The Second round of the football league is scheduled for Sunday (12th) and this will provide a ‘wake up’ call for the clubs involved.
The senior club games are set to get under way at 10.00 am and this early start could provide problems for the travelling clubs.
The inclement weather forecast for the next few days could play havoc with the scheduled fixtures with the fixtures secretary hoping for improvement by Sunday.
Division One
(All games at 10.00 am)
St Brigid’s v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
St Brigid’s suffered defeat in their opening game down at Clooney when they lost to Ahoghill.
The South Belfast men started that one as firm favourites but found the James O’ Connell inspired St Mary’s men too hot to handle and they will look for better this time as they welcome Moneyglass to Musgrave Park.
Moneyglass lost their opening game in the top grade last week when a Eunan Walsh goal sowed the seeds of victory for the 2022 beaten county championship finalists, Aghagallon and they will travel to the City hoping for a first win but St. Brigid’s may just shade it.
Erin’s Own Cargin v St Gall’s
Cargin opened their league campaign on a positive note when they gained the points with victory at Whitehill over Tir na nOg and they return to Toome for visit of St. Gall’s.
St Gall’s lost to Casement’s in their opening game and Paddy Mc Shane’s charges will travel down to Toome seeking a better return in this early morning fixture.
Cargin will start as firm favourites on their own sod and may well collect the points.
St Mary’s Aghagallon v St Enda’s Glengormley
St Mary’s opened their league campaign last week with a win over Moneyglass at Marian Hill and they will enjoy home advantage for round two as St Enda’s visit.
The Hightown side sat had no game last week but they will travel out to the home of last season’s beaten county senior finalists with a degree of confidence.
Aghagallon with the legend that is Pete Mc Grath holding the reins may well have one eye on the championship this year but ground advantage may well tip the balance in their favour.
Casement’s Portglenone v Lamh Dhearg
Casement’s opened their league account with a win up at Milltown and John Mc Keever’s charges will return to home base for this one as they play hosts to the Hannahstown men at Kelly Park.
Lamh Dearg lost to the visiting St John’s in their opening game with the Whiterock road men gaining the points at Hannastown.
Portglenone began their league campaign with an away win in round one and they will start as favourites to continue on the winning trail in this one with a home victory envisaged.
O’ Donovan Rossa v St Mary’s Ahoghill
Ahoghill got off to a great start last week with a home win over St. Brigid’s and will travel with some confidence for this one.
Rossa lost away to Creggan by the minimum in round one with a late Tiernan Mc Ateer point proving the difference and ensuring a win for the home side in a close encounter.
Hugh Mc Gettigan’s men underlined current wellbeing in that first round encounter and if that is maintained or possibly built upon they may well gain the verdict on home soil.
Division Two
Michael Davitt’s v St Teresa’s
Davitt’s opened their account for 2023 with a narrow win over Sarsfields at the Bear Pit, a venue on which the Paddies are never easily overturned.
Davitt’s will return to the familiar terrain of Davitt’s Park this time as they welcome Glen Road side, St Teresa’s.
Liam Mc Goldrick is still in charge of Teresa’s and with a 4-12 to 0-08 win over Dunloy on day one, they will travel up the road with wind in their proverbial sails.
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St James Aldergrove
Dunloy started the season as the Intermediate football champions but with a weakened side they failed to cope with the experienced St Teresa’s on the Glen road.
The Cuchullian’s are back on their own ground for this one and they may well struggle to cope with the challenge offered by the visiting Crumlin men.
St Paul’s v St Patrick’s Lisburn
St Patrick’s gave a good account in their opening game before losing out to the visiting Gort na Mona with only a handful of points in it at conclusion.
The Gorts claiming a 2-10 to 1-08 win.
The Lisburn side are on the road this time as they travel to Shaw’s Road to play St. Paul’s
The home side lost to Aldergrove on day one but they will should get a first win in this one but it could be close.
Gort na Mona v Con Magees Glenravel
Joe Cassidy’s Glenravel made it all the way to the Intermediate final last year and they started this season’s league campaign with a draw against All Saint’s at Fr Maginn Park.
The South West side are on the road this time as they travel to West Belfast for a meeting with Gort na Mona at Enright Park.
Gort na Mona won at Lisburn last time and they will line out for this second round encounter with confidence high and with home advantage may gain the points but it could be close.
All Saint’s Ballymena v Kickham’s Ardoyne
Marty Kane’s Kickham’s side collected a valuable point with a share of the spoils from a visit to Chapel Hill last time and they will travel with confidence to Ballymena to play All Saint’s.
Liam Bradley’s All Saint’s had a similar result at Glenravel last time and they will return to Quinn Park hoping for a home win but with quite a number of players still unavailable they could be pushed all they way.
St Joseph’s Glenavy v Patrick Sarsfield’s
Sarsfield’s lost to Davitt’s last time out and will hope for improvement this time as they travel to Glenavy to take on St Joseph’s.
Glenavy earned a share of the points in round one when they drew with Ardoyne at Chapel Hill and they will hope to go one better in this one but it could go either way.
Division Three
Eire Og v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s
Eire Og opened their account in round one with a good win over St Malachy’s but this does look a more difficult assignment as they meet up with O’ Donnell’s.
Patrick Pearses v Wolfe Tones
Reigning Junior champions Padraig Pearses opened their league account with a 5-07 to 1-11 victory over St. Comgall’s in Antrim and they look likely to add another couple of points from this meeting with Wolfe Tones.
Laochra Loch Lao v St Malachy’s
Laochra Loch Lao were well beaten at Dreen by St Mary’s Rasharkin on day one and they will hope for better this time as they play hosts to Malachys.
Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle v St Comgall’s Antrim
McQuillan’s didn’t field on day one and didn’t compete in the league last year but did play in the Junior Championship. Naomh Comhghall should have rtoo much for the Ballycastle side however if the fixture goes ahaead.
Under-17 Division One
All Games 12.00 noon
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St Paul’s
St Paul’s opened their account last week with an impressive win over the visiting Aghagallon and the Shaw’s Road side will hope to continue in winning ways again as they visit Dunloy.
St Enda’s v Kickham’s Creggan
Neither side played last day out so it is difficult to predict a result
St Brigid’s v Erin’s Own Cargin
Cargin open their account in round one with a win over Glenravel but this looks a more difficult assignment as they travel up to Belfast and meet the strong challenge of St Brigid’s who just lost out to St Gall’s on day one.
St Mary’s Aghagallon v St Gall’s
The Milltown side looked good in their opening victory over a much fancied St Brigid’s side and if they continue in such mode another win looks probable.