Geordie McGuckin takes a look at Wednesday night’s football fixtures and makes his predictions
Another round of the football league fixtures and despite it being early April this is the sixth round of the programme and teams involved will have completed four fixtures in a ten day period.
The coming week-end signals a pause with Antrim set to meet Cavan in the Ulster Championship at Corrigan.
Division One (7.15 pm)
St Enda’s v St Mary’s Ahoghill
St Enda’s started this season well with a win over the visiting county champions Creggan but their form has dipped and they suffered a heavy defeat to Portglenone at Kelly Park on Sunday. They have they have recorded three wins to date however and back on their own ground they will start as favourites as Ahoghill visit.
St Mary’s have recorded a couple of wins this season and although they were beaten by the visiting Casement’s last time they only lost that on by the bare minimum.
The Cloney side will take to road to Glengormley intent on adding points but St Enda’s will start as favourites and they may well gain the day.
O’ Donovan Rossa v St John’s
Another meeting of old foes as Rossa play hosts to St. John’s at Shaw’s Road.
The home side have recorded 1 win and two draws from five starts but a share of the points with Creggan last time on the reigning county champion’s home ground suggests improvement as they look forward to this one.
St John’s having started the season well but seem to have lost their way, suffering defeat at Hannahstown before failing to cope with the visiting Aghagallon last time.
The Corrigan men will not need much encouragement as they face the ‘old enemy’ with a close one in prospect and the possibility of a draw.
Lamh Dhearg v Gort na Mona
Lamh Dearg drew with Cargin on day one but have lost two and won two since and a a last minute penalty strike from the ever reliable Paddy Cunningham ensured a win over the Johnnies on their penultimate game and they followed suit last time when the gained the verdict over St Brigid’s.
Gort na Mona have struggled this term and although the Enright park residents will give it their utmost they are unlikely to get anything from this one.
Erin’s own Cargin v Tir na nOg
Tir na nOg recorded their third win of the season when they defeated St. Gall’s at Whitehill on Sunday and the first division new boys will travel to Toome to meet Cargin in a positive mode.
The Whitehill men showed grit and determination to come from off the pace to gain the verdict over the visiting St Gall’s and Michael O’ Kane will lead his charges down to the home of the reigning league champion’s with a spring in their step.
Cargin have fared well enough this term but fail to cope with the challenge offered by Creggan lately but Ronan Devlin’s charges returned to winning ways with a home win over St Brigid’s followed by a victory away to Gort na Mona.
The Whitehill contingent may well see this as an opportunity to take another big scalp but the home side will start as warm favourites and they may well gain the verdict.
St Mary’s Aghagallon v St Brigid’s
Having lost to Creggan last Wednesday evening, last year’s beaten county finalists St Mary’s Aghagallon returned to their best last time out.
They gained an impressive win over St John’s at Corrigan, recording a 3-08 to 1-09 verdict and they will welcome St Brigid’s on Wednesday evening in positivity.
St Brigid’s have not been seen at their best as yet with just a couple wins to date but the South Belfast side have a strong panel and are more than capable but the climate to date would strongly suggest a home victory is on the cards.
St Gall’s v Casement’s Portglenone
Casement’s lead the top division to date and John Mc Keever’s side will travel to Milltown to play St Gall’s intent on the retention of their unbeaten record.
The Bannsider’s recorded an impressive victory over the visiting St Enda’s and they will take the road up to Belfast in a confident mode.
St Gall’s are in the midst of team building this term and the Milltown Blues are a work in project but appear to be travelling in the right direction. They lost narrowly to Tir na nOg at Whitehill on Sunday after leading most of the way.
Casement’s have started the season well and the Portglenone men will travel to Belfast in confidence.
They proved far too strong for the visiting St Enda’s last time out and although nothing is easy for visitors to Milltown, Casements may well take the points.
Division Two (7.15)
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v St Paul’s
Moneyglass with an unbeaten record to date lead the way in the division and they will be seeking to add another win as St Paul’s visit Marian Hill.
The St Ergnat’s men were taken right to the wire in their last couple of games against Glenavy and Dunloy but although somewhat wayward in front of the posts at times they were good value for their wins and on home turf they will look forward to this one.
St Paul’s led the way in the ratings for a time before losing to All Saints but they did regain the positive last time with a win over SDarsfields at the Bear Pit. Moneyglass are resolute on their own sward and with ground advantage they should record another win.
Cuchullain’s Dunloy v St James Aldergrove
Dunloy have been a trifle hit and miss to date but there is no doubting the dual club’s abilities with the big ball.
They lost to Moneyglass last time but pushed St. Ergnat’s all the way before losing by three points.
Aldergrove took a time to get going this term but a 0-21 total recorded over the visiting St Teresa’s last time underlines current wellbeing.
The Crumlin men will travel to Dunloy where they are likely to face a much stiffer challenge but Aldergrove may well gain the verdict.
St Teresa’s v Michael Davitt’s
Davitt’s have been excellent this year but dropped a point to the visiting Rasharkin on Sunday, only their second point dropped this year when a late Shane Hasson goal gave the visitors a share of the spoils. Davitt’s still retain unbeaten to date and they will hope to remain so after this visit to St Teresa’s.
St Teresa’s are struggling for numbers at present but they have recorded a couple of wins and if they can get their best 15 on the field they can be a match for anyone, especially at home but the current climate suggests a win for Davitt’s.
St Mary’s Rasharkin v Kickham’s Ardoyne
Rasharkin did well last time out when they drew at Davitt’s and they will return to Dreen for this one as they welcome Ardoyne.
Last year’s division 3 league winners, Rasharkin have been playing well this season but do not have the points on board that their efforts have deserved, losing narrowly to Dunloy and Moneyglass.
Ardoyne have had a poor start to the season but recorded a good win over Glenravel on Sunday and this will have given them confidence but Rasharkin’s recent improvement should see them take the points.
Con Magees Glenravel v All Saint’s Ballymena
Con Magee’s came a cropper last time when they lost to an Ardoyne side who had no points on board previous to the Con Magee’s visit.
Glenravel have recorded some good results this year however with their win over Aldergrove in Crumlin and victory over Cuchullain’s in Dunloy suggesting they are capable of much better.
All Saints have been a trifle hit and miss in in the league but last year’s beaten Intermediate championship finalists are more than capable when they are in the mood and if they are at their best might just shade it.
St Joseph’s Glenavy v Patrick Sarsfield’s
Glenavy have been inconsistent this term but not easily beaten at home and they will look forward to this visit of Sarsfields to Chapel Hill.
The south west side are in need of a win as they remain a little too close to the bottom of the pile for peace of mind.
Sarsfield’s with just one win from their labours to date also need to pick up the pace but they will travel out to Glenavy more in hope than with expectation.
Division Three (7.15 pm)
St Patrick’s Lisburn v St Malachy’s
St Patricks moved to the top of the table on Sunday with a win over St. Agnes and they should remain there following the visit of St. Malachy’s
Patrick Pearses v St Agnes
Following a sluggish start to the season Pearses made it two wins on the trot when they defeated Eire Og and Bhulf Ton and they may well continue in winning ways this time as they visit Woodlands and cross swords with the Aggies.
Laochra Loch Lao v St Gall’s (B)
Laochra Loch Lao have found the going tough this season and they may well struggle to open their winning account against the visiting St Gall’s.
St Comgall’s Antrim v Bhulf Ton
St Comgall’s were held to a draw against O’ Donnell’s at MacRory park last time but they should return to winning ways here as the welcome Bhulf Ton to Dunsilly.
Eire Og v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s
O’Donnell’s drew with St Comgall’s last time and might have had both points and if they can sustain that form they may well prove too strong for Eire Og.