The football championship continues this weekend with games on a busy Friday night and continues through Saturday and Sunday with fixtures in all levels, senior, Intermediate and Junior.
Friday 2nd August
SFC group 1
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v St James Aldergrove (Dunloy at 7.00pm)
Last year’s beaten finalists Cuchullian’s, Dunloy did ask Cargin a few difficult questions in last year’s championship decider but the dual club may well see the hurling title as their principal objective but will enter the football championship with firm intent.
The Cuchullians are rewarded with ground advantage in their opening game as they play hosts to Aldergrove and such advantage will insure they may start this one as slight favourites.
The St James’s men took a while to get their 2024 league show on the road but came good when it mattered to ensure they retained their place in division 1 and raise spirits as they start out on the championship trail.
The Cuchullian’s reached last year’s final and although their form in league this term was fair rather than eye catching, they are more than capable and they will start as slight favourites in this one favoured by ground advantage.
J F C (group 1)
Cardinal O’ Donnell’s v Laochra Loch Lao (Mc Crory Park 7.30pm)
Last year’s beaten finalists Cardinal O’ Donnell’s have impressed over the past couple of years and they will start the Junior championship amongst the favourites and they will look for a positive start as they play hosts to Laochra Loch Lao.
Eire Og v St Comgall’s Antrim (Woodlands 7.30pm)
St Comgall’s, with the division three league title safely tucked away will hope to make it a double as the inform Dunsilly side travel to Woodlands to face Eire Og in this first round encounter and they may well return with victory secured.
Wolfe Tones v St Malachy’s (Valley Park 7.30pm)
St Malachy’s had a descent league campaign and they will hope to carry that form into the JFC as they travel to the Valley Leisure centre to meet Wolfe Tones in a tie which may well prove close.
S F C (group three)
Casement’s Portglenone v St Mary’s Ahoghill (Kelly Pk 7.30pm)
A meeting of near neighbours and deadly rivals as Casement’s play hosts to Ahoghill in this first round championship game in what is likely to be a close encounter with pride at stake.
The home side have impressed in their league activity for much of the season although form dipped in the latter stages with championship their prime target.
St Mary’s did enjoy a fair league run and finished in safety, well above the relegation zone, possibly the long term aim within the ranks as they operated in both football and hurling with most of their side playing in both codes.
Casement’s will start as favourites but Chris McGlones charges will give it their all and this may well be a close one with a draw possible.
J F C (Group One)
Pearse’s v St Agnes (Cliftonville 7.30 pm)
Both sides enjoyed a fair return for their efforts in the league and this one could be close as the Aggies and Pearses meet at Cliftonville with the men from Pearse’s just given the nod.
Saturday 3rd August
S F C (group 2)
Tir na nOgRandalstown v St John’s (5.00 pm)
Tir nanOg enjoyed an excellent league season, finishing in the top four but the Whitehill men were forced to withdraw from the semi-final due to lack of numbers during the ‘holiday period’.
That was a blow for the men from the hill and they will hope to raise their profile further in the championship and this looks like a chance to do so as the Johnnies visit Whitehill.
St John’s need no introduction to the championship over the years having won more senior crowns than anyone in the county. The Corrigan Park residents seem to have lost their way somewhat in recent years but they do remain defiant, and more than capable of putting it up to any side.
This one has the look of a competitive first round encounter and is hard to call but ground advantage may aid Tir na nOg to victory but that won’t be at all easily achieved.
S F C (Group 2)
Erin’s Own Cargin v O’ Donovan Rossa (5. OO PM)
Reigning Senior Champions, Erin’s Own Cargin face a familiar route ahead if they are to retain the title with familiar opposition awaiting in their group stage and with ground advantage this time around they will start this one as favourites this time as Rossa visit Toome.
Rossa really put it up to Cargin last term with an opening day win and Hugh Mc Gettigan’s charges will not be found wanting as they make the difficult journey to Toome.
Ronan Devlin’s charges are on the trail of the elusive ‘three in a row’ and having lost out in the league decider they should have all hands on deck for this one and the Toome men are expected to pass this opening day test although Rossa may well pose questions.
I F C
(Group 2)
Michael Davitt’s v St Joseph’s Glenavy (5.OOPM)
St Joseph’s have enjoyed a fair season in the league and they will could be serious championship contenders as they open with a trip to Belfast and a meeting with Michael Davitt’s at Davitt Park.
Despite not having enjoyed the best of seasons in the league, Davitt’s are hard to beat at home but the Chapel Hill side may well claim victory.
Sunday 4th August
SFC Group 4
St Brigid’s v St Gall’s (Musgrave Pk 2.OOpm)
Reigning league champions St Brigid’s may fancy their chances at claiming the double as they set out in the championship but this will not be an easy task as they welcome St. Gall’s to Musgrave Park.
The South Belfast side should be amongst the front runners in the competition and a good crowd are likely to be in attendance as they welcome the Milltown men.
It has been a few years since St Galls went all the way in the championship but a positive league campaign this term has suggested they are back on track and they will travel to Musgrave in a positive frame of mind.
St Brigid’s will start this one burdened with the favourites tag and although their visitors will ask questions aplenty, ground advantage may well prove a vital factor in gaining success.
St Mary’s Aghagallon v Kickham’s Creggan (5.OO pm)
This does look a candidate for match of the day as Aghagallon play hosts to Kickham’s Creggan in a fixture which is certain to attract a good attendance.
Both the contestants enjoyed a fair league campaign but it is more than clear that championship has been the focus for both from the start of the season and the blinkers will be discarded for the ‘real deal’ of championship fare.
Little has separated the contestants in previous meetings and this one looks likely to follow in the same mode but ground advantage may well play a part with such advantage aiding the St Mary’s men to a hard earned win.
Con Magee’s v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass (2.00pm)
Glenravel earn the verdict a couple of weeks past when they got the better of Moneyglass in a relegation play-off which insures the Glensmen take their place the top grade in 2025 and they will hope to repeat that result in this championship first round meeting.
Glenravel proved the better side in that relegation encounter and they may well repeat that result again in the championship as St Ergnat’s remain badly under strength
Con Magees will start as firm favourites and although Moneyglass will put up a strong challenge, a home win does look probable.