Football Fixtures and Previews (Wed 23rd April)

The mid-week setting for the Football leagues continues with another round of fixtures in all of the divisions scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Division One (6.45pm)

O’Donovan Rossa v St Mary’s Aghagallon

Having gained a win from their second outing this term with victory over the visiting Ahoghill Hugh McGettigan’s Rossa have lost to St Gall’s, Cargin and Con Magee’s.

Aghagallon have mixed the good with the bad with wins over Dunloy and Ahoghill but have lost to St. Brigid’s and St. Gall’s.

Both sides will see this one as an opportunity to get points on board and

this one could be close but ground advantage could well prove significant and a tentative vote is awarded to the home side and two points for Rossa

Cuchullian’s Dunloy v Tir na nOg

With a couple of victories in their campaign to date, including a win over the visiting in-form Kickham’s, Dunloy were well beaten by Portglenone last day out.

Tir na nOg enjoyed a good league campaign last term but have only one point on board this term following a draw with St Paul’s and lost heavily to All Saints last Wednesday night.

This one could go either way and will depend very much on the availability of key players for both sides but a draw looks possible.

Con Magee’s Glenravel v Erin’s Own Cargin

Erin’s Own Cargin have enjoyed a good start to the season and remain unbeaten after four rounds of games.

Ronan Devlin’s charges proved far too strong for the visiting Aldergrove last time but this looks like a tougher assignment for the Toome men as they take the road to Glenravel.

The Glens men have started the season well with wins over Ahoghill and Rossa but lost to St. Brigid’s and St. Gall’s and Cargin should have too much for an improving Con Magee’s and are likely to extend their winning run to five.

St Brigid’s v Casement’s Portglenone

Casement’s had a good win over Dunloy last time out after losing to All Saints in their previous outing and they face another stiff challenge when they travel to the league champions.

St. Brigid’s lost at Creggan last time out and they will hope to get back to winning ways as John McKeever’s men visit.

This looks a hard one to call with a good game in prospect and although the home side will start as firm favourites Casement’s are capable of causing upset.

St Gall’s v Kickham’s Creggan

St Gall’s remain unbeaten to date and they will be more than keen to retain the winning habit in this one as Kickham’s Creggan visit Milltown.

The home side have looked good this season and recorded a good win over the Johnnies at Corrigan last week.

Kickham’s only defeat came at the hands of Dunloy and raised a few eyebrows but they returned to form with a home win over St. Brigid’s last day out and they will travel up to Milltown hoping to build on that win.

A close one looks in prospect between two in form sides and although ground advantage will ensure that Gall’s start as favourites, they may have to share the spoils as a draw looks possible.

St Paul’s v St James Aldergrove

St Paul’s have struggled in their first season back in division 1 for some time with only a single point on board following a draw with the visiting Tir na nOg.

The Shaw’s road side will see this one as an opportunity to get more points on board but St. James have been in good form this season and should collect the points.  

All Saints Ballymena v Lamh Dhearg (7.30pm)

All Saint’s Ballymena have enjoyed a good season to date with their only defeat coming in round two when they lost at Creggan.

They have remained undefeated since that trip to Creggan and they will start as favourites as Lamh Dhearg visit Slemish Park.

The Hannastown side have recorded a couple of wins to date and they will travel to Ballymena in the positive following a big win over St Paul’s last time out but this looks a tough test for the visitors with the ‘Baker Boys’ awarded the vote.

St Mary’s Ahoghill v St John’s (7.30pm)

Both sides are pointless going into this one so something has to give as St. John’s make the trip to Cloney to face St. Mary’s Ahoghill.

St. Mary’s came mighty close when they entertained Glenravel in their last home fixture while St. John’s pushed St. Gall’s hard at Corrigan last day out.

A win looks vital for both sides and this one should be close with ground advantage possibly aiding the St Mary’s men to victory.

Division Two (6.45pm)

Gort na Mona v St Enda’s

With one win each for Gort na Mona and St Enda’s this one looks hard to call.

Gort na Mona’s win came against Michael Davitt’s whilst former first division residents St Enda’s earned theirs with victory over the visiting Naomh Comhghall.

This may well be a close one with ground advantage possibly giving advantage to the Gorts.

St Comgall’s Antrim v St Patrick’s Lisburn

St Comgall’s have only one win to date but that one came against Davitt’s at Dunsilly and Barry Burns’ side were impressive on that occasion.

St. Patrick’s Lisburn have been in good form this term with a good win over the visiting Glenavy last time out, having won at St. Enda’s on day one.

The Lisburn side seem in fine fettle this term and they may well add another couple of points to remain in touch at the top but Naomh |Comhghall have the ability to cause an upset.

St Teresa’s v St Ergnat’s Moneyglass

Moneyglass are the inform side in division 2 but face a stiff test when they travel to the Glen Road to meet St. Teresa’s.

Last year’s beaten Intermediate finalists lost last time out at the Bear Pit to Sarsfields but will be keen to get back to winning form and may provide St Ergnat’s with a stiff test but an away win looks probable.

St Joseph’s Glenavy v Patrick’s Sarsfield’s

This looks likely to be a close one as Glenavy play hosts to unbeaten Sarsfield’s with both having an eye on a return to the top grade.

The Paddies will probably start as favourites but the home side will not make it easy for their visitors and a share of the spoils and a draw looks possible.

St Mary’s Rasharkin v Michael Davitt’s

Rasharkin remain pointless to date as they play hosts to Michael Davitt’s at Dreen.

Davitt’s find themselves in a similar position and only score difference keeps them ahead of their hosts in the ratings and something has to give as both search for their opening points with ground advantage possibly aiding the home side to such reward.

Division Three (6.45)

Wolfe Tones v Patrick Pearses

Wolfe Tones recorded their first league win for some time last day out to join Pearses on two points apiece and this one could be close with the home side possibly recording another win.

Kickham’s Ardoyne v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s

Ardoyne, with a couple of wins to date face a stiff test against the visiting O’Donnell’s but home advantage could swing it their way.  

Laochra Loch Lao v St Agnes

St. Agnes defeated Wednesday night’s opponents in last year’s Junior Championship semi-final and will travel in confidence to Colaiste Feirste and might just shade this one

St Malachy’s v Eire Og

A tough one to call with both sides on one win from three starts and ground advantage could prove the difference with St. Malachy’s given the nod.

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