There’s another round of football fixtures scheduled for Wednesday evening as the programme makes progress towards the Split
Wed 17th May
Division One
Lamh Dhearg v St Enda’s
Lamh Dhearg had a slow start in the league but have gained in stride of late. They had a good win over the in-form Moneyglass last time at Marian Hill to underline current wellbeing and they have home advantage this time as they welcome St Enda’s to Hannahstown.
St Enda’s have been inconsistent this season and they seem to struggle without their county men in harness.
They failed to cope with the visiting Gall’s last time and this looks a sterner test.
Lamh Dhearg will start this one as firm favourites and although the Glengormley men will not go down without a struggle a home win does look the most likely result.
Tir na nOg Randalstown v St Brigid’s
Tir na nOg recorded a good win over the visiting St Enda’s two weeks ago before giving St. Mary’s a run for their money when they visited Aghagallon last time.
They welcome St Brigid’s to Whitehill for this one in search of a much needed victory.
This one may well be close but St. Brigid’s will be without their county contingent and the home side are given a tentative nod.
Kickham’s Creggan v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
A local derby with St Ergnat’s Moneyglass who gained promotion last term, paying a visit to their neighbours and current league champions Kickham’s Creggan.
The home side are struggling this season with only a couple of victories to their credit to date and they will need improvement if they are to gain victory over their neighbours.
Erin’s Own Cargin v O’ Donovan Rossa
Cargin have gained in stride after a poor start and their latest win over the visiting St Gall’s saw them climb to third place in the current league ratings.
Recent meetings between these sides have been close but ground advantage may well tip the balance in favour of Ronan Devlin’s charges.
St Gall’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon
St Gall’s asked questions of Cargin when they visited Toome last time and they will return to Milltown for the visit of Aghagallon for this one. Aghagallon have impressed in the league this term and currently sit in second place and the beaten county finalist’s in2022 will travel in search of another couple of pointsAghagallon will start as favourites but they will face a stiff enough test without their county players and they may well have to settle for a share of the points.
Casement’s Portglenone v St John’s
Casement’s currently top division 1 and the Kelly Park side will hope to add another couple of points in this one as the Johnnies visit. Games featuring this duo are by tradition close, hard fought encounters and this latest chapter may well follow in the same trend as previous. St. John’s have dipped in form following a good start to the season and Portglenone will start as favourites and a win for John McKeever’s men looks likely.
Division Two
All games at 7.30pm
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St Pauls
Reigning Intermediate champions Cuchullian’s have struggled this season and have only one point from their 8 starts to date. They are in desperate need of a win as they play hosts to St Paul’s in this one.
St Paul’s have also struggled but have shown improvement lately but lost last time out at neighbour’s Sarsfields.
Ground advantage may well lend a hand to the Cuchullian’s cause but a draw and a share of the spoils may be the best they can muster.
Con Magees Glenravel v Patrick Sarsfield’s
Glenravel are going well this term and are currently lying second in the ratings, close on the heels of Ballymena and they will be hoping for another win from the visit of Sarsfields.
Sarsfield’s sit in 6th place in the division and are aiming for a playoff spot as the split approaches. The home side are going well at present however and a home win looks likely.
St Patrick’s Lisburn v St Joseph’s Glenavy
St Joseph’s Glenavy have been a bit hit and miss to date but the Chapel Hill side still occupy a place in the playoff zone, currently residing in fifth position.
They will be looking to cement that place with the addition of more points as they travel to Lisburn.
Lisburn based St Patrick’s have struggled to gain points in the division thus far despite honest endeavour and the home side will be hoping to get the better of their visitors with an away win anticipated.
St James Aldergrove v All Saint’s Ballymena
This could be a close one as the current leaders in the division All Saints travel to Crumlin to play Aldergrove.
All Saints have recorded 7 wins and two draws from 9 starts in the division while Aldergrove have won all their six games played to date and a win over their visitors would put them in a strong position.
This looks a hard one to call but home advantage may well swing it in favour of the Crumlin men but a draw cannot be ruled out.
St Teresa’s v Gort na Mona
St Teresa’s have been inconsistent in 2023 but their four wins to date have all come at home and they are a formidable opponent on their own ground. They recorded a good win over the visiting Glenavy in their last home fixture and they will be looking for a similar result as they welcome Gort na Mona to the Glen road.
Gort na Mona lost their place in the top grade last year and after a good start in division 2 their form has dipped recently. The visitors need a result if they are to maintain their top six place coming up to the split but they may struggle to get a full return from this one.
Kickham’s Ardoyne v Michael Davitt’s
Only a point separates these sides in the table and this may well be a close one as Kickham’s play hosts to the Falls Road side.
Ardoyne have made progress this term and they will look to make ground advantage count and aid Martin Kane’s side to a home victory.
Division Three
All games at 7.30pm
Laochra Loch Lao v St Mary’s Rasharkin
St Mary’s Rasharkin are going well this season and they will travel to Belfast to meet Laochra Loch Lao undefeated to date but they could face a stern challenge against a Loch Lao side currently sitting in third place. Rasharkin should have enough to keep their unbeaten run in tact however.
St Agnes v Wolfe Tones
Wolfe Tones will travel over to Woodlands to meet St. Agnes seeking much needed points but will find them hard to come bye against the Aggies on their own patch.
Patrick Pearses v St Comgall’s Antrim
St Comgall’s returned to winning ways last time with a good home win over Laochra Loch Lao but they will have to be at their best as the travel to take on third placed Pearses who still retain promotion ambitions.
Eire Og v St Malachy’s
Only a single point separates this duo in the ratings with the home side a place above the Mals who may reverse such placing with a win gained over their hosts.