The two Reserve Football Championships, Cup and Shield have reached the semi-final stages and the finalists in both will be known after Wednesday night’s round of games.
Cargin v Creggan
In the cup there are two interesting games down for decision and the meeting of Cargin and Creggan in Toome have provided the eventual winners of the competition for the last number of years.
Both clubs have strong panels and indeed Cargin fielded three teams this year with their thirds competing in the division 2 reserve league and championship.
Creggan have always been there or there about in this competition and had two points to spare over a good Lamh Dhearg side in the quarter-final after a big win away to Aghagallon in the previous round.
Tir na nOg didn’t field against Cargin in the last 16 and St. John’s conceded to the Toome men in the quarter-final.
Just how that will affect the Erin’s Own remains to be seen and this one could go either way but home advantage and a bigger panel may see Cargin emerge victorious from this one.
Rossa v St. Gall’s
Up in Belfast Rossa entertain St. Gall’s in the second cup semi-final with the Milltown side fielding quite a number of their Ulster and All Ireland winning side from 2010 in their one point quarter-final win over St. Brigid’s
Rossa were convincing winners over St. Enda’s and have St. Gall’s as visitors to Shaw’s Road for their semi-final and with the Flavin brothers Enda and Conor, Jack Morris, Mick McEnhill and Pearse Shortt in their side will not be found wanting and this one should be close.
Aldergrove v Glenravel
In the first of the Shield semi-finals Con Magee’s Glenravel travel to Crumlin to play St. James’ Aldergrove and will face a stiff challenge from an Aldergrove side who are notoriously difficult to beat at home.
Glenravel have had an excellent season and had a good win at Quinn Park over All Saints with 10 points separating the teams at the final whistle.
Aldergrove looked to be coasting to victory in their quarter-final against Ahoghill but were hit by two late goals and were forced to hang on for a narrow victory.
Once again this looks like one that could go either way but Glenravel might just edge the contest.
Dunloy v Ardoyne
In the second Shield semi-final Ardoyne, who recorded a good home win over Sarsfields in round 1 before beating Naomh Padraig Lisburn at Fennell Park, travel to Dunloy.
The Cuchullian’s had four points to spare in a six goal thriller at Rasharkin before travelling again to Enright Park where they squeezed past Gort na Mona by two points in the quarter-final.
This time they have home advantage and will no doubt have been lifted by their Senior sides win over St. Gall’s in the Senior Football Championship and I expect Dunloy to come out on top in this one.