Fixtures and Previews
The last phase of the football championship’s Group games, senior, Intermediate, and Junior are scheduled for this week-end with ties taking place over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
This will complete the group stages with the top teams proceeding into the first knock out stages.
Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship
Friday 15th August
Group One (7.00pm)
Erin’s Own Cargin v St John’s (Toome)
Cargin play host to St John’s in Toome in a game which is certain to attract a good attendance.
Cargin have impressed in their opening two games with an excellent victory over Rossa and followed with a second win over Tir na nOg at Kelly Park, Portglenone in round two.
St John’s have enjoyed mixed fortunes to date and after an opening day win over the visiting Tir na nOg they fared less well when losing out to their keen rivals Rossa at Hannahstown.
The Whiterock Road side are undoubtedly capable of better and will hope to produce it in Toome as anything less than a win would see them bow out of this year’s senior championship.
Cargin will start this one as firm favourites and ground advantage should see the champions maintain their unbeaten run in this year’s competition.
Tir na nOg Randalstown v O’ Donovan Rossa (Whitehill)
The final game in group one sees Tir na nOg play hosts to O’ Donovan Rossa at Whitehill.
Tir na nOg lost to St. John’s in round one and stayed close to Cargin in the second round before the champions grabbed a firm grip on proceedings in the second half.
That was another promising performance from the Whitehill men and they will hope to carry it into this one as they play hosts to Rossa.
Rossa lost to Cargin in round one at Shaw’s Road but recorded a good win over the Johnnies at Lamh Dhearg, finishing 2-08 to 0-09 winners and they will travel to Whitehill looking to replicate that result.
A close encounter is anticipated but experience may well come to the fore in this one and Rossa may gain the win.
Sat 26th August
Group Two (7.00pm)
Lamh Dhearg v St Enda’s Glengormley (Hannahstown)
Lamh Dhearg lead the way in group two with back to back victories down in the South West.
They came from way off the pace to finish six points ahead of Ahoghill in Clooney in round one before a convincing victory over the division one league champions Casement’s before a big attendance in Toome in round 2.
They beat Casement’s by five points and will play hosts to St Enda’s in this final group two game.
St Enda’s started their league campaign on a positive note with victories over Cargin and Casements in the early stages but the loss of several players to injury and transfers saw the Hightown men lose traction in the second part of the season and culminated in relegation.
A win over Ahoghill in the championship is certain to have raised spirits as they contemplate a trip to Hannahstown to meet the inform Lamh Dhearg in a game they must win if they are to remain in the championship.
Lamh Dhearg will start this one as firm favourites but Carl McCabe’s men may well give them a run for their money.
Casement’s Portglenone v St Mary’s Ahoghill (Kelly Pk)
This local derby sees League champions Casement’s welcome their near neighbours and fiercest rivals St Mary’s Ahoghill to Portglenone in a game which is certain to attract a big audience.
Casement’s started their championship campaign with a good win over St Enda’s at Hightown in the first round but failed to cope with the challenge of Lamh Dhearg in Toome in round 2.
The Portglenone side will return to the familiarity of Kelly Park for their final group game for the visit of Ahoghill and form would suggest that John Mc Keever’s men will start as favourites.
In any event this is certain to be a fully contested championship encounter and although the Bannsider’s should win it, Ahoghill may well give the home side a run for their money.
Sunday 27th August
Group Three 5.00pm
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v Kickham’s Creggan (Dunloy)
A terrible league campaign and relegation from division 2 followed for the Cuchullian’s and most observers forecast nothing less than a wasted journey for Dunloy as they travelled to St Gall’s in their opening game in the senior championship at Milltown.
In the event last year’s Intermediate Champions, Cuchullian’s were to leave those experts with red faces when they returned from the home of the former Ulster and All Ireland club champions with a hard fought and well-earned 2-11 to 2-10 victory.
The Cuchullian’s have home advantage in this one but face another tough challenge as they play hosts to the 2021 senior championship winners, Kickham’s Creggan.
Creggan started their championship campaign with a win over the visiting St Gall’s, 1-12 to 1-10 and they will travel to Dunloy fancied to gain a place in the last eight.
Dunloy confidence will have been enhanced by that win at Milltown and this looks like a tough one for the visitors but if they are at their best they might just shade it but it could be close.
Group Four (5.00pm)
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v St Mary’s Aghagallon (Moneyglass)
Last year’s beaten finalists St Mary’s Aghagallon lost to the visiting St Brigid’s in the opening round of this year’s competition and they will travel to Moneyglass in the knowledge that anything less than a draw will see them out of this year’s campaign.
St Brigid’s have already gained a place in the last eight with wins over Aghagallon and Moneyglass and a home win for St. Ergnat’s is a must in this one.
Moneyglass have struggled in the league following a bright start but they are never easily beaten at Marian Hill.
Aghagallon will start as favourites and they may well prevail but Moneyglass will not go down without a fight.
OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship
Sunday 27th August
Group One (2.00pm)
Michael Davitt’s v St Paul’s (Davitt Pk)
The winners in this one will join Con Magee’s in the quarter-final as Davitt’s play hosts to St Paul’s with both sides with one win from two starts.
Sunday’s opponents both recorded victories over Pearses and on a head to head basis a draw would be enough to give St. Paul’s a place in the quarter-final.
Davitt’s are favoured by ground advantage and they may start as favourites but St Paul’s should have enough to at least gain the draw they need and are given a tentative nod.
Patrick Pearses v Con Magees Glenravel (Cliftonville)
Glenravel have already gained promotion to division 1 and with back to back wins have qualified for a quarter final berth in the championship and the South West side will travel to Cliftonville as firm favourites to add another couple of points.
Pearses have enjoyed a good division 3 league campaign and they may well give their guests a run for their money but another win for the Glensmen does look likely.
Group Two (2.00pm)
St Patrick’s Lisburn v St Teresa’s (Kirkwood Pk)
St Patrick’s have struggled to make impact in division two and they will find life a lot easier next term as they return to the lower division.
St Teresa’s have opened their championship account with a win over Ardoyne and this looks a further opportunity to add another victory and ensure a place in the quarter finals for the Glen road residents.
Group Three Sunday (4.00pm)
All Saint’s Ballymena v St Comgall’s Antrim (Quinn Pk)
All Saint’s finished level with the Aldergrove in Crumlin and they will be hoping to go one better as they play hosts to St Comgall’s in Ballymena.
Aldergrove top the group after recording a 16 point win over St. Congall’s in day one and should finish top of the group and only a win by more than that a 16 point margin would see All Saints go top.
A win for the All Saint’s will earn them a place in the last eight and a home win looks likely but they may have to settle for second place in the group.
Saturday 26th August
Group Four (5.00pm)
Gort na Mona v St Joseph’s Glenavy (Enright Park)
Sarsfield’s have secured a place in the last eight with a couple of wins and the race for second place rests between this duo as Gort na Mona play hosts to St Joseph’s Glenavy at Enright Park.
This looks like a close one but home advantage may swing it Gort na Mona’s way.
Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship
Group One Friday (7.00pm)
Eire Og v Laochra Loch Lao (Eire Og)
Eire Og play hosts to Laochra Loch Lao with both sides on two points from two starts.
Eire Og gave the inform O’ Donnell’s a run for their money before losing by three points while the O’D’s had 14 to spare over Laochra Loch Lao and a draw would be enough to see Eire Og through. Laochra Loch Lao are more than capable of causing an upset but if Eire Og can produce their best then they shold shade it.
Cardinal O’ Donnell’s v St Agnes (Mc Crory Pk)
Cardinal O’ Donnell’s have impressed in the league where they finished second to Rasharkin and opened their championship account in style with wins over Laochra and Eire Og and should finish their campaign with a win over St. Agnes.
Group Two
St Malachy’s v St Mary’s Rasharkin (St Malachy’s)
With the division three league title already in the bag St Mary’s Rasharkin are intent on making it a double.
They top the table with four points to date and the Dreen men, with a place in the last eight secured, should add another win as they visit St Malachy’s.
Wolfe Tones W.O. Ballycastle not fielding