The second phase of the football championships continue at the week-end with games scheduled in all of the grades, senior, intermediate, and junior.
Senior Football Championship
2nd phase
Group one Sat 12th August
Tir na nOg v Erin’s Own Cargin (Kelly Park Portglenone) 7.00pm
An all South West fixture as the reigning county champions Cargin meet Tir na nOg in Poertglenone.
The Toome men will start this one as odds on favourites following their opening round victory over Rossa at Shaw’s road and that nine point win certainly underlined current wellbeing within the ranks of Ronan Devlin’s side.
This will ensure firm expectations from their strong support base but the men from Randalstown may well provide a strong challenge for their adversaries.
Tir na nOg secured their division one league status again in 2024 but certainly found themselves in a tough group in the championship and an opening game at Corrigan did pose questions.
In the event the Randalstown side lost to a strong St John’s and realistically need something from this one.
This does look another tough one for the Randalstown side but the excellent Darragh Feagan, Eamon Og Mc Allister and Aaron Mc Neilly can ask questions of the Cargin rear guard and they will give it a lash.
Cargin impressed in their opening round victory with the Mc Cann brothers Tomas and Paul, Gerard McCann and Pat Shivers in excellent form and they may well lead the Toome men to another championship victory.
O’ Donovan Rossa v St John’s (Hannahstown) 7.00pm
Rossa lost their opening game to Cargin at Shaw’s Road but are certainly capable of much better and they really need a win here as they face old adversaries St John’s at Hannahstown.
The Johnnies recorded an opening round victory over Tir na nOg and are in a better place than Hugh McGettigan’s side and they will be seeking a win to ensure a place in the quarter finals.
Rossa will look to Dominic McEnhill, Cormac Mc Gettigan and Stephen Beatty for inspiration while St. John’s have potential match winners in Patrick Mc Bride, Ryan Mc Nulty, Ronan Mc Caffrey, and Conchur Adams.
This does look as contender for ‘match of the day’ and a close one is anticipated and a share of the spoils and a draw is possible but Rossa’s greater need could inspire them to victory.
Group two Sunday 13th August
Lamh Dhearg v Casement’s Portglenone (Toome) 2.00 pm
The championship continues on Sunday afternoon with the action centred on Toome and Randalstown with both games scheduled for a 2.00pm start.
Lamh Dhearg, who claimed the championship title in 2017 face the current league champions from Portglenone in a group two fixture which is certain to attract a big crowd to Toome.
Casement’s, under the management of former player John Mc Keever have enjoyed a good 2023 season to date but the Portglenone men had to dig deep to gain an opening round victory over St. Enda’s.
They are likely to go into action again without the services of Dermot McAleese and Niall Delargy who are both doubtful but the accuracy of Paddy Kelly, and Oisin Doherty up front and the defensive qualities of Jonny Convery and Ronan Delargy will aid their cause.
Lamh Dhearg looked in some trouble in their opening game when they trailed their hosts, St Mary’s Ahoghill by eight points well into the second half before a Marc Jordan goal provided a life line and paved the way for a spirited comeback to yield a four point victory.
The Hannahstown men will look to county star Jordan, Conor Murray, Ben Rice, and Paddy Cunningham to lead the way.
A Close game looks in prospect in Toome with nothing certain as to the outcome and this one could well end with a sharing of the spoils.
St Enda’s v St Mary’s Ahoghill (Randalstown) 2.00pm
Ahoghill threw away an 8 point lead against Lamh Dhearg in their opening game in Clooney as they face a St. Enda’s team who lost narrowly to Portglenone at Hightown in Round one. This one is at the neutral venue of Whitehill and could be very close but if Ahoghill can produce their best form then they may just edge it.
Group three Sunday 13th August
Sat 12th August
St Gall’s v Cuchullian’s Dunloy (Milltown) 7.00pm
St Gall’s will play hosts to the reigning Intermediate Champions, Dunloy and anything less than a win would be a major shock. They will look to the likes of Niall Burns, Dultach Wilson, Brendan Bradley and Conal McGirr for inspiration.
Although Dunloy failed to get it together in their division two league campaign they improved in the latter stages and if they have a full panel available they will not travel to Milltown without hope.
St Gall’s will start this one as firm favourites but they may have to be at their best to gain the verdict.
Cuchullian’s will have another chance in the competition as they play hosts to Creggan in round three in search of a victory which will not be easy.
Creggan claimed the points from their meeting with St Gall’s in the opening round and in this three team grouping it gave them the best possible start.
St Gall’s gave Creggan a run for their money in the opening round losing 1-12 to 0-10 and were ahead at the break but the Kickham’s came back strongly in the second half to run out winners by five points.
Group four Sunday 13th August
St Brigid’s v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass (Musgrave) 2.00pm
St. Brigid’s opened with a good win at Aghagallon, last year’s beaten finalists, in what was possibly the result of the first round. They have home advantage as they host relegated Moneyglass at Musgrave Park and will start this one as favourites.
Jack Dowling dominated at midfield against St. Mary’s as they led all the way and despite a late comeback by the home side they held on to gain the verdict.
Moneyglass sat out the opening round and they will travel to Musgrave as underdogs and realistically must take something from this game. Colum Duffin, Conor Boyd, the towering Seanachain Duffin and Tiernan McCormick will carry their challenge into this one but it will be difficult.
St Brigid’s will start as favourites and with Enda Downey, Jack Dowling and the Finnegan’s up for the challenge an away win looks probable.
Moneyglass will have ground advantage in the last round when they will play hosts to St Mary’s Aghagallon on 25th August.
Intermediate Football Championship
Group one Friday 11th August
Patrick Pearses v Michael Davitt’s (Bear Pit) 7.30pm
Division 3 side, Patrick Pearses lost their opening game to St. Paul’s while Davitt’s fell to Con Magee’s on the same night and this looks like another tough assignment as the sides meet at the Bear Pit.
Pearses struggle to compete with St Paul’s in the first round and this looks a similar test. Pearses may not be found wanting in this one but the more experienced Michael Davitt’s are expected to prevail.
Con Magees Glenravel v St Paul’s (Quinn Park) 7.30pm
The Glens men who were beaten finalists last year, opened their account this term with a good win over Michael Davitt’s and will start as favourites when they meet St Paul’s in Quinn Park, Ballymena.
Having already secured the division two league title, Glenravel look likely winners.
Group two Friday 11th August
Kickham’s Ardoyne v St Patrick’s Lisburn (Fennell Pk) 5.00pm
Ardoyne lost to St Teresa’s in round one and Martin Kane’s charges will hope to open their championship account as they take on St Patrick’s at Fennel Park.
St Patrick’s have found life difficult in the league and the Lisburn men may well struggle to make an impact with a win for Ardoyne anticipated.
Group three Sat 12th August at 5.00pm
St James Aldergrove v All Saint’s Ballymena (Crumlin)
Aldergrove proved too strong for their hosts St Comgall’s at Dunsilly in the opening round and have home advantage for the visit of All Saints who make their debut in this year’s championship.
Aldergrove recorded a 3-17 to 0-10 victory over St. Comgall’s but this is a tougher assignment as they welcome All Saints to Crumlin.
The sides drew home and away in the league this year and Saturday’s meeting coulb be just as close but home advantage could swing it Aldergrove’s way.
Group four Sat 12th August at 5.00pm
Patrick Sarsfield’s v Gort na Mona
Sarsfield’s opened their account with a good win over Glenavy at Chapel Hill and enjoy home advantage in this one as they welcome Gort na Mona to the Bear Pit.
Gort na Mona suffered relegation from the top grade just a season ago and are an experienced side and they may well ask questions of the Paddies and this one could go either way.
Junior Football Championship
Group one Friday 11th August
Eire Og V Cardinal O’ Donnell’s (St Agnes) 7.30pm
Cardinal O’ Donnell’s have enjoyed a good league campaign, finishing runners up to Rasharkin in division three and they will hope to replicate that form in the championship as they face Eire Og at St. Agnes following an opening day win over Laochra Loch Lao.
Eire Og opened their campaign with a good win over St. Agnes at Friday night’s venue but will do well to get anything from this one and O’Donnell’s should make it two wins from two starts.
Sat 12th August
Laochra Loch Lao v St Agnes (Mc Crory Pk 5.00pm)
Laochra Loch Lao lost last time out against O’Donnell’s while St. Agnes suffered defeat to Eire Og and both sides realistically need a win if they are to maintain their interest in this year’s championship.
There might not be too much between them on Saturday evening but a tentative nod goes to Laochra Loch Lao.
Group Two Friday 11th August
Wolfe Tones v St Malachy’s Friday (Hightown 7.30pm)
St Malachy’s beat Mc Quillan’s by two points in Ballycastle and they are likely to add a second victory as they meet Wolfe Tones at Hightown.
Sat 12th August
Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle v St Mary’s Rasharkin (Dunloy 5.00pm)
Division Three league champions St Mary’s Rasharkin are fancied in many quarters to make it a championship and league double.
They meet McQuillan’s at Dunloy in this one and will start as firm favourites to add another victory.