This time last year, had Rasharkin and Ahoghill accumulated the same number of points then that they have now they would have been automatically relegated from division 1 and division 2 respectively while Ardoyne would have been heading back to division 2 and Moneyglass into division 1.
An amendment to the rules at convention stated that the team finishing second bottom in division 1 would face the runners up in division 2 and the team finishing second bottom in division 2 would meet the division 3 runners up in a two legged play-off where score difference would decide the promotion-relegation issue.
To add to the intrigue both games have been set for neutral venues, something that has invoked quite a bit of debate, many feeling that home and away over two games or one game at a neutral venue would have made more sense but that is how it is and tonight the action gets under way.
Rasharkin v Ardoyne (Tir na nOg 7-00)
Division 2/3 Playoff
It’s never easy to call games like this. One argument would suggest that Ardoyne with a winning run in division 3 and an opening round win in the Junior Championship will go into tonight’s game against Rasharkin as the side with the momentum.
The boys from Dreen have endured a difficult season and lost out to Tir na nOg in the Intermediate Championship on Saturday but they have been competing against better opposition all year and did win their last two league games against Glenravel and St. Patrick’s Lisburn.
On that form I make them slight favourites for tonight’s opening game against the Kickham’s but much will depend on how much their confidence has been knocked by that Tir na nOg defeat. Despite that loss Rasharklin have the players to produce the goods when the chips are down and Conor and Shane Hasson, Emmet McFerran, Thomas McMullan, Ryan Lynch, Conor McFerran, Brendan Etherson and Eamon McNeill have the experience to see them ahead going into the second leg.
The North Belfast men will push them all the way however and were in division 2 themselves a couple of seasons back and still retain the majority of that side with Cormac Mullan and Aidan McNeill player capable of opening up any defence on their day and Paddy Murray’s side will be relishing tonight’s challenge.
Ahoghill v Moneyglass (Portglenone 8-00)
Division 1/2 Playoff
The meeting of neighbours St. Mary’s Ahoghill and St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass looks equally hard to call and most of the arguments offered for the above game could easily apply to this game. St. Ergnat’s recorded a confidence booting win over a fancied Dunloy in the Intermediate Championship on Saturday and showed consistent form in division 2 all season.
Ahoghill found themselves in another dogfight to stave off relegation but fell just short and tonight’s meeting with Moneyglass gives them another chance at redemption and the boys from Dreen will not concede their division 1 status without a fight.
They lost to Lamh Dhearg in the Senior Championship at Corrigan on Saturday but were still in the game early in the second half before falling away and suffering a fairly heavy defeat. Like Rasharkin there is an argument that they may have subconsciously had one eye on tonight’s game.
Moneyglass were mighty impressive against the Cuchullain’s on Saturday, avenging a league defeat in Dunloy earlier in the season, one of three defeats they suffered in the league. The other two were to league winners Rossa.
The return of Patrick McCormick and Dermot McErlain to the side from the one who lost to Rossa in their final league game certainly boosted their performance and they are a side with serious pace and good players.
Colum Duffin is there go-to player and provides a wealth of experience around mid-field and added to an energetic hour’s football by contributing 0-9 of his side’s total while Conaill Prenter with 2-0 and Kevin ‘Kindo’ Marron with 0-3 contributed to an impressive total. Tiarnan and Seanchann Duffin, the Kellys, Gavin Murray, Patrick McCormick and Dermot ‘Bugsy’ McErlain are other players who could swing it in favour of the Marion Hill side.
St. Mary’s Ahoghill have been the great survivors in division 1 for quite a number of years and will call on that experience as they attempt to stave off the drop for another year. Their season has been badly disrupted by injuries to James O’Connell and Owen Neeson who will not play again this year while Thomas McGlone has just recently returned from a long term injury.
They still have a wealth of experience within their ranks with Francis Neeson in goals, the O’Connell’s, Stephen, P.J. and Niall, the Graham clan, Bernard, Martin, Eamon, Ronan and Diarmuid, the O’Neill’s and Eamon Brady players who have seen it all before.
Again it could be down to who wants it most but with an eye on the Intermediate championship St. Ergnat’s may view that as their main ambition but they will never the less go into tonight’s game believing they can win this one and put one foot into division 1.
Ahoghill’s greater experience could play a major part in the final result and with their season now totally dependent on division 1 survival I would take them to edge tonight’s first leg but there is unlikely to be much between them.