggled to get it together to date and with just a single win they will be looking to add to their two point haul sooner rather than later.
The dual club returned to winning ways on the hurling front last time and saw a return to action of some previously missing players.
Lamh Dhearg have a couple of wins to date having gotten the better of the visiting St John’s in round one and following with a decisive victory gained over Gort na Mona last time out.
The Hannahstown men have failed to pick up points on the road as yet and will travel to the South West seeking a change in fortunes.
Another close one is in prospect with ground advantage possible tilting the balance in favour of the Clooney men.
Casement’s Portglenone v St Enda’s
Reigning County and Provincial Intermediate champions St Enda’s have been faring well to date in the league and looked good last time when they proved too strong for the visiting Ahoghill at Hightown.
They had encountered a bump in the road prior to that return to form having lost out to Gort na Mona and will take the country route with morale restored as they travel to meet up with an in form Casement’s side.
The Portglenone men have been playing well this term and remain undefeated since game one when they lost out to the visiting Creggan.
They shared the points with St John’s last time in a unique affair played across the border in County Derry in Greenlough but will return to O’ Cahan Park looking to regain winning form.
Casement’s will start this one as favourites and although Frank Fitzsimmons’s charges will give them a run for their money a win for the Bannsider’s is suggested.
St Teresa’s v Kickham’s Creggan
Glen road based St Teresa’s have proved quite enigmatic in their returns to date but they really looked good last time when they recorded an eye catching win at St Brigid’s.
That 0-18 to 2-10 win at the Musgrave Park strongly suggested improvement and they will look forward to this one as the reigning league champions visit. Creggan do seem to have problems of late as they have struggled to maintain form following a good start to the season.
Kevin Madden’s charges opened the season with back to back wins but they have failed to follow in such positivity since and a trio of successive defeats has seen them descend the table.
They are on the road again and a win on the Glen road looks an necessity if they are to recapture form.
St Teresa’s will look forward to this one in their present form but Creggan may well take opportunity to return to winning ways.
St Gall’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon
St Gall’s remain as the only side in the division without defeat to date and the Milltown men will start as firm favourites as they play hosts to St Mary’s Aghagallon.
The Milltown men took the points on offer at Creggan last time coming away with a 1-10 to 1-08 verdict and look likely to get another win under their belts in this one.
Aghagallon remain in search of their opening points of the present campaign and this looks a really tough assignment as they take to road up to the Lower Falls and Milltown.
St Gall’s will start this one as firm favourites and although nothing is certain anything other than a home win looks decidedly unlikely.
Erin’s Own Cargin v St John’s
Having lost out to St Enda’s in their opening game of the season Cargin seem to have gained in impetus since that reversal and the Toome men remain unbeaten since.
Damien Cassidy’s charges their good run last time with a 5-09 to 1-06 victory at Aghagallon and they have home advantage for the visit of St. John’s.
St John’s lost their first game of the season when they finished a couple of points behind their hosts at Hannahstown in round one but have not encountered a similar reversal since.
The Corrigan men were held to a draw by Casement’s last time and they will travel to Toome to meet up with the county champions in a game that is certain to attract a big attendance.
This one may well prove close but Cargin will start as favourites and they may well collect the points.
Division Two
St Patrick’s Lisburn v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
St Patrick’s Lisburn, promoted following an excellent 2018 campaign seem to be struggling to gain foothold in their new domain.
The new boys have performed well to date but an opening win is proving elusive.
Moneyglass have improved in the present season and the St Ergnat’s men are up there in contention at the top following a good recent run.
They claimed an excellent win over the visiting Sarsfield’s last time and will take the road to Lisburn in search of another couple of points.
The home side are certain to give a good account but another win for the in-form Moneyglass looks the most likely scenario.
O’ Donovan Rossa v St Mary’s Rasharkin
St Mary’s Rasharkin took a time to get their show on the road but having come good last time with a 1-11 to 0-10 win over St Patrick’s they will be hoping for more of the same.
This looks a tough one however as the Dreen men pay a visit to the unbeaten Rossa who look set for a quick return to the top grade.
Rossa have made excellent progress this term and having endured relegation following a poor return for their 2018 efforts they seem fully focused on a return to division 1.
Rossa will start as firm favourites and although Rasharkin may well provide a test for them the Shaw’s road side should continue on the winning trail.
St Joseph’s Glenavy v Michael Davitt’s
Having endured relegation last term, St Joseph’s Glenavy have struggled for concistancy having only claimed a couple of wins to date and they will hope for better this time as they welcome Davitt’s to Chapel Hill.
Glenavy are more than capable of improvement however and a couple of positive returns may well work the Oracle.
Michael Davitt’s are capable of better than returns to date suggest with just a single win to date.
Glenavy will start as favourites and although their visitors are more than capable of improvement the Chapel Hill men should prevail.
Patrick Sarsfield’s v All Saint’s Ballymena
This looks an intriguing contest as All Saint’s travel to Belfast and a date with Patrick Sarsfield’s.
The Ballymena side, having taken an age to get going last term have started strongly in 2019 with four wins from five starts.
Sarsfield’s have been going well this term and although they lost at Moneyglass last time the Stewartstown road side were in contention right up until the last ten minutes.
The Bear Pit residents are certainly more than capable and with home advantage they will start favourites in this one. All Saints will travel with confidence however and this one could go either way.
St James Aldergrove v Con Magees Glenravel
Having just missed out on promotion last term, St. James’ Aldergrove have disappointed this season and with just a couple of wins to date they really need to step firmly up to the mark sooner rather than later if they are to retain hopes on a return to the top grade.
Con Magees Glenravel completed their 2018 campaign as dual champions collecting both division three league and junior championship. The Glensmen took a time to acclimatize in their new surroundings but back to back wins over Tir na nOg and Dunloy will give them confidence as they travel to Crumlin. Aldergrove will be hoping for a return to form and Paddy Nugent’s men may well gain the day.
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v Tir na Nog Randalstown
Having endured a couple of reversals Tir na Nog will travel down to Dunloy in search of the points if they are to re-establish their challenge for honours in 2019.
The Randalstown men just lost out on promotion at the eleventh hour in 2018 but have disappointed in the present campaign.
Cuchullian’s Dunloy remain well placed with three wins from five starts but if they are to retain focus at the top they cannot afford many more defeats.
A close one in prospect and indeed a draw and a share of the spoils is a distinct possibility.
Division Three
Cardinal O’ Donnell’s v Laochra Loch Lao
Former division two side O’ Donnell’s seem stuck in a rut at present and positive return are few and far between this season in division 3.
The McCrory Park side play hosts to Laochra Laoch Lao and they may well take opportunity to gain a second win.
St Comgall’s Antrim v Kickham’s Ardoyne
This looks a cracker as the unbeaten Kickham’s Ardoyne take the road to Antrim to meet St Comgall’s.
The North Belfast side remain undefeated this term but this may well prove their toughest assignment to date as they cross swords with St Comgall’s who have suffered just a single reversal to date.
A good one is in prospect here, with ground advantage possibly tilting the balance in favour of St Comgall’s.
St Agnes v Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle
Ballycastle, McQuillan’s remain in search of their first points as they visit Woodland’s and a meeting with St Agnes.
The Aggies have gained a couple of wins to date and the Andersonstown men can make it three.
St Paul’s v St Malachy’s
St Paul’s took a time to get it together this term following a poor 2018 campaign and relegation.
The Shaw’s road side have got their act together however with a trio of successive wins and they will play hosts to St Malachy’s hoping to make it four.
The Mal’s have been in good form but this may well prove a step too far with a home win anticipated.
Patrick Pearses v Eire Og
North Belfast based Patrick Pearses have been in good form in 2019 and with four positive returns from five to date they remain in contention at the top.
They play hosts to Eire Og this time and look set to claim another brace of points.