(30th Aug-Sep 1st)
The Antrim Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football Championships feature prominently on the programme this weekend with games in all of the grades from Friday evening through to Sunday afternoon as the championship campaign move closer to the knock out stages.
Friday 30th August
SFC (group 2)
Dunsilly 1
Erin’s Own Cargin v Tir na Nog (6.45)
Having found the going tough thus far in their group Randalstown based Tir na nOg have already exited this year’s senior championship and their meeting with Cargin leaves them with only pride to play for.
Erin’s Own have gained a couple of wins from their games to date and are assured of a place in the next stage and the reigning champions again look the team to beat.
Nothing is certain in life but the Toome men will enter the fray as red hot favourites and barring the unexpected, they should make progress to the knock out stages with a positive result.
SFC (group 3)
Portglenone Friday 7-30
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v St Mary’s Ahoghill (6.45)
This meeting of near neighbours Moneyglass and Ahoghill will draw a good crowd to Kelly Park with a close game in prospect.
Moneyglass failed to show their worth in the league, finishing down the field but they have gained in stride in the championship with a good victory at Glenravel and they will hope to add to that win against a St. Mary’s side who have also beat the Con Magee’s in their Group meeting.
Chris Mc Glone’s St Mary’s side enjoyed a fair league campaign and a win for either side here will probably ensure passage to the quarter-finals. Games between these two are always closely contested and this one is sure to go down to the wire with Ahoghill given a tentative nod.
Sat 31st August
Group 2
Hannahstown
St John’s v O’ Donovan Rossa (5.00pm)
If not the ‘match of the day’ this coming together of St John’s and Rossa is certainly a contender as these keen rivals come together to lock horns in the championship up at Hannahstown.
Certain to attract a bumper attendance, this one will be keenly contested with a place in the next stage as prize for the winners.
A draw would favour the Johnnies but the margin of score difference is only slight and in favour of the Corrigan men and both will be aiming for outright victory.
A close keenly contested encounter is anticipated and certain to attract a large attendance to the Hill and with outright victory as entrance into the next phase of the senior championship a good game is in prospect.
This one could go either way but in a tight encounter I would expect St. John’s to at least gain the draw they need to advance to the knockout stages.
Sat 31st August
SFC (Group 4)
Hannahstown
Kickham’s Creggan v St Galls ((2.00.pm)
Creggan travel to Hannahstown to meet St Gall’s with the prize for the South West side a possible place in the next phase of the championship.
The Kickham’s recorded a good win at Aghagallon in their opening group game but lost to St. Brigid’s in Creggan on day 2. St. Brigid’s lead the group on four points while Creggan and Aghagallon are on two points so a win here for the South West side is vital and they have the ability to gain it.
Sunday 1st September
SFC (Group 4)
Corrigan Pk
St Mary’s Aghagallon v St Brigid’s (3.00pm)
By the time this one gets under way Aghagallon will know just what is required as they meet group leaders St. Brigid’s at Corrigan and this one will almost certainly attract a bumper attendance to the Whiterock Road venue.
Aghagallon recorded a good win over St. Gall’s on day 2 at Milltown and will hope to add to that result over the reigning league champions on Sunday.
St Brigid’s have impressed this term with a couple of excellent wins to date and if they can carry on in the same positivity a win over the St Mary’s men is anticipated.
Sunday 1st Sep
SFC (Group 1)
Corrigan Pk
St Enda’s v St James Aldergrove (1.00pm)
St Enda’s have struggled this term and the absence of several from their panel has had a negative effect both in league and championship.
They may well see this one against the men from Aldergrove as a chance to gain a first championship win against a St. James side in a similar position to themselves.
This may well be a close one involving teams that are struggling at present but the Aldergrove men are awarded a tentative vote.
Ballymena
Lamh Dhearg v Cuchullian’s Dunloy (1.00pm)
Both Cuchullian’s and Lamh Dhearg have recorded two win from two starts and will progress to the next phase of the championship but this one will decide their opponents in the knockout stages and that may well prove significant.
Both sides have impressed to date with Lamh Dhearg recording wins over St Enda’s and Aldergrove while last year’s beaten finalists Cuchullian’s were impressive in their wins over the same opposition.
Both are already through to the next phase but the result in this one will prove important in deciding the opposition in their first knockout games.
IFC
Sat 31st August
Group 1
Pairc MhicDhomnaill/UiDhoctairtigh
St Teresa’s v St Pauls (2.00pm)
Both sides have enjoyed a positive start to their Intermediate championship campaign, recording two victories apiece and this looks one to watch as they come together in game number three on Saturday.
Both sides enjoyed good league campaign with St. Paul’s piping St. Teresa’s for division 2 honours and this one could be equally close with ground advantage possibly edging it St. Teresa’s way but it could go either way.
IFC
Sat 31st August
Group 1
Kirkwood Park
St Patrick’s v St Mary’s Rasharkin (5.00pm)
Rasharkin with a couple of points from their win over Ardoyne last day are level on points with Naomh Padraig who recorded a win over the same opposition and this may well be a close one.
St Patrick’s enjoy the favours of home advantage and will start as slight favourites but this is likely to be a close encounter with a draw and a share of the spoils possible.
IFC
Sat 31st August
Group 2
Chapel Hill
St Joseph’s Glenavy v Patrick Sarsfield’s (2.00pm)
Sarsfield’s have set the pace in Group 2 with three wins from three starts and will travel to Chapel Hill in a positive frame of mind. Their last win over All Saints at the Bear Pit marks them down as serious contenders for the Intermediate title.
St. Joseph’s lost to Gort na Mona last time out and really need a win here to keep their championship aspirations alive.
Sarsfields will start tis one as favourites but with home advantage Glenavy may well cause an upset.
IFC
Sunday 1st Sep
Group 2
Ballymena
All Saint’s v Michael Davitt’s (5.00pm)
After an opening day win over Gort na Mona, All Saints came badly unstuck agains Sardsfield’s on day two and anything other than a win over Visitors Davitt’s may not be enough to keep their championship aspirations alive.
Davitt’s have lost their opening two games but will see Sunday’s visit to Ballymena as a chance to open their account and have proven difficult opponents to All Saints in the not too recent past.
The visitors will travel in search of victory but ground advantage may well prove the difference and a home win looks likely.
Friday 30th August
JFC
Group 1
Pairc Naomh Una
St Agnes v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s (6.45pm)
St. Agnes have been going well in this year’s Junior Championship with wins over Pearses and Laochra Loch Lao and will hope to make it three from three when O’Donnell’s visit Pair Naonh Una
O’Donnell’s did opened their account in round one when Laochra Loch Lao visited MacRory Park but lost to Pearses on day two and the visitors need something from this one if they are to progress to the knockout stages.
St. Agnes have been impressive to date however and the home side may well gain another win.
Group 1
Colaiste Feriste
Laochra Loch Lao v Pearses
Padraig Piarsaigh lost to St. Agnes at Fennell Park on the opening day of the championship but recorded a good win over O’Donnell’s on day 2. They will hope to maintain that form when they visit pointless, Laochra Loch Lao at Colaiste Feirste and their greater need may see Pearses take the points.
Group Two
Dunsilly
St Comgall’s v Bhulf Ton (6.45pm)
League winners, St Comgall’s have opened their championship campaign with with back to back victories over Eire Og and St Malachy’s and back on home soil they look certain to continue with a win over Wolfe Tones
Wolfe Tones have lost both their opening games and face a difficult task here with the home side starting as overwhelming favourites
Group Two
Cherryvale
St Malachy’s v Eire Og (6.45pm)
This looks like a close one in prospect as St. Malachy’s play hosts to Eire Og with both sides having recorded one win from two starts in their championship games to date.
The home side opened with an away victory over Wolfe Tones while Ere Og lost heavily to Naomh Comhghall. Eire Og opened their account with a good win over Wolfe Tones on day two while St. Malachy’s lost to Naomh Comhghall and there might not be too much to separate Friday night’s opponents.
The prize for the winners will be a place in the semi-finals and this one could go either way with St. Malachy’s given the nod.