Following a fine opening preliminary round game in the SFC on Saturday evening the football championships continue at pace this coming Friday and continues over the weekend. As always the Saffron Gael will endeavour to cover all these games and we again make an appeal for financial assistance.
First of all we thank both Rossa and St. Gall’s for generous donations at the weekend and we appeal to all clubs to make a donation and help us to cover as many games as possible.
Secondly we are again appealing for advertisers from the areas of clubs taking part in the various championships to take an advert wishing your club success in the their coming campaign. The cost of that advert is £60-00 and will be carried forward at no further cost to the final should your team enjoy success. We have had a descent response in the past and again have received a number to date and have included some examples.
If you would like to carry an advert wishing your club success contact john.mcilwaine@yahoo.co.uk or Tel: 07885226348 or ptrckmclwn@yahoo.co.uk or Tel: 07511111378. Your support would be greatly appreciated by both ourselves and your club.
With the opening game of the football championship completed on Saturday evening and a preliminary round success for St Mary’s Aghagallon, the first round in all grades, Senior, Intermediate, and Junior are scheduled for the week-end ahead.
The Devenish Junior Football Championship
Friday 23rd August
Eire Og V Kickham’s Ardoyne (7.30pm) at St. Paul’s
Having struggled to make impact in the league Eire Og finished well in arrears of their championship opponents and need improvement aplenty as they line out against promotion candidates Ardoyne.
Ardoyne will start as contenders for honours in this grade and they should not be troubled to pass this opening round test.
St Malachy’s v Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle (7.30pm) at Ballymena
St Malachy’s had reasonable league campaign finishing in a mid-table position and the men from the Markets will be hoping for a run in the championship.
Ballycastle have endured a poor league campaign this term and they may well struggle to pass this opening round test with a win for St. Malachy’s seeming more than likely.
St Patrick’s Lisburn v Laochra Loch Lao (7.30pm) at Glenavy
St Patrick’s Lisburn struggled to make impact in the second division this term but they were far from disgraced in a campaign which yielded just a single win and performed well in most of their games.
They finished beaten finalists in last year’s junior championship and will have ambitions of going one better this term.
Laochra Loch Lao have enjoyed a mixed first season in the Antrim league but this may prove a step too far with the Lisburn men expected to make progress.
Larkin Cassidy Solicitors Intermediate Football Championship
Sat 24th August
St Mary’s Rasharkin v Tir na nOg (5.30pm) at Portglenone
An all country affair as Rasharkin and Tir na nOg cross swords and this looks likely to be a close affair.
Rasharkin have struggled in the league this year but the Dreen side usually come good in the championship. Tir na nOg having started the season with an Ulster League title under their belts, had strong expectations for the league campaign but have concluded out of the promotion race.
Although a close encounter is anticipated the Whitehill men will start as firm favourites and may well progress.
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v Cuchullian’s Dunloy (7.00pm) at Portglenone
Another meeting of South West sides as Moneyglass face Dunloy in a game which should attract a big attendance and both side will have aspirations of going all the way this year.
Moneyglass had a good league campaign this term and under the watchful eyes of Hugh Carey and Donal Laverty they remain in contention for promotion with a play-off with Ahoghill on the horizon.
The Marian Hill side lost to the dual club in the league a few weeks ago but that result will have little bearing on Saturday’s encounter.
This one could well be a close affair but if Moneyglass can produce their best form then they may just shade it.
Sunday 25th August
Michael Davitt’s v Patrick Sarsfield’s (2.30pm) at Lamh Dhearg
Sarsfield’s have had a descent league campaign and will start as favourites as they meet up with Michael Davitt’s in round one.
Davitt’s have secured their place in division 2 for next season and are a team who have shown steady improvement in their 2019 campaign.
The Paddies will start this one as favourites however and they may well gain the verdict.
Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship
Sat 24th August
Lamh Dhearg v St Mary’s Ahoghill (5.30pm) at Corrigan Park
Lamh Dhearg were championship winners as recently as 2017 and will have firm ambitions of another success this season and will start as favourites against St. Mary’s Ahoghill.
They have had a fair league campaign this term, finishing in fifth position and on their day are formidable opponents.
Ahoghill remain in a battle for division 1 survival and may have a stronger focus on the forthcoming play-off against Moneyglass but Dualtagh Johnston’s men can never be under estimated.
Lamh Dhearg will enter this one as favourites and although they may well prevail nothing can be taken for granted with the Cloney men fully expected to provide stiff opposition.
St Mary’s Aghagallon v St Teresa’s (7.00pm) at Corrigan Park
Aghagallon opened championship account with last week’s preliminary round 2-11 to 1-08 victory over the 2018 Intermediate champions St Enda’s last Saturday evening and will go into this one as favourites against a St. Teresa’s side who were relegated from division 1 this year.
St Teresa’s have battled bravely to retain league status all season and the championship could provide them with an opportunity of putting the disappointment of relegation behind them.
Aghagallon will enter the fray as firm favourites and although St Teresa’s will not lack ambition or effort the St Mary’s men are given the nod.
Sunday 25th August
Casement’s Portglenone v St Brigid’s (3.30pm) T.B.C.
Casement’s have enjoyed a good league campaign this term and the Bannsider’s will be seeking to make a mark in the championship.
The O’Cahan Park residents face a St Brigid’s side who will be buoyed by their win over St. Teresa’s on Monday night which guarantees Division 1 survival but the Bannsider’s will start as favourites.
St Brigid’s have momentum going into this one following that win on the Glen Road and the 2018 U21 championship and are capable of causing an upset.
Casement’s will enter the fray as favourites and the current climate would suggest the Bannsider’s will gain passage to the next round but this one could be very close.
Gort na Mona v O’ Donovan Rossa (4.00pm) at Lamh Dhearg
Rossa, having claimed the division two title will be hoping for a good run in the championship. Under the management of former player, Sean Fleming they have impressed this year but face a stiff test against a Gort na Mona side who had a good season back in division 1 after gaining promotion last year.
Sean McKenna’s Gort na Mona having maintained their first division status will be hoping to bring that form into the championship.
Little may separate these two and despite playing in division 2 Rossa look quite capable of edging what should be a close contest.