Another round of football fixtures on Wednesday evening as the evenings lengthen with a full selection of games in both Divisions One and Two.
Geordie McGuckin takes a look at Wednesday night’s games and makes his predictions.
Division One (7.00pm)
St Enda’s v Tir na nOg
Reigning Intermediate champions, Tir nanOg lost last time at home to Ahoghill and will look for a better return here as they take the road up to Glengormley to meet St Enda’s.
The Randalstown men need to get back to winning ways if they are to secure status and this may well prove a difficult assignment.
St Enda’s have been going well to date and with only a single defeat when they lost out to Rossa, they remain in touch at the top of the table.
The Hightown men claimed another couple of points at Enright Park on Sunday last when they beat Gort na Mona and although the Randalstown Blues will test their mettle a win for St Enda’s looks probable.
St Mary’s Ahoghill v Casement’s Portglenone
Ahoghill came away from Whitehill with both points last time out and they will return to Cloney for the visit of near neighbours, and keen rivals Casements.
St Mary’s came from behind to secure that victory at Whitehill and they will hope to build on their recent good form as the Portglenone visit.
Casement’s remain unbeaten in the league to date and under the new management of John Mc Keever they will be intent on silverware this term after coming close in the recent past.
Casement’s will certainly enter this one as firm favourites but they have not performed at their best in recent visits to Cloney and they need to be at their best this time if they are to retain their unbeaten record.
Lamh Dhearg v St John’s
St John’s with three wins to date will look for another positive return as they travel to Hannahstown to meet Lamh Dhearg.
The Corrigan men met with defeat in their opener, finishing a full nine points behind the visiting Casement’s but they have been in good form since with three wins on the bounce and they will travel up the road in a positive mode.
Lamh Dhearg haven’t managed a win this term but have recorded draws against Cargin and Rossa ensuring just a couple of points gained for their efforts to date.
They lost to Creggan last time by ten points and if they cannot up the tempo on their return to Hannastown then the inform Johnnies can take points.
Erin’s Own Cargin v St Brigid’s
League champions Cargin have struggled to get it together this term in defence of this silverware.
The Toome men lost out to their near neighbours Creggan last time and that reversal is certain to have made a mark as they meet up with St Brigid’s.
St Brigid’s have had an up and down season to date with a couple of wins mirrored by a similar number of defeats.
They won last time out when they proved too strong for the visiting St Gall’s but this is a tougher task against a Cargin team who will want to put the Creggan defeat behind thewm.
St Mary’s Aghagallon v Kickham’s Creggan
A repeat of the county final as the reigning champions Creggan, visit the beaten finalists Aghagallon, in what looks an attractive fixture.
The home side have a couple of wins to date and will be raring to go and with home advantage and a big support they will be hoping to avenge that championship reversal.
Creggan lost tyo St. Enda’s at Hightown but have underlined current wellbeing since with a win over Cargin in Toome followed by another over Lamh Dhearg last time.
Creggan will start this one as favourites and although the home side will provide a stiff test for their visitors, the Kickham’s are given the nod.
St Gall’s v Gort na Mona
St Gall’s under a new management team are in the midst of team building and the former Ulster and All Ireland club champions may well have to be patient in their progress with only a single positive return to date.
The Milltown men came close last time at St Brigid’s and travel up to Enright Park seeking a better return.
Gort na Mona remain without a win thus far but under the care of new man at the helm, Paddy Nugent they are capable of improvement.
St Gall’s will enter the fray as firm favourites and although they may not be given an easy time by the home side, a win for the Milltown men is probable.
Division Two (7.00pm)
St Teresa’s v St Mary’s Rasharkin
St Teresa’s opened their campaign with a win over Glenavy but have struggled since and the Glen Road men will be hoping for a change in fortunes from the visit of Rasharkin.
Having gained promotion last term Rasharkin, under the management of Mark Dougan and Ciaran Mc Cartney opened their account with an opening day win over Glenravel and although they have not added any points since they have been far from disgraced in their games since.
The Dreen men lost out to table toppers Moneyglass last time by a point and if they travel to Belfast in a similar mode they may well give St Teresa’s a run for their money.
Michael Davitt’s v All Saint’s Ballymena
Enigmatic and unpredictable, was an unwanted label attached to Davitt’s in the past few seasons but that is certainly not the case this year as the west Belfast men remain unbeaten to date in 2022.
They continued in positivity last time when they accounted for the inform Glenavy and they will look forward to this one as All Saint’s visit.
All Saint’s lost their opening two games but following a good Ulster League campaign the Ballymena men returned to Division 2 action and proved too strong for the visiting Ardoyne before halting the previously unbeaten run of St Paul’s in their latest fixture,
That latest 2-13 to 0-08 win at the Shaw’s road underlines improvement by the Ballymena side and another positive return in Belfast looks possible.
St James Aldergrove v Patrick Sarsfield’s
St James Aldergrove have been inconsistent with a record of two wins and the same numbers of defeats to date and lost to Glenravel in Crumlin on Sunday past.
Sarsfield’s, with just one win to date will hope for improvement but the Aldergrove men will start this one as firm favourites and they should gain the day.
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v St Joseph’s Glenavy
Moneyglass have impressed to date with four wins on the trot and the St Ergnat’s men lead the way in the division.
The Marian Hill side had to dig deep to gain a narrow verdict over the visiting Rasharkin last time and they will be wary of the challenge brought by the Glenavy men.
The ‘Chapel Hill’ side have been rather hit and miss to date and on a good day they may cause their hosts some problems, but the home side will enter the fray as firm favourites and they should continue on the winning trail.
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v Con Magees Glenravel
Cuchullian’s are going well this year with just one defeat to date.
They proved far too good for St Teresa’s on Sunday, recording a 3-18 to 2-01 win and they will welcome the visiting Glenravel men in a positive frame of mind.
The Con Magee’s have recorded a couple of wins to date and a two point win at Aldergrove last time underlined current improvement as they take the road to Dunloy and this may well be required if Joe Cassidy’s men are to leave with the two points secured.