Football fixtures for Friday 31st May
Following a couple of weeks in respite, and the participation of the Saffron’s in the Ulster Championship the club scene is set to proceed on Friday evening. Having failed to cope with Tyrone in the championship Lenny Harbinson’s charges will travel to Louth in the ‘Qualifiers’ on June 8th which should not impact in this round of fixtures.
Division One (8.00pm)
Lamh Dhearg v Casement’s Portglenone
This certainly looks like an attractive fixture as the men from the Hannahstown hill play hosts to Portglenone based Casement’s in what may well prove to be a close affair.
The home side have only lost once on their own sod in 2018 and on that occasion they were not much in arrears to St Gall’s.
The 2017 county champions seem in a positive frame this term and having Conor Murray back in harness will certainly aid the cause.
Casement’s akin to their hosts have been in good form in the league and with a new hand at the helm in Barry Dillon the Bannsider’s will take the road to Belfast in a positive frame of mind.
Little may separate this duo at conclusion but ground advantage may well tilt the balance in favour of the Lamhs.
St Enda’s v St Brigid’s
Having started the season with a win over the visiting Cargin, St Enda’s have disappointed with recent performances. The Hightown residents have suffered defeat in their last two outings to Casement’s and Lamh Dhearg and will return to their own ground seeking a better return against visitors St Brigid’s.
The South Belfast men having secured promotion last term have gained a couple of wins to date but they will be quite aware that more points will be required if they are to secure division 1 status.
Having impressed last time out with a good win over the visiting Ahoghill, St Brigid’s will take the road out to Glengormley in a positive frame of mind.
A close one is in prospect but Frank Fitzsimmons may well lead the reigning Ulster and Intermediate champions to the win.
St Mary’s Ahoghill v Kickham’s Creggan
An all South West affair here as Kevin Madden’s Creggan take the short route down to Clooney to cross swords with St Mary’s, Ahoghill.
Having claimed the division one league title last term the Kickham’s men have lost ground in their defence of the Eddy Fitzsimmons Memorial trophy in the present season with three defeats this term.
They have regained form of late with back to back victories at St Teresa’s followed by a home win over Gort na Mona last time and they will travel to Clooney looking to retain that winning habit.
Ahoghill have struggled to gain momentum thus far and they look in dire need of a morale booster with only a single win in the present campaign.
The St Mary’s men will look for better this time and with the return of a couple of long term absentees Dualtach Johnston’s charges will seek improvement.
Creggan will start this one as firm favourites and they may well gain the day but the Clooney men are quite capable of causing upset.
St Teresa’s v St John’s
St Teresa’s have struggled this year and with just a couple of wins they will be aiming for improvement as the Johnnies visit.
They will look for a return to the positive here and the sort of form which saw them collect the points at St Brigid’s a few weeks back will be the aim.
St John’s, having lost out to Lamh Dhearg in round one have been unbeaten since with back to back draws against Cargin and Portglenone in their last two games.
The Whiterock road side will take the short trip up the Glen road for this one in the positive and will start as strong favourites to gain the day.
St Teresa’s are capable if a trifle enigmatic and they may well give their visitors a run for their money.
St Gall’s v Erin’s Own Cargin
St Gall’s play hosts to keen rivals Cargin in this one and may well attract a big attendance to Nilltown.
The home side, having led the way in the division from the outset saw their lead position lost last time when they endured a first defeat at Corrigan and a better score difference saw Cargin move to the top of the table.
Cargin lost their opening game at Hightown but continue undefeated since and they will travel in search of another couple of points but the Milltown men may well have other ideas.
A good one is certainly in prospect and the possibility of a share of the spoils and a draw a possibility.
Division Two (8.00pm)
St Mary’s Rasharkin v St Joseph’s Glenavy
Despite a rather sluggish opening in league, Glenavy have signalled an upturn in fortunes of late with a win away to Dunloy.
The Chapel Hill residents returned from that trip down to Dunloy points secured on an eye catching 4-12 to 0-09 scoreline and they will look to continue in such mode as they take the road down to Dreen.
Rasharkin have also taken time to get it together this term but a good win over the visiting Davitt’s last time may signal an upturn in fortunes.
This one will be fully contested and although little may separate them at conclusion a home win and a welcome couple of points for the Dreen men is the suggestion.
Michael Davitt’s v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
Michael Davitt’s have proceeded this term in an enigmatic mode with a couple of good results coming along with more than a few mediocre returns.
They have just a couple of wins to date but have never been far away in defeat and a slender one point reversal against top of the table Rossa underlines real potential.
Moneyglass have been in fine form to date this term and the St Ergnat’s men are still up there well placed in third position in the table.
This will prove a test for the Marian Hill residents as they travel to the city but morale is high within the ranks of the blue and gold at present.
The home side is capable of causing upset but the present climate would suggest an away win is the most likely scenario.
O’ Donovan Rossa v All Saint’s Ballymena
This top of the table clash looks a cracker as the previously unbeaten Rossa play hosts to an in-form All Saint’s.
The Shaw’s road side endured relegation last term but they certainly do not intend to linger in the second grade if results thus far are anything to go by.
All Saints have been going well this year with just a single defeat endured at Dunloy and the Ballymena men look like serious contenders this year.
They did underline current well-being last time with an emphatic win over St Patrick’s and they will travel in confidence.
Rossa look firm favourites to make quick return to the top grade and although they will not get everything their own way in this one another couple of points may well be secured.
St Patrick’s Lisburn v Con Magees Glenravel
Lisburn based St Patrick’s gained promotion following a successful campaign last term but have found the going tough this term in division 2. Despite honest endeavour St. Patrick’s have not picked up a point as they prepare to play hosts to their old adversaries.
Glenravel completed the league/championship double last term with Lisburn coming runners up in both but the Glensmen have settled better with a trio of wins gained to date.
The Con Magees are in fine form at present and will take the road up to Lisburn hoping for another win.
A close one is again in prospect and although the home side will not give up easily a win for the in-form Glenravel looks probable.
Patrick Sarsfield’s v Tir na nOg Randalstown
Despite a most positive start to the season with a an Ulster league win, Tir na nOg, Randalstown seem to have lost their way of late.
The Whitehill side have only three wins to date and this looks another tough assignment for them in their present form.
Sarsfield’s have had a good season thus far and with only a couple of reversals to date remain up there in a challenging position.
The Paddies did look good last time when they ended the winning run of a an in-form Glenravel and they will return to home base in a positive mode. as they enertain the Randalstown men.
Tir na nOg are better than their form of late would suggest but a home win and another couple of points for the Bear Pit residents seems the most likely result.
St James Aldergrove v Cuchullain’s Dunloy
Another all South West affair here as Aldergrove play hosts to Dunloy in what could well be a keenly contested game.
The home side have been a trifle enigmatic this term but showed improvement last time out with a fine 3-10 to 0-12 win over Tir na Nog and will look forward to a return to base and the visit of Dunloy.
Dunloy showed good form this term but were badly off the pace against the visiting Glenavy last time and will hope to put that defeat behind them.
Having impressed up to that reversal Dunloy face a stiff test here and ground advantage may well play a part with Paddy Nugent’s men awarded the vote.
Division Three (7.30pm)
Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle v St Comgall’s Antrim
St Comgall’s are flying at the moment, leading the way in division 3 and anything other than another win for the pace setters looks unlikely.
Patrick Pearses v St Malachy’s
This one brings together city rivals Pearses and St Malachy’s and may well see the visitors gain the verdict over the high flying North Belfast side.
St Agnes v Kickham’s Ardoyne
Kickham’s, Ardoyne were beaten by St. Comgall’s last time out, losing top spot to their rivals as a consequence but they are still very much in contention and look likely winners in this one.
St Paul’s v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s
St Paul’s took time to get it together this term but following a lethargic opening the Shaw’s road side seem to have got things together and should gain another couple of points at the expense of O’D’s.