Geordie McGuckin takes a look at Wednesday night’s games and makes his predictions
The football leagues continue tomorrow night with further rounds in Division One and Two games.
Division One (7.30pm)
Casement’s Portglenone v St Mary’s Aghagallon
A repeat of last season’s Senior Championship semi-final is on the cards in this one as the Aghagallon men visit Kelly Park to meet up with Casement’s again.
The St Mary’s men came out on top in that one but Portglenone have emerged from that one to impress in the league thus far with only a single defeat to date as they continue to occupy top spot in the ratings.
Aghagallon gave Kickham’s a run for their money in the race for the senior title but have not impressed thus far in their league programme.
St Mary’s will have to raise their game to meet this challenge, but John Mc Keever’s men will start as firm favourites and the present climate does suggest a home win in likely.
St Enda’s Glengormley v Erin’s Own Cargin
St Enda’s have looked forward to this one as Cargin visit Hightown. They always ask questions of the Toome men but an eight point loss to St Gall’s last time does not auger well for their chances but they will are likely to be up for this one.
Cargin have been faring well of late and they have continued to climb the table.
The Toome men will still have the services of their county players again in this one and although the home side will give it everything and this may well be a close affair but Cargin are given the vote.
St Brigid’s v St John’s
St Brigid’s and St John’s have not been firing on all cylinders this term, with both occupying places in the lower echelons of the division, but similarly both are more than capable of improvement.
The Johnnies currently with six points in the bag sit a place above their hosts in this one and will hope to maintain that position.
St Brigid’s are certainly capable of better but the Corrigan men may well leave with the points secured.
St Mary’s Ahoghill v Lamh Dhearg
Ahoghill with four need the win but the Clooney side have a lengthy injury list and are struggling for points.
Danny O’ Neill’s men have home advantage for the visit of Lamh who will arrive as firm favourites but if the home have some of their injured back on duty then they may give their visitors a run for their money.
Gort na Mona v Kickham’s Creggan
With just a single victory to their name Gort na Mona need a win if they are to banish the dark spectre of relegation which remains in full view over Enright park.
A flicker of light was seen when they defeated Aghagallon in their penultimate game but the visit of the County champions provides a formidable ask if they hope for a similar return.
Creggan have been faring well this term in the league with just a single reversal to date and the Kickham’s will take the road up the Belfast in a confident mood and they will be firm favourites to gain another couple of points.
Tir na nOg Randalstown v O’ Donovan Rossa
Tir na nOg have been faring well in their first season in division 1 with seven points secured to date and the reigning Intermediate, and division two league champions seem at home in the top grade.
Michael O’ Kane’s charges look comfortable and will look forward to this one as the in-form Rossa visit Whitehill.
Rossa took a few games to grab hold of the proverbial bit this term but the Shaw’s road side are up and running as recent results wins over St Brigid’s and Aghagallon pay testament.
Hugh Mc Gettigan’s men will have to be at their best if they are to gain full points with the prospect of a share of the spoils possible.
Division Two (7.30pm)
Patrick Sarsfield’s v St Teresa’s
Sarsfield’s have struggled in the league this season with just a single victory and they need to improve if they are to banish the spectre of possible relegation.
They welcome St Teresa’s to the Bear Pit for this one and the Paddies will be striving for improvement as they welcome the Glen road men.
St Teresa’s have also struggled to gain momentum thus far in the league with just a couple of wins to date.
This looks likely to be a close one which could go either way with just a tentative vote awarded to the visitors.
Con Magees Glenravel v St Paul’s
Nothing separates this duo in the ratings as Glenravel welcome St Paul’s to Fr. Maginn Park with both on 10 points to date.
The Con Magee’s celebrated a win at the Bear Pit last time and Joe Cassidy’s men look in good form at present whilst their Shaw’s road visitors were beaten on their own sod by Glenavy on Sunday past.
The Glensmen will start this one as favourites and with ground advantage they may well continue in winning ways
All Saints Ballymena v Cuchullian’s Dunloy
All Saints have proved a trifle unpredictable to date continuing to mix the good with the mediocre.
Liam Bradley’s men were in fine form last time out when they secured a good win over the visiting Rasharkin and they are possibly gaining momentum as they welcome Cuchullian’s to Quinn Park.
Dunloy have also a proved quite enigmatic in their performances to date and have suffered back to back defeats in their latest two games.
All Saint’s will start this one as slight favourites and although the visitors could cause the Baker Boys some problems a home win looks probable.
Kickham’s Ardoyne v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
Ardoyne have shown improvement after a sluggish start and recorded a good win over the visiting St Teresa’s last time.
The North Belfast men enjoyed a 2-14 to 2-09 victory over their West Belfast based rivals in that one and should boost their confidence as the unbeaten Moneyglass visit.
St Ergnat’s have only dropped one single point to date when held to a draw by St Paul’s on their own sod.
The Marian Hill side have continued in winning ways since that one and they will travel to Belfast in a confident mood and should return with the points secured.
Michael Davitt’s v St James Aldergrove
Davitt’s lead the way in the division and the west Belfast men have 14 points from 8 starts.
The recorded a 2-11 to 1-09 victory over the visiting Dunloy last time and will play hosts to Aldergrove in this one with confidence soaring.
Aldergrove lost to Moneyglass last time out but are capable of challenging anyone on their day but they will face a tough test on their visit to Davitt’s.
St Joseph’s Glenavy v St Mary’s Rasharkin
St. Joseph’s are well placed to claim the 6th spot as the leagues near the split and with home advantage they may well collect another brace of useful points but they will get nothing easy from a Rasharkin side who need the points themselves to climb out of the bottom two.