Another round of the football league fixtures are scheduled for Wednesday evening.
The stretch in the evenings is now evident and the start time for games is now 7.30 pm which will make it a bit easier for the travelling team.
(all games at 7.30pm)
Division One
St John’s v O’ Donavan Rossa
This fixture brings together fierce long term rivals as the Johnnies play hosts to Rossa in a game which will certainly attract plenty of attention.
The Johnnies have been going well in the early part of the season but have suffered back to back defeats in their latest outings and will be aiming to get back to winning ways.
Rossa have two wins to date with a victory over Aghagallon away and a home win over St. Mary’s Ahoghill but could do with another win.
This one should be close with home advantage making St. John’s favourite but a draw cannot be ruled out.
Lamh Dhearg v St Mary’s Ahoghill
Ahoghill are on the crest of a form wave at present and a win over the visiting St Gall’s last time was their fourth to date and Chris McGlone’s charges will travel up to Hannahstown in a positive mood.
It took Lamh Dhearg a while to get going this year but a win at Creggan last time underlined improvement and they will return to Hannahstown for this one.
Although Ahoghill are ahead of their hosts in the table at the moment if the Lamh’s can produce the form they showed at Creggan they may well gain another victory.
Tir na nOg Randalstown v St Enda’s
Tir na nOg seem to have their backs against the wall at present as the Whitehill men look for a second win of the season as they welcome the in-form St Enda’s.
They gave Moneyglass a run for their money last time out and they will hope to continue that form in this one.
St Enda’s took time to get it together this term but the Hightown side have hit form recently when they followed an away win at Portglenone with a victory over the visiting Cargin.
The home side are in need of points but although they have home advantage they may struggle to make that count against an inform St. Enda’s.
Erin’s Own Cargin v St Mary’s Aghagallon
This looks a contender for ‘match of the day’ as Cargin play hosts to Aghagallon in a repeat of last year’s county championship final.
Erin’s Own have not been at their best in the league to date and they will seek improvement in this one following a reversal up at Hightown last time out.
Cargin are capable of much better however and although Aghagallon currently occupy second place in the league, they will do well to get anything from this one.
St Gall’s v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
St. Gall’s lost to Chris Mc Glone’s Ahoghill at Clooney last time out and will be keen to get back to winning ways as Moneyglass visit Milltown.
Moneyglass have settled well in their first year in division 1 and have recorded three victories to date.
St. Gall’s will start this one as firm favourites but although ground advantage may well aid their cause Moneyglass are likely to provide a stiff test.
Casement’s Portglenone v St Brigid’s
Casement’s lead the way in the ratings despite losing to St. Enda’s at Kelly Park and drawing away to Aghagallon in their last two games and they will look for a positive return again here as St Brigid’s visit.
St. Brigid’s have struggled in the early stages of the season but back to back wins at Rossa and at home to the Johnnies suggests they are starting to get it together as they travel down to the South West.
This could be a close one but although the city men have shown vast improvement recently this looks a tough one and ground advantage may well swing it Casement’s way.
Division Two
Con Magees Glenravel v Michael Davitt’s
Glenravel have only lost once to date and proved too strong for St Patrick’s last time out but this may well prove a tougher test as they welcome a Davitt’s side who started their season well.
Davitt’s lost for the first time to Gort na Mona at Enright Park last time out and will feel they would need something from this one if they are to stay in touch with the league leaders.
Glenravel will start as firm favourites and although their visitors will give them a test, a home win for the Con Magees looks probable.
St Patrick’s Lisburn v Kickham’s Ardoyne
Lisburn based St Patrick’s are struggling to make impact in this division and they await an opening win as they play hosts to Ardoyne in this one.
Ardoyne have been playing well this year but those good performances have not always been reflected in their results and although Lisburn will have home advantage, they may well struggle to cope with their visitors with a win for Ardoyne anticipated.
St James Aldergrove v Patrick Sarsfield’s
Aldergrove remain unbeaten to date and they will start this one as favourites as Sarsfield’s visit Crumlin.
St James’s proved too good for Ardoyne last time and they will hope to maintain their good form from the visit of the Stewartstown Road side.
Sarsfield’s have been hit and miss this year but they recorded a good win over the visiting St Teresa’s last time out.
That was their second win of the season but they will be asked a sterner question as they travel to Crumlin to take on St. James’.
Aldergrove will start this one as firm favourites and although the Paddies may ask questions, a home win is anticipated.
St Teresa’s v St Joseph’s Glenavy
St Teresa’s enjoyed a good win over the visiting Ardoyne in their penultimate game but an eight point defeat followed at Sarsfields last Wednesday night.
The Glen road side are back on their own sod this time as they welcome St Joseph’s Glenavy.
Glenavy are sitting in third spot in the ratings at present and they will travel up to the Glen road hoping to maintain their recent good form.
This could be a close one but confidence reigns at Glenavy at the minute and the South West side may gain another couple of points.
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v All Saint’s Ballymena
Reigning Intermediate champions Cuchullian’s Dunloy have struggled this season with quite a number of their successful championship side still missing.
They remain without a victory to date and this looks another tough test for the dual club as the unbeaten All Saint’s visit Pearse Park.
There is no doubt that Cuchullian’s are capable of much better than they have shown to date but the present climate would suggest another win for the Ballymena men looks probable.
St Paul’s v Gort na Mona
St Paul’s have struggled this year and with just one win to date the Shaw’s road men will look for an upturn in fortunes sooner rather than later.
They lost heavily at Ballymena last time but will have home advantage against Gort na Mona.
Gort na Mona suffered relegation from the top grade at the end of 2022 and may well have a quick return to the top grade on their minds.
The men from the Mona Bypass had a good win over Davitt’s last time and they will travel across to Shaw’s road as favourites to gain another victory.
Division Three
St Mary’s Rasharkin v St Malachy’s
St Mary’s Rasharkin made it seven wins on succession last time when they gained a good win over O’ Donnell’s at MacRory Park to remain top of the ratings.
They will welcome the men from the Markets to Dreen in this one and will be strongly fancied to continue on the winning trail.
Wolfe Tones v Eire Og
Wolfe Tones have battled hard but have found wins hard to come by and they will do well to get anything from the visit of Eire Og.
Patrick Pearses v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s
O’ Donnell’s gave Rasharkin a run for their money when the South West side visited MacRory Park last time but they face another stiff hurdle as they travel to North Belfast to play the inform Pearses
St Comgall’s Antrim v Laochra Loch Lao
St Comgall’s were expected to be challengers in this division but have underperformed to date and and they will face another stiff test in this one as Laochra Loch Lao visit Antrim.