A full list of Fixtures for this week before Easter with senior, senior reserve as well as under-15 leagues scheduled.
BOTH JOHN AND PADDY ARE UNAVAILABLE THIS WEEK DUE TO ILNESS AND WE WOULD ONCE AGAIN ENCOURAGE CLUBS TO SEND US REPORTS ON THEIR MATCHES SO THEY CAN BE INCLUDED ON THE SAFFRON GAEL
Send your report to ptrckmclwn@yahoo.co.uk or john.mcilwaine@yahoo.co.uk
Wed 5th April
Division One (all games at 6.30 pm)
St Brigid’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon
Having failed to gain a single point to date St Brigid’s will seek improvement this time as they play hosts to last year’s beaten senior finalists St Mary’s Aghagallon.
The South Belfast men looked much out of sorts in their three games to date against Ahoghill, Moneyglass, and St Enda’s and this looks another stern test.
Aghagallon enjoyed a fruitful campaign last term, reaching their second senior final and St Brigid’s really need a win but unless major improvement is forthcoming they may struggle to open account.
St John’s v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
St. Johns have recorded back to back wins over Lamh Dearg and Creggan but lost last time out at St. Mary’s Ahoghill.
That was a setback for the Corrigan men but they will return to Corrigan for the visit of Moneyglass to the Whiterock road.
Moneyglass have looked at home back in the top grade this term and although they lost to Aghagallon in round one they recorded victories over St Brigid’s away and Rossa at home.
St John’s will start as firm favourites and fully aided by ground advantage they may well add another couple of points.
O’ Donovan Rossa v St Enda’s Glengormley
Having lost their opening fixture to Aghagallon, St Enda’s got it right last time when they proved too strong for St Brigid’s and they will be striving to add another couple of points away to Rossa.
Hugh Mc Gettigan’s side lost to Moneyglass last time but had opened their account with a win over the visiting St Mary’s Ahoghill and will start this one as slight favourites.
Erin’s Own Cargin v Kickham’s Creggan
Erin’s Own Cargin play hosts to neighbours Creggan and this looks the outstanding fixture of the round and may well attract a sizeable crowd to the Shore road.
The home side have opened account with a win at Whitehill but a reversal at Hannahstown followed and they will hope for improvement in this one.
Creggan, akin to their neighbours have struggled to date but will not be travelling just to fulfil a fixture.
This should be a keenly contested fixture with the Toome men just given a tentative vote.
Tir na nOg Randalstown v Lamh Dhearg
Tir na nOg have struggled to date and remain in search of their opening points as they play hosts to the Hannahstown men at Whitehill.
Lamh Dhearg gained a narrow win over the visiting Cargin last time out after losing to St. John’s and Portglenone.
The Hannahstown men will be hoping for a second win but the Whitehill side may just gain the verdict.
Casement’s Portglenone v St Mary’s Ahoghill
John Mc Keever’s Casement’s remain undefeated to date and are presently top of the table.
They were most impressive last time out with a win at Creggan and they will start favourites as they welcome St. Mary’s to Kelly Park.
This fixture has a life of its own however and Ahoghill have also enjoyed a positive start to 2023 with a couple of victories and the trip to Portglenone will hold no fear but the inform Bannsider’s may well gain the day.
Division Two (all games at 6.30 pm)
All Saint’s Ballymena v St Joseph’s Glenavy
All Saints have started the season well and remain undefeated to date.
They drew with their near neighbours Glenravel in round one but have added back to back victories over Ardoyne and Sarsfields since.
Glenavy have been in good form themselves and also remain undefeated with a victory over Sarsfield’s and shared the points with both Ardoyne and Michael Davitt’s.
This may well be a close one but ground advantage may well prove a deciding factor and ensure another win for All Saints.
St Teresa’s v St Patrick’s Lisburn
St Teresa’s opened the season with a good win over the visiting Intermediate champions Dunloy but the Glen road side have failed to add to that win and will be hoping for better from the visit of St. Patrick’s.
St. Patrick’s drew at home with Cuchullian’s but this looks a more difficult one and a home win is anticipated.
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v Con Magees Glenravel
Cuchullian’s have struggled to make impact in the league to date but no doubt they are more than capable of much better. This is a repeat of the Intermediate Football final which Dunloy won but they will do well to beat the visiting Con Magee’s on this occasion.
St Paul’s v Kickham’s Ardoyne
St Paul’s have struggled to date with only a single point on board and will be hoping for their first win as Kickham’s Ardoyne visit Shaw’s Road.
This should be a close one but ground advantage may well swing it in favour of St. Paul’s.
Gort na Mona v Patrick Sarsfield’s
Gort na Mona suffered relegation from division 1 last year but have started their season well with a full return of points in their games to date.
They proved too strong for St Patricks in their opening game before recording a narrow win over Ardoyne at Fennell Park and they have home advantage for the visit of Sarsfield’s.
Sarsfield’s have struggled in their opening games and have no points to date as they travel to Enright Park.
Sarsfield’s are capable of better but the present climate would suggest victory for the home side.
Michael Davitt’s v St James Aldergrove
St James Aldergrove have started their 2023 season campaign in great form with back to back victories.
They opened with a win over over Dunloy before following with a 4-12 to 0-07 victory over St Teresa’s and they will travel to West Belfast hoping for another win.
Davitt’s are also unbeaten to date in the league and they sit proudly at the top of the table with wins over Sarsfields and Glenavy. A close game in prospect in this one with a share of the spoils possible.
Division Three (all games at 6.30 pm)
Patrick Pearses v St Malachy’s
Patrick Pearses share top spot in this division and they will hope to retain that position as St Malachy’s visit.
St Agnes v Eire Og
A close one in prospect in this one as Eire Og meet St Agnes at Woodland’s with a narrow win for the South Belfast men possible.
St Comgall’s Antrim v Wolfe Tones
St Comgall’s will start this one as firm favourites as Wolfe Tones visit with a home win anticipated.
Laochra Loch Lao v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s
Cardinal O’ Donnell’s remain unbeaten thus far and they will start this one as firm favourites as they travel to Laochra Loch Lao.
Thursday 6th April
Under-15 Football League (all games at 6.30 pm)
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v St Brigid’s
St Enda’s v Gort na Mona
St Paul’s v Casement’s Portglenone
Division Two (all games at 6.30 pm)
St John’s v St Teresa’s
Patrick Sarsfield’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon
St Joseph’s Glenavy v Lamh Dhearg
Kickham’s Ardoyne v Michael Davitt’s
Division Three (all games at 6.30 pm)
All Saint’s Ballymena v Con Magees Glenravel
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St James Aldergrove
Tir na Nog Randalstown v Erin’s Own Cargin
Kickham’s Creggan v St Mary’s Rasharkin
Division Four (all games at 6.30 pm)
St Comgall’s Antrim v St Enda’s (2)
St Brigid’s (2) v St Paul’s (2)
O’ Donovan Rossa v St Patrick’s Lisburn
Friday 7th April Senior Reserve
Division One (all games 6.30 pm)
St Brigid’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon
O’ Donovan Rossa v St Enda’s Glengormley
Tir na Nog Randalstown v Lamh Dhearg
Erin’s Own Cargin v Kickham’s Creggan
Division Two (all games 6.30 pm)
Con Magees Glenravel v Michael Davitt’s
St James Aldergrove v St Mary’s Rasharkin
Erin’s Own Cargin (2) v St Joseph’s Glenavy
St Patrick’s Lisburn v St Paul’s
Patrick Sarsfield’s v St Mary’s Ahoghill
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v Kickham’s Ardoyne