Geordie McGuckin takes a look at Sunday’s opening football league games
The organising committee will be keeping a firm eye on the sky this week as the opening shots are to be fired in the All County Leagues on Sunday.
A dry week is the minimum required if the programme, which includes a full list of senior activity as well as three rounds of the under-17 leagues is to go ahead uninterrupted.
AC U-17 leagues (all games at noon)
Minor League Division One
Con Magees Glenravel v All Saint’s Ballymena
St Brigid’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon
Erin’s Own Cargin v St Pauls
St Galls v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
Division Two
Patrick Sarsfields v Corpus Christi Gaels
St Enda’s Glengormley v Kickham’s Creggan
Cardinal O’ Donnell’s v O’ Donovan Rossa
Roger Casement’s v Cuchullian’s Dunloy
Gort na Mona v Lamh Dhearg
Division Three
St Mary’s Rasharkin v St Brigid’s (B)
St Patrick’s Lisburn v St Teresa’s
St Comgall’s Antrim v St Paul’s (B)
St Joseph’s Glenavy v St James Aldergrove
The senior leagues will continue at present without senior county players but those will be available later in the season.
ACFL Division One (all games at 2.00pm)
Gort na Mona (bye)
St Brigid’s v Tir na nOg
The Randalstown men had an excellent 2021 season that included a division 2 and Intermediate Championship double and they now look forward to an opening division 1 game with St Brigid’s.
The home side struggled to make major impact in the league last term but they reached the SFC semi-final and will start as favourites as they welcome the Tir na nOg to Musgrave Park.
St John’s v Casement’s Portglenone
Casement’s enjoyed a good 2021 season and now under new management can take another step forward this term and they will look forward to this opening game against the Johnnies.
St. John’s are always difficult to beat at Corrigan and Portglenone will face a stiff challenge but they may well gain the verdict
O’ Donovan Rossa v St Enda’s Glengormley
St Enda’s will be3 hoping to get off to a positive start but may well be tested in this one as they visit Shaw’s road and Rossa.
The home side started last season on a positive note and if such is replicated again they may well claim the verdict.
Lamh Dhearg v Erin’s Own Cargin
Both sides will be without their county players but a close fought affair is anticipated at Hannahstown.
Cargin claimed the league title last term and with greater strength in depth they may well get off the mark with an opening victory.
Kickham’s Creggan v St Mary’s Ahoghill
Creggan celebrated championship success last term and the Kickham’s will see the retention on the Sean MacNamee cup as their main focus in 2022 as they open their league campaign playing hosts to the Clooney men.
Ahoghill under new management with Tony Scullion now on board will certainly be ready for the season ahead but Creggan should open their campaign with a win.
ACFL Division Two
Michael Davitt’s v St Pauls
Davitt’s have struggled to make major impact for a time but they are more than capable in this division when in the mood.
St Paul’s enjoyed a good 2021 season and with a strong juvenile structure bearing fruit they may well continue on the upward, and start this league campaign with a win.
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v Patrick Sarsfield’s
Dunloy struggled to make impact on the football front last term and we will be hoping to make a bigger impact in 2022.
Sarsfields had a poor 2021 season, finishing their campaign without a win and they will seek improvement but such will be tested in this trip to the South West.
St Teresa’s v St Joseph’s Glenavy
St Teresa’s struggled to make impact in the recent past finishing mid table in the league last term and Liam McGoldrick’s charges will look for better this term.
Glenavy had a poor 2021 and the Chapel Hill residents will look for major improvement this term but this looks a tough opener for the South West men.
St May’s Rasharkin v Con Magees Glenravel
Rasharkin enjoyed an excellent season and won promotion from division 3. Mark Dougan is the new man in charge, assisted by Ciaran McCartney but they face a tough opener as they play hosts to Glenravel in round one.
The Glensmen have appointed Joe Cassidy in the management role this season and they will be favourites in this all South West clash.
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v All Saint’s Ballymena
Moneyglass play hosts to All Saint’s in what is usually a close one and this one may well follow in the same mode as Ballymena visit Marian Hill.
All Saint’s had a very good 2021 season finishing runners up in division 2 and beaten Intermediate champions and under former Antrim supremo, Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley they will be hoping to go one further this term but have a poor record away to Sunday’s opposition.
St James Aldergrove v Kickham’s Ardoyne
This looks a close one on paper as Aldergrove play hosts to Ross Carr’s Ardoyne.
The home side under a new management structure of Chris O’ Kane, Paul Cushley, and Fearghal Burke will start as favourites and they may take the points.
ACFL Division 3
St Gall’s (3) v St Patrick’s Lisburn
St Gall’s have entered their third team in this division and they have been asked a serious question here as Lisburn come a calling.
Cardinal O’ Donnell’s v Wolfe Tones
O’Donnell’s have not been seen at their best in the recent past but the Mc Crory park residents may well open account here as new boys, Wolf Tones pay a visit.
Patrick Pearses v Laochra Loch Lao
Laochra Loch Lao have hinted at improvement lately but they may well struggle in this opening assignment as they visit North Belfast and Pearses.
St Comgall’s Antrim v St Malachy’s
Reigning junior champions St Comgall’s with former Antrim man Niall Ward taking the helm should not be troubled in this one as the men from the Markets pay a visit.
Eire Og v St Agnes
This may well be a close one as the Aggies visit South Belfast based Eire og with an away win possible.