Football Championship Week-End (Fri 6th /Sun 8th June)
The football Championships continue this week-end with the quarter finals of the Senior, Intermediate, and Junior competitions down for decision.
The action gets under way on Friday evening with all of the junior games set for completion with a mixed programme of both Senior and Intermediate games fixed at venues across the county.
Friday 6th September
The Devenish Junior Football Championship (quarter finals) at 6.45 pm
Cardinal O’ Donnell’s v John Mitchells (Woodlands)
Although Mc Crory Park residents O’Donnell’s have not been seen at their best for a while they have hinted at some improvement in league fare in recent games and they will be hoping such positivity will continue in the championship.
O’ Donnell’s will be expected to make progress and barring major accident they should take the verdict.
They will be lining out in this one in the role of hot favourites as they cross swords with the men from Poleglass as Mitchells return to the All County scene.
St Agnes v Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle (Hightown)
Ballycastle based Mc Quillan’s impressed in their opening round win in the competition when they recorded a 3-17 to 2-12 victory over St Malachy’s despite not having gained a single point from their league programme prior to that assignment down at Dreen.
The North Antrim men underlined improvement aplenty in that one and they will look for further progress here as they lock horns with St Agnes in the quarter final.
The Aggies concluded their league programme with twelve points secured and such was much superior to their opposition here and they will travel up to Hightown in a confident mode.
The Aggies will start as favourites but if the North Antrim men can reproduce their opening round form they may well upset the odds again.
Patrick Pearses v St Patrick’s Lisburn
(Pairc Rossa)
Lisburn based St Patrick’s opened their championship campaign with a win over Laochra Loch Lao and the 2018 beaten finalists have participated with some credit in division two this term.
Niall Ward’s charges may well be focusing on going a step further in the championship this term and they will take the trip to Belfast seeking to make progress.
North Belfast based Pearses have enjoyed a good league campaign this term and finished with a fully merited 22 point haul which underlines current well -being.
This may well be a close one but St Patrick’s may well gain the verdict in pursuit of another tilt at the silverware.
St Comgall’s Antrim v Kickham’s Ardoyne
(Woodlands) 8.15 pm
Ardoyne have impressed this term and the North Belfast showed just what they are capable of last week when they recorded an impressive 4-16 to 1-13 win over second division based Rasharkin in their promotion/relegation play-off game.
The Kickham’s men look on their way to the second division for 2020 and barring major accident seem assured of promotion as they anticipate a quarter final meeting with old rivals St Comgall’s in the championship.
St Comgall’s recorded a win over Ardoyne in the league early in the season and although they faltered a couple of times since they will not be overawed when they step out against their old adversaries again.
Ardoyne will start as firm favourites but the Antrim men may well give them a run for their money.
Saturday 7th September
Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship (qtr finals)
St Gall’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon
(Creggan) at 1.00 pm
St Gall’s and St Mary’s Aghagallon will be first on the programme of the double header at Creggan and the Milltown Blues will start as firm favourites to be the first side to gain a place in the semi-finals of the senior championship.
Aghagallon came through their preliminary round test with a little to spare as they proved 2-11 to 1-08 winners over the men from St Enda’s in a preliminary round game before going on to beat St. Teresa’s and such may well sharpen their edge for this sterner test.
The St Mary’s men have improved this term and they will travel down to Creggan on the positive.
St Gall’s dominated the championship scene in the county for a long time but have not ascended the podium since 2014 but they are certainly more than capable of regaining the title.
St Gall’s will carry the confidence of most of the pundits and although Aghagallon may well be capable of providing a test Sean Kelly’s men should gain the day.
Erins Own Cargin v Rossa
Creggan 3-00 pm
The 2018 champions Erin’s Own Cargin claimed this year’s division one title and return to championship action against division two league champions, and old adversaries Rossa.
The Toome men gained their eighth senior title when they passed the winning post just ahead of near neighbours Kickham’s Creggan in the 2018 decider and Damien Cassidy’s charges seem to have the retention of the silverware in focus since the start of the season.
Rossa having endured relegation from the top division at the end of 2018 made an immediate return to the top grade again after an impressive division 2 league campaign.
The Shaw’s road side have a long cherished tradition in championship fare and although their last title was gained way back in 1991 they can never be discounted and underlined potential with an opening round win over Gort na Mona.
Cargin will start as strong favourites and the Toome men should prevail but Rossa may well provide a stern test.
Larkin Cassidy Solicitors Intermediate Football Championship (qtr finals)
St James Aldergrove v All Saint’s Ballymena
(Portglenone) at 5.00 pm
Having struggled in the early stages of the league, Paddy Nugent’s Aldergrove have improved since and seemed to be firing on all cylinders as the championship approached.
The Crumlin men are more than capable and have strength in depth with their excellent under-18 side through to a place in the semi-final of the minor championship
All Saints have shown mixed form throughout the league but recorded a number of excellent performances including a win over league champions, Rossa.
The Ballymena side are more than capable on their day and they will take the road to O’ Cahan Park on the positive.
This does look likely to be a close affair which could go either way with the Ballymena men just given the nod.
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v Tir na Nog Randalstown
(Portglenone) at 7.00 pm
This looks a close one as championship favourites Moneyglass and Tir na nOg meet up in this top of the bill quarter final at O’Cahan park. Little has separated this duo in previous meetings in the recent past and this one, which is certain to attract a big attendance, may well follow in the same trend.
Both impressed in their respective preliminary round wins with the Randalstown side accounting for Rasharkin on a six point winning margin whilst Moneyglass beat Dunloy 2-19 to 1-15.
Moneyglass have promotion very much within reach with a further meeting with Ahoghill to determine status possibly occupying the mind.
Little may separate them at conclusion but Moneyglass will enter the fray favoured by the pundits and they may well gain passage, but nothing is assured.
Sunday 8th September
Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship (qtr finals)
St John’s v Casement’s Portglenone
(Ahoghill) at 2.30 pm
This quarter final in Cloney looks likely to carry the ‘match of the day’ tag as Casement’s and St John’s renew acquaintances with the winner guaranteed a place in the semi-finals and is certain to attract a big attendance.
The Portglenone men progressed through the preliminary round when a Michael Donnelly goal paved the way for their 1-10 to 0-09 win over St Brigid’s at Glenravel and will take the road up to Ahoghill with confidence high.
St John’s are more than keen to end a barren spell in the championship and with a couple of dozen titles secured in the past, they will be hoping to bridge a yawning gap of 21 years since their last win in 1998.
A quarter final game which is keenly anticipated by many is certain to be a close one with the Johnnies awarded just a tentative vote.
Lamh Dhearg v Kickham’s Creggan
(Glenavy) at 6.00 pm
The 2017 champions Lamh Dhearg have recorded some descent performances in the league recently and a big win over Ahoghill in the preliminary round will see them go into this one with confidence high. They recorded a 3-13 to 1-6 win over the Cloney side and will have been boosted by that result.
Creggan have had championship on their mind for a while now and losing out to their near neighbours and keenest rivals from Cargin by the bare minimum last term will have sharpened the appetite.
They have been faring well in the league and a win over the visiting Cargin on the last day of the season suggests they are capable of beating anyone on their day.
This one is likely to attract a big attendance to Clooney and although little may separate the combatants at conclusion Creggan may well gain the verdict.
Larkin Cassidy Solicitors Intermediate Football Championship (qtr finals)
Patrick Sarsfield’s v Con Magees Glenravel
(Ahoghill) at 12.30 pm
This one sees Sarsfield’s and Glenravel line out at Cloney just after mid-day in the first game on a double header.
Glenravel were promoted from division 3 at the end of the season before adding the junior championship to complete an excellent 2018 and have continued to improvement in their first season back in division two.
The Glensmen now turn attentions to the championship but will enter the Sunday’s clash as outsiders.
Sarsfield’s have already dipped the proverbial toe in the championship water with a 3-15 to 0-08 win over Michael Davitt’s and are in good shape going into Sunday’s game.
The Paddies will travel in confident mode and although the Con Magee’s will be no push overs a win for the Bear Pit residents looks the most likely outcome.
St Paul’s v St Joseph’s Glenavy
(Hannahstown) at 2.00 pm
St Paul’s were relegated from division 2 at the end of 2018 but after a tentative start in division 3 and a couple of early reversals they have got their game together and currently lead the way in division three.
The Shaw’s road side will be confident going into this meeting with Glenavy but will face a stiff test against the Chapel Hill side.
St. Joseph’s were relegated from division 1 at the end of 2018 and took a time to settle in division 2 this year but the Chapel Hill men have plenty of talent and will start this one as favourites.
St Paul’s will be buoyed following recent success in the league but Glenavy should have enough to see them through in what could be a tight contest.