With the championship just around the corner the league programme draws to conclusion with the penultimate rounds in both division one and two set to proceed over the incoming week-end.
Sunday 4th August
Division One A
St John’s v Kickham’s Creggan (1.00pm)
Reigning league champions Creggan remain on course to retain their hard earned title as they travel to Belfast again and a meeting with St John’s.
Kevin Madden’s men have their near neighbours Cargin in close attendance at the top of the ratings and they will need a win on the Whiterock road if they are to keep up the challenge.
St John’s are four points behind their visitors in the race for the Eddie Fitzsimmons trophy but the city men are not likely to ease up on their challenge.
Having lost to the visiting Cargin last time they will not want to suffer another home defeat and with a number of players likely to be back in action they will be more than keen to return to winning ways again.
This one is certain to be keenly contested but ground advantage may well play and the Johnnies will certainly provide a stiff test for their visitors.
St Gall’s v Lamh Dhearg (3.00pm)
Although they are a couple of points behind the pace setters in the race for the division one title with just a couple of games to completion St Gall’s remain in the race and they will look for the addition of another couple of points in this one as Lamh Dhearg visit.
Lamh Dhearg’s form has improved in recent games and although they did lose at Creggan last time the Hannahstown men proved too strong for the visiting Cargin prior to that reversal.
They will look for a return to winning ways again here as they travel down to the Milltown Row.
Another close one looks likely with the Milltown men just gaining the nod.
Division Two B (3.00pm)
St Mary’s Ahoghill v St Enda’s
St Enda’s gained a couple of vital points last night from their meeting with St Teresa’s and will be hoping for something similar as they take the road to the in-form Ahoghill.
The Glengormley men had a list of long term absentees back in harness for last night’s win and they will be buoyed by Friday’s win which leaves them just one point behind the Cloney side. This looks a tough one as Ahoghill have taken seven points from their last four outings and Dualtagh Johnston’s charges are only a point or two away from safety.
They came from the pace to share the points with St Brigid’s last time and will look for similar positivity again.
This looks likely to be another close affair with ground advantage possibly tilting the balance towards Ahoghill but it could go either way.
St Brigid’s v Gort na Mona
Gort na Mona are in a good place at present with ten points on board on a similar total to their hosts but such cannot be taken as a guarantee of safety and the points at stake here will be equally sought after.
St Brigid’s were caught in the home straight last time when Ahoghill came strong to gain a draw with three late points and will be seeking a tad better on their own sod.
Gort na Mona having suffered a heavy defeat away to Aghagallon last time out and will be keen to secure another win which would guarantee them safety.
Another close one looks likely and a draw does look a distinct possibility.
St Teresa’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon
St Teresa’s defeat to St Enda’s on Friday night means that they will be playing their football in division 2 next season as they play hosts to Aghagallon in this one.
The Glen road men needed a full return of the points at the expense of the Glengormley men to have any chance of avoiding the drop so Sunday’s encounter is merely about pride.
Aghagallon with a healthy thirteen points gained will travel in confidence and although points are not an issue for the St Mary’s men they look likely to add to their total.
St Teresa’s have nothing to lose but the present climate would suggest an away win as likely.
Division Two A
All Saint’s Ballymena v O’ Donovan Rossa (1.00pm)
Rossa are on their way back to the top grade following just a season in exile and the Shaw’s road side will take the road down to Ballymena in a positive frame of mind.
Having endured just a single defeat thus far in the second grade the Shaw’s road men are only a point away from promotion and will travel down to the South West hoping to secure the division 2 title.
All Saint’s have proved unpredictable this term and have disappointed on a couple of occasions but the Ballymena men are more than capable of better.
The home side have seventeen points on the table but with the championship just around the corner they will be hoping to continue recent improvement.
Rossa will travel as favourites and although they may well succeed in their mission the home side will give them a run for it.
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v Tir na nOg
Moneyglass lost out on their visit to Dunloy last time but Donal Laverty’s charges remain on course for at least a play- off spot for promotion.
They have enjoyed a good 2019 season and will look to finish their campaign with a win over the Randalstown men.
Tir na nOg, having triumphed in the Ulster Intermediate winter league have enjoyed a good season but a few bumps on the road have seen them lose sight of promotion.
They did gain the points when Moneyglass visited Whitehill in round one and they may well fancy their chances of completing the double.
This one will attract a good attendance to Moneyglass with the home side favourites to gain the win.
St Patrick’s Lisburn v St Joseph’s Glenavy
St Patrick’s recorded theirfirst victory of the season with a win at Glenravel and they will return to their own base hoping for another from the visit of Glenavy.
The Lisburn side look to have left it too late and they do seem on the way back to basement level in 2000.
Glenavy have struggled for results this term but with eleven points on board are guaranteed survival in the grade for another year. St Patrick’s will be hoping for another win and could push the Chapel Hill side all the way.
Michael Davitt’s v St James Aldergrove
Aldergrove may well have anticipated a better return for their efforts this term but they do top division 2B and had a good win last time out against Rasharkin.
The Crumlin men just missed out on promotion in 2018 and would have expected to have still been in the promotion race this term.
Davitt’s with eleven points gained this term are well above the relegation zone and recorded a draw against Glenavy last time out.
The west Belfast men will welcome Aldergrove to their new abode and look capable of pushing the Crumlin men all the way.
Division Three (3.00pm)
St Comgall’s v Eire Og
The Antrim men may have missed the promotion boat again and look likely to finish third but they should gain another couple of points here and hope that Ardoyne and St. Paul’s will suffer a slip up in their closing games.
Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle v St Paul’s
St Paul’s did take a time to get it together this year but the Shaw’s road side are flying at present and another couple of points seems likely to earn as they push for an immediate return back to division 2.
St Malachy’s v Kickham’s Ardoyne
Ardoyne trail St. Paul’s on score difference but unless upsets await around the corner they seem on course for promotion to division 2 next year. St. Malachy’s cannot be discounted but a win for the Kickham’s looks likely.
St Agnes v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s
The Aggies will look to finish their league campaign on a positive note but the Andersonstown road men may struggle to cope with the challenge of the visiting McCrory Park residents.
Tues 6th August
Division One A (8.00pm)
Casement’s Portglenone v Erin’s Own Cargin
With the championship just around the corner the holders, Erin’s Own Cargin seem to be hitting form at the right time. They defeated St. John’s at Corrigan last time out and lead the division with two games remaining. Casement’s have enjoyed a good season and they will be looking forward to this visit of the Toome men.
The Bannsider’s are strong on their own turf and will feel more than ably equipped to deal with the challenge brought by the Toome men but a Cargin win looks the likely result.