The opening round of the 2023 football championship is scheduled to start on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th July with games in all grades, Senior, Intermediate and Junior, down for decision.
All of the championship programmes will start in group stages with the first phase this weekend and continue until the quarter final stages where they will switch to knockout.
Friday 28th July
Senior Football championship (round one)
Group One
St John’s v Tir na nOg (7.30pm)
Tir na nOg recorded a good win over St. Johns at Corrigan on Sunday past to retain their division 1 status for another year and they will travel to the same venue again on Friday evening in search of a championship victory.
St. John’s have had a descent league campaign but had no answer to a Tir na nOg side that needed the points but Friday night’s encounter is likely to be a much more difficult assignment for the Randalstown side.
St. John’s were missing a number of starters for that league encounter and are likely to have most of them back on board on Friday night for a game that takes on a life of its own.
Tir na nOg men were delighted to have ensured their top grade league status and they will travel back to Corrigan seeking a repeat result, but this is championship and the home side are likely to ask much more serious questions of their visitors this time around.
Senior Football Championship
Group Two
Friday 28th July
St Mary’s Ahoghill v Lamh Dhearg (7.30pm)
St Mary’s Ahoghill have enjoyed an excellent season to date finishing in sixth position in the league and Chris Mc Glone’s charges will be seeking a similar positive showing in the championship.
They are certainly not to be underestimated, especially on their own sod and they will look forward to this opening Group 2 meeting with Lamh Dhearg in Clooney.
The Hannahstown side last won the championship in 2017 and with many of that panel still in harness they will look for a repeat in 2023 and will travel down to the South West confident of victory.
Lamh Dhearg will start this one as firm favourites but the Clooney men are not to be underestimated and they may well cause an upset.
Saturday 29th July
O’ Donovan Rossa v Erin’s Own Cargin (5.00pm)
Hugh Mc Gettigan’s side are always up for the challenge and the Shaw’s road residents are expected to be fit and ready for the test when Ronan Devlin’s men pay another visit to Shaw’s Road.
Rossa were the only side to gain a win over Cargin in last year’s championship when they defeated them in the Group stages at the same venue but Cargin went on to take the title.
A close one is very much anticipated in this one and Rossa are certain to ask questions but Erin’s Own may well come up with the answers this time.
Saturday 29th July
St Enda’s V Casement’s Portglenone Saturday 29th July (5.00pm)
With a first division one league title claimed this year, Casements will start their championship campaign in search of the double with a visit to Glengormley to cross swords with St Enda’s.
The Hightown side suffered relegation this year but finished their league campaign with a draw at Moneyglass and a facile victory over St. Gall’s at Hightown.
Casement’s will start as firm favourites but they should be wary of a St. Enda’s side who were short quite a number of regulars during their league campaign and at full strength will ensure that their visitors will have to work hard to earn victory.
Group Three
Saturday 29th July
Kickham’s Creggan v St Galls (5.00pm)
The 2022 champions Kickham’s Creggan lost to near neighbours and close rivals Cargin in the semi-final last year and will be one of the favourites in this year’s championship.
Creggan had a poor league campaign in 2023 in a season decimated by injuries but their return to form in the latter stages and the return from injury of a number of those players suggests they will start this one as favourites.
Former provincial and All Ireland champions St Gall’s are very much in the process of team building at present but the Milltown men are not to be underestimated.
Creggan with ground advantage will start as firm favourites and although the Milltown men will ask questions a home win does look on the cards.
Group Four
Saturday 29th July (5.00pm)
St Mary’s Aghagallon v St Brigid’s
Having lost out in the last two senior finals, St Mary’s Aghagallon will hope they can go a step further this term and enjoy the favours of ground advantage in their Group 4 opener with a good crowd expected for the visit of St. Brigid’s.
St Brigid’s struggled in the league but finished strongly to ensure their place in division 1 next year and with all their players back on board will fancy a run in the championship.
Aghagallon under the experienced guidance of the legendary Pete McGrath are certain to be well prepared for their first step on the championship trail and although St Brigid’s may well provide a stiff challenge, Aghagallon should edge this one.
Friday 28th July
Group One
Intermediate Football Championship (round one)
St Paul’s v Patrick Pearses Friday 28th July (7.30pm)
Last year’s Junior Champions, Pearses finished third in the third division and they will start as underdogs as they visit Shaw’s Road to meet former senior champions St Paul’s.
St Paul’s have slipped down the ratings in recent times but they have been in descent form recently and will be favourites to gain the verdict here.
Con Magees Glenravel v Michael Davitt’s (7.30pm)
With promotion to the top grade already secured as division two league winners the in-form Con Magees will be fancied by many to make it a double in the championship.
Joe Cassidy’s charges will open their championship campaign on their own turf as they plays hosts to Falls Road based Michael Davitt’s and a close one is possible.
Davitt’s are capable if a trifle unpredictable at times but although they will give their hosts a run for their money a win for the Glensmen looks probable.
Friday 28th July
Group Two
St Teresa’s v Kickham’s Ardoyne (7.30pm)
Only two points separated St Teresa’s and Ardoyne at the end of the division 2 campaign as they meet in the Intermediate Championship, Group 2. St Teresa’s will start as favourites with home advantage but they will be made to work hard by the improving Ardoyne.
Group Three
St Comgall’s Antrim v St Mary’s Aldergrove (7.30pm)
Third division St Comgall’s Antrim face what looks like a formidable task in this one as St. James Aldergrove visit Dunsilly.
Aldergrove finished second in division 2 and were still in with a chance of promotion going into their final game of the campaign. St. Comgall’s, with home advantage will give it their best shot but Aldergrove should win comfortably.
Group Four
St Joseph’s Glenavy v Patrick Sarsfield’s (7.30pm)
This looks like another close one as Glenavy play hosts to Sarsfield’s at Chapel Hill.
Friday night’s opponents enjoyed a similar run in the league and although the verdict is hard to call ground advantage may well play a part with a win for Glenavy anticipated.
Junior Football Championship (round one)
Group One Friday 28th July
Laochra Loch Lao v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s (7.30pm)
O’ Donnell’s, finished a close second to Rasharkin in the race for the division three league title and were last year’s Junior Championship finalists and should be strong contenders in this year’s competition.
Laochra Loch Lao enjoyed a good run in the league and may provide a stiff opening round test for the MacRory Park side but O’Donnell’s should start with a win.
St Agnes v Eire Og (7.30pm)
Both sides finished with 13 points from 18 starts in division 3 and the may well be little between them on Friday night with home advantage possibly giving St. Agnes the edge but this one could go either way.
Group Two
Mc Quillan’s v St Malachy’s (7.30pm)
McQuillans did not take part in the league and they may well struggle to cope with the match fit St Malachy’s as the men from the Markets visit Ballycastle.
St Mary’s Rasharkin v Wolfe Tones (7.30pm)
With the division 3 league title already under their belts, St Mary’s Rasharkin will start their Junior Championship campaign as joint favourites with O’Donnell’s and they should be too strong for a Wolf Tones side who have just completed their first league campaign and may struggle against a strong St. Mary’s side.