Fixtures and Previews

It is football championship time again with the opening round in all of the adult grades scheduled for Wednesday evening.

All of the grades will proceed in the round robin system again with home and away fixtures for the opening phase before the knock out stage from quarter finals onwards.

Senior Football Championship (all games at 7.45pm)

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Group One

Erin’s Own Cargin v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass

This one sees reigning champions Cargin play hosts to near neighbours and reigning Intermediate champs Moneyglass. St. Ergnat’s had a great season last year, winning the Intermediate championship but have been decimated by injuries this year with more than half of their side missing through injury and as a resdult have struggled in the league this term.

A visit to Erin’s Own would have been a daunting prospect at the best of times but with the Toome side having already collected the division one league title it is difficult to envisage anything other than a Cargin win.

St John’s v O’ Donovan Rossa

A close one is in prospect here as the Johnnies play hosts to Rossa and this one may well may well prove the match of the day.

Rossa led the way in division 1 of the league for a time and they will be more than ready for this one but ground advantage may tilt the balance in favour of the Whiterock road side.

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Group Two

Casement’s Portglenone v St Brigid’s

Casement’s have enjoyed a fairly productive season in the league and the Bannsider’s will look forward to the championship and this opening tie with St Brigid’s..

St Brigid’s are blessed with a strong youth based panel and they only finished a point behind their guests in the league and indeed recorded a win over Wednesday’s opponents in Portglenone. Although the home side will start as favourites the city men will give them a run for their money.

Group Three

Lamb Dhearg v St Mary’s Aghagallon

Aghagallon had a poor league campaign but the St Mary’s men are capable of better and with their county panellists back on board they will travel to Hannahstown determined to get off to a good start in the championship.

Lamh Dhearg have been contenders for this title in the recent past and having taken the podium as winners in 2017 they look capable of starting this campaign with a win.

St James Aldergrove v St Enda’s Glengormley

Although they are based in the second division St James Aldergrove opted to play in the senior championship and will hope for a good start as they welcome St Enda’s to Crumlin.

St Enda’s have proved a trifle inconsistent in the league but the Hightown side are capable of better and they should open their account in this one with an away win.

Group Four

Kickham’s Creggan v St Gall’s

Last year’s beaten finalists Kickham’s Creggan will hope to go a step further in 2021 but the Staffordstown road side face a stiff opening test as they welcome the Milltown men to the South West.

Former all Ireland club champions St Gall’s are in the process of team building under the watchful eye of Padraig O Muiri but although this is a work in progress they may well ask their hosts a few questions.

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Intermediate Football Championship (all games at 7.45pm)

Group One

Kickham’s Ardoyne v All Saint’s Ballymena

All Saint’s will hope for a positive start as they Ardoyne but were lucky to get anything from their league visit to the Cricky and will be weary of Wednesday night’s opponents.

The Kickham’s took the junior title last term and the North Belfast men will hope to make further progress in this year’s Intermediate championship and look capable of providing another stiff test for the Ballymena side.

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Tir na nOg Randalstown v St Teresa’s

Having already secured the second division league title Tir na nOg will be aiming for a league-championship double as they begin their championship campaign with a home meeting with St. Teresa’s

St Teresa’s have plenty of experience within their ranks and will travel to Whitehill hoping to cause an upset but ground advantage may well tilt the balance in favour of the Randalstown men.

Con Magees Glenravel v Michael Davitt’s

Glenravel have enjoyed a good league campaign and the Con Magee’s will be hoping for a run in the as they play hosts to Davitt’s in this opening round encounter.

Davitt’s have shown improvement as the season progressed but although they are more than capable of causing problems the Glensmen should gain the win.

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Group Two

Naomh Padraig v Cuchullian’s Dunloy

Naomh Padraig Lisburn had a solid league campaign in division but this opening game at Intermediate level is a step higher as they play hosts to Dunloy.

The Cuchullian’s did not fare at all well in the league but this is championship and a different Dunloy may well emerge and an opening victory for the Dunloy men looks the likely outcome.

St Paul’s v Patrick Sarsfields

This all local derby sees St Pauls welcome their near neighbours Sarsfield’s to Shaw’s Road

This could be a close one but ground advantage may well tilt the balance in favour of the men in red and white.

Junior Football Championship (all games at 7.45pm)

Group One

St Comgall’s Antrim v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s

Last year’s beaten finalists St Comgall’s will be hoping to go a step further this term and they may well start with a win from the visit of O’ Donnell’s.

Laochra Loch Lao v Patrick Pearses

 Pearses enjoyed a good league campaign before losing in a tight final to Rasharkin and they should take the opening step in championship with a win.

Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle v St Agnes

The Aggies had a better league campaign than their hosts and the city men will travel to the North coast anticipating a championship win at Ballycastle.

St. Mary’s Rasharkin v St. Malachy’s

St. Mary’s Rasharkin were winners of this year’s division 3 league and will be aiming to add the Junior championship to their trophy cabinet this term. They should get off to a winning start as they welcome St. Malachy’s to Dreen on Wednesday night though the Market’s side could give them a run for their money.

U17 All County League Division 1

Aldergrove 1-09 All Saints 3-08

All Saints travelled to Aldergrove on Sunday on the back of a couple of poor displays and missing a few players through injury and suspensions. However the team that started the match pulled together and produced a gutsy display to take the game to the hosts. Early points from Paul O’Boyle and TP McGurk followed by a goal by the returning Ryan McCartney put the Saints boys in control early on but Aldergrove were always a threat and hit some lovely scores to keep the scoreboard tight at half time with a 2 point lead for the Saints.

 However an early black card in the 2nd half handed the advantage to Aldergrove and they had a sustained period of pressure which an impressive All Saints back line dealt with admirably. However a mistake let Aldergrove in for a goal and suddenly the teams were level but crucially All Saints were back to the full quota and they dug in to turn the tide again.

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Captain Joseph O’Rawe struck a superb long range free to get the Saints Boys back in touch and then 2 goals from Ryan Martin meant a 5 point lead had been established while the back line were closing down any Aldergrove attacks.

Overall an encouraging display by All Saints who really battled hard in difficult conditions. The defence on the day laid the foundations for a solid performance with some great tackling and also lending support to the attack when possible, with Ryan Thom getting a crucial score in the second half from Half Back. The forward line all contributed well with well taken scores and lots of hard work all round.

All Saints:1.Daniel McCoy 2.Corey McKillop 3.Kevin O’Boyle 4. Oliver O’Rawe 5.Ryan Thom (0.1) 6. Archie McGreevey 7. Fintan Brady 8. Paul O’Boyle (0.2) 9. Aodhan McGarry 10. TP McGurk(0.2) 11 Joseph O’Rawe (0.2) 12. Ciaran McQuillan 13.Darach Bradley 14. Ryan McCartney (1.1) 15. Ryan Martin (2.00) Subs: Luke Walsh, Cailin Aikman

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U-17 ACFL Division 3 

St Brigid’s 2-04- 2-23 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Musgrave Park 

Lámh Dhearg hit 2-11 without reply in the second half to pull clear of St Brigid’s and surely secure a place in the league semi-finals after a 2-23-2-04 win at Musgrave Park. 

The visitors were slow out of the traps and conceded an early goal as David Prenter found a gap and slotted past Rhys Camlin and into the net to give St Brigid’s a dream start. 

Eoin Campbell spurned a goal opportunity at the other end but made amends- fisting a point in reply from Eoin Mackey’s interchange of passes. 

A further point followed from Aidan McCague after a nice exchange from Aidan Morrow before Eoin Campbell converted a free and levelled proceedings. 

Campbell brought his personal tally to 0-03 with another conversion in front of the posts with Eoin Mackey then cutting inside and steering the ball over to double his sides advantage. 

Having saw their lead quickly diminish- the hosts came back into proceedings and the next six scores were equally shared. 

Pearse Lynch conjured up successive points- in-between Donal Martin converting from Conal McGuigan’s quick free. 

It was roles reversal as McGuigan profited from Donal Martin quickly getting things going from another free shortly after – but St Brigid’s again closed the gap through a converted free from early goal scorer Prenter. 

Lámh Dhearg ended the half stronger with Adam Murray popping over a point from Donal Martin’s pass, Martin himself swung over his second and a close-range Ciaran McLaughlin point ensured the Hannahstown side were 0-10-1-03 ahead at the interval. 

The second half was largely one-way traffic as Adam Murray steered over the first score of the half within the first 60-seconds. 

Aidan McCague doubled his tally for the afternoon with Eoin Campbell hitting the first of three quick individual points – with Ciaran McLaughlin swinging over his second in between as their lead now increased to double figures (0-16-1-03). 

Playing with confidence and their tails up the Lámhs deservedly hit their first goal of the contest. 

Donal Martin looked to have measured up a point – though his effort dropped and Mel Murnaghan was helpless as it clipped off the post and went into the net. 

Eoin Campbell registered his seventh point in the aftermath and Conal McGuigan added two further points- the first after good work from substitute Corey Camlin and the second a dinked effort that almost ended up in the net. 

Half-time substitute Calum Fegan-Lappin should have had a goal within minutes of his introduction- though got himself on the scoresheet with a fantastic point. 

Conal McGuigan produced a terrific effort to swing over his fourth of the contest and Eoin Campbell powered an effort to the net to make it 2-11 without reply and see his side move 2-21-1-03 to the clear. 

St Brigid’s did muster a reply with Colm Finnegan floating the ball over Rhys Camlin and into the net for his sides second and Pearse Lynch adding his third point from play. 

There was still time for Eoin Campbell to steer over his eighth point of the contest and Ciaran McLaughlin to convert a late free as Lámh Dhearg ran out comfortable winners in the end. 

St Brigid’s: M Murnaghan, F Collins, O McCarney, L Logue, C Brown, C Finnegan (1-00), S Kilmartin, N McSherry, P Lynch (0-03), J Moore, S Prenter, C Austin, D Prenter (1-01, 0-01f), T Graham, L Cullinan. 

Lámh Dhearg: R Camlin, C McGarry, D Young, D Cleland, C McLaughlin (0-03, 0-01f), E Stanley, D McGreevy, D Martin (1-02), A Morrow, A McCague (0-02), C McGuigan (0-04), E Campbell (1-08, 0-03f), D O’Connor, A Murray (0-02), E Mackey (0-01). Subs: C Camlin for D Cleland (HT), C Fegan-Lappin (0-01) for D O’Connor (HT), C Tumelty for C McGarry (HT), A Din for D McGreevy (41). 

Referee: Mark McDonald (St Galls)

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