Football Fixtures and Previews (Sunday 23rd March)
With the first round of the leagues featuring only sides from division 1, the second round sees teams from division 2 and 3 making their league debuts
Sunday 23rd March
Division One (2.00 pm)
Creggan v All Saint’s Ballymena
Creggan recorded a facile victory in their opening league game against St. Pauls at Shaw’s Road and have home advantage for the visit of All Saints in this one.
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The Ballymena lads had a good run in the Ulster winter league, reaching the semi-final stages and that good form continued in their opening league game, gaining a 4-13 to 0-14 victory over St. John’s.
Creggan were also seen at their best in their opening game away to St Paul’s and that positive performance suggests the Kickham’s men are in form and ready for the season ahead.
The odds look very much in favour of the home side and although All Saints will travel in confidence Creggan may well gain the verdict.
St. Mary’s Aghagallon v St. Brigid’s
League champions, St. Brigid’s open this year’s league campaign with a trip to Aghagallon in what could be an interesting encounter.
St. Mary’s have already seen league action when they travelled to Dunloy last Saturday where they recorded a good win over Cuchullain’s in a well contested game.
Both sides will be without their county players and on the form shown last week, Aghagallon will be hoping to build on that victory but this one could be close.
Tir nanOg v St James Aldergrove
Tir na nOg enjoyed a good 2024 season and the dual club finished in the top half of the league.
Ryan Jackman heads the coaching staff up at the Whitehill and no doubt the Ogs will be ready for the off as they play hosts to the men from St James Aldergrove in this one.
Aldergrove had a descent 2024 and the Crumlin outfit will be keen to build on that in the incoming season.
They have appointed John Morrison and Bill Geoghan in the management role and will hope to build on last season’s progress.
Like their hosts in this one, St James will be looking forward to their opening league game of the season but, like their opponents have seen action in O’ Cahan cup and although losing out to Cargin in that one they made the Toome men work for passage to the next round.
An early outing and a good showing against the reigning county champs should give the Crumlin men confidence in this visit to Whitehill and this may well be a close one with the nod given to the men from the Hill.
O’ Donovan Rossa v St Mary’s Ahoghill
Both Rossa and their visitors in this one, St Mary’s Ahoghill opened their respective league campaigns on the opening date but both were forced to bend the knee in competition.
Rossa lost out to St Gall’s up at Milltown by a ten point margin whilst Ahoghill held their visitors Cargin at arm’s length for most of the opening half but the Toome men pulled away in the second half.
Hugh McGettigan still holds the reins at Rossa while Eamon Brady is the man in charge of Ahoghill this year in will take comfort from the performance if not the result against Cargin on day one and the St Mary’s men may well hold their own in this one with the possibility of a draw.
Casement’s Portglenone v St Paul’s
An under strength St. Paul’s had a bad start to their division 1 campaign when they played hosts to Kickham’s.
In fact round one of the league was to prove a disaster for the city side and a meeting they will want to forget.
St Paul’s gained promotion at the end of 2024 from division 2 following a positive campaign in the second grade and are capable of much better than they showed against Creggan.
This trip to Portglenone looks like another very difficult one for the Shaw’s Road side but offers the city lads an opportunity to show what they are really capable of but the home side will start as very firm favourites and should collect both points.
Con Magee’s Glenravel v St Gall’s
Having recorded an opening day win with a victory over Rossa at Milltown, St Gall’s will travel to the South West in this one to face Glenravel.
The former County kingpins finished ten points to the good over the visiting Rossa and they will look to retain that winning habit again at Fr. Maginn Park.
This is Con Magee’s opening game of the season and they will be looking for a good start but face an in form opponent.
A close one is in prospect in this one and ground advantage may well count here with a victory for the Glensmen anticipated in what may well be a close affair.
Erin’s Own Cargin v Lamh Dhearg
Cargin have enjoyed a good start to the season and Ronan Devlin’s charges proved a tad too strong for Eamon Brady’s Ahoghill last time out.
The Toome men have a meeting with Casement’s in the O’ Cahan decider looming but they are in league mode as lamh Dhearg visit Toome.
The Hannahstown men opened their account last week with victory over the visiting Tir na nOg and they will travel to Toome looking to retain that winning habit.
Cargin have looked good in their outings to date with more than a number of youngsters being given opportunity and the Toome men are given the nod again.
St John’s v Cuchullian’s Dunloy
St. John’s suffered an opening day defeat to All Saints at Quinn Park and they will seek a better result in this one as Cuchullian’s visit Corrigan Park.
Dunloy also lost in their opening game when visitors Aghagallon collected a three point victory at Pearse Park.
The Johnnies will be hoping for victory in their own back yard with Cuchullian’s in the same frame of mind but ground advantage may well aid St John’s to victory.
Division Two (All games at 2.00 pm
Michael Davitt’s v Glenavy
This looks a hard one to call as Davitts and Glenavy meet at Davitt’s Park in what may prove to be a close affair.
Glenavy did gain in impetus last term but the St Joseph’s men came up short in the latter stages and they will hope for a good start as they travel to West Belfast on Sunday.
Michael Davitts will also be hoping for the same and this does seem to have the ingredients of a good game with ground advantage the vital ingredient and a win for Davitt’s looks possible.
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v St Comgall’s Antrim
Having suffered relegation at the end of last season St Ergnat’s will be aiming for a return to division one as a priority and they will start this one as favourites as St Comgall’s visit.
Having gained promotion from division 3 last season no doubt Antrim based St Comgall’s will be hoping for a good start but have already suffered defeat to Sunday’s opponent in the O’Cahan Cup.
St Ergnat’s will be favoured by many observers to regain previous top division status in the near future and they may open account in this one with a win.
St. Teresa’s v Gort na Mona
Last year’s beaten Intermediate Championship finalists, St. Teresa’s finished second in the league but opted to remain in the second division with Dunloy taking their place in the top tier.
The Glen Road side are a formidable opponent on their own turf but could face a tuff challenge from a Gort na Mona side who were relegated from division 1 only two seasons ago and are in the process of rebuilding.
St Enda’s v St Patrick’s Lisburn
St Patricks Lisburn have been on the upward trail of late and they will travel up to Glengormley to meet up with former division one residents St. Enda’s.
St Enda’s have endured the loss of a couple of stand out individuals in recent time but they will be hoping for a return to the top grade as soon as possible.
The Lisburn men will travel in search of early points but they may have to wait to another occasion with the nod given to St Enda’s this time.
Patrick Sarsfield’s v St Mary’s Rasharkin
This looks a close one as Sarsfield’s play hosts to the men from Rasharkin at the ‘Bear Pit’.
The Paddies enjoyed a fair 2024 season and they will be favourites to start 2025 with a couple of points secured.
Division Three (2.00 pm)
Eire Og v Laochra Loch Lao
Laochra Loch Lao did enjoy a fair season 2024 and they could open 2025 with a win over Eire Og.
St Agnes v Wolfe Tones
St. Agnes had a great 2024 before losing to St. Comgall’s in the Junior Football Final and are given the verdict here as they entertain Eire Og
Patrick Pearses v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s
Games between these two sides are usually close and hard fought and this one is likely to go the same way with Pearses given a tentative nod
St Malachy’s v Kickham’s Ardoyne
Ardoyne made the drop from division 2 last season after a couple of years in division 2 and if they are anywhere near full strength should get their 2025 campaign of to a win.