The mid-week setting continues in the football Leagues with another round scheduled for the 7th May in the three divisions.
Division One (all games at 7.00pm
St Gall’s v Tir na nOg
St Gall’s suffered their first league defeat when they travelled to Portglenone last week. The Milltown men have impressed on their league journey prior to that one and they will seek a better return when they welcome Tir na nOg to Milltown.
Niall Jackman’s side have struggled this term with a couple of points gained from draws away to Dunloy and another with St. Paul’s at Shaw’s Road.
St Gall’s will start this one as firm favourites and they should return to winning ways though their visitors may provide a stiff test.
Con Magees Glenravel v St Johns
St John’s recorded their first win last day out when they defeated keenest rivals, Rossa at Corrigan Park.
St. John’s had struggled up to this point but recorded a ten point win over Rossa and it should give them confidence as they take the road down to Glenravel to cross swords with Con Magees.
The Glensmen have recorded three wins from six starts to date and they came close to ending Cargin’s winning record when the Toome men visited last day out.
This may well be a close one and although the Johnnies will travel with the proverbial spring in the step following their recent victory, ground advantage may well tip the balance in favour of Con Magees.
Dunloy v St James Aldergrove
Cuchullian’s Dunloy have six points to date with a couple of victories and a couple of draws and have more than held their own on their return to division 1.
They earned a point last time out when they travelled to Lamh Dhearg and that will give them confidence as they welcome St. James to Pearse Park.
Aldergrove are enjoying a good season to date and they may well travel down to Dunloy in confident mood but the home side will start as favourites and they may well collect the points.
All Saint’s Ballymena v St Paul’s
St Paul’s have endured a poor start to the season but have hinted at improvement recently and pushed Cargin hard down in Toome before losing by a couple of points.
The Ballymena men have enjoyed a good season to date and they will hope to build on it against a side they last met in the Intermediate Championship semi-final in 2024.
All Saint’s will start in this one as favourites but should be wary of an improving St. Paul’s but if they are at their best then a home win is anticipated.
St Brigid’s v Lamh Dhearg
St Brigid’s have four wins and a draw from their opening six games and last year’s league champions are well in touch with the leaders in this year’s campaign.
They shared the points with the visiting Casement’s last time out after their only defeat to Creggan in their previous outing and they will hope to regain the winning habit as the play hosts to Lamh Dhearg.
Lamh Dhearg took a time to get it together in this year’s league campaign but have recorded wins over St Pauls and Tir na nOg but this looks a difficult assignment for them on current form as they travel to meet the in-form St Brigid’s.
St Brigid’s will start as firm favourites and although the men from Hannahstown are not to be dismissed a home win looks probable.
O’ Donovan Rossa v Kickham’s Creggan
Rossa have struggled this season without a number of regulars and Hugh McGettigan’s men have only recorded one victory to date over fellow strugglers, St. Mary’s Ahoghill.
They lost by ten points to St. John’s last week at Corrigan in a result which will have hurt and they face another tough assignment in this one as they travel to the South West to meet Kickham’s Creggan.
Creggan are going well to date with just a couple of defeats but have recorded some massive wins on their home ground.
Rossa are badly in need of points but this looks a tough one and barring mishap a home victory looks certain.
St Mary’s Ahoghill v Casement’s Portglenone
Wins have been hard to come by for St.Mary’s and for the new man in charge, Eamon Brady but his charges are never to be discounted, particularly in this one as their close rivals and near neighbours Casements visit Cloney.
Casement’s did take a time to get it together this term but they have shown improvement in recent outings and John Mc Keever’s men will travel in confidence to add another win.
Casement’s will start in this one as firm favourites and although their host will not will not concede without a fight, the visitors are given the nod.
St Mary’s Aghagallon v Erin’s Own Cargin
Erin’s Own Cargin top the table and are still unbeaten but they had a fight on their hands to remain so last time when St Paul’s visited Toome.
The Shaw’s road side looked on course to complete the shock of the season with the home side needing a couple of late, late scores to gain the win.
Cargin have maximum points as they make the journey to Aghagallon which is never an easy assignment.
The visitors should have enough to record another win however against a St. Mary’s side who have blown hot and cold this term.
Division Two (all games at 7.00pm)
St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass v Davitt’s
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass lost their division one status at the end of last term and have suffered from the exodus of key players to emigration. They have continued to set the pace in division 2 this term despite those losses with the introduction of new faces and at present top division 2
Michael Davitts remain in search of their first points in the division and this looks a difficult assignment for the city men as they travel to Marian Hill.
St Ergnat’s will start this one as short priced favourites and although stranger things have happened, a home win looks likely in this one.
Gort na Mona v St Joseph’s Glenavy
Gort na Mona have just one win to date and need to show improvement if they want to climb the table and a victory at Glenavy would certainly raise expectations.
Glenavy have been going reasonably well with two wins and two defeats to date but need to put a run together if they are to keep in touch with the league leaders.
Gort na Mona will see this as an opportunity to increase their points total but Glenavy are never easily beaten at Chapel Hill and it could be close but a home win looks likely.
St Comgall’s Antrim v Patrick Sarsfield’s
St Comgall’s have failed to build on their single win over Davitt’s this season though they came close before throwing away a substantial lead against Naomh Padraig but face another daunting challenge when Sarsfields visit Dunsilly.
Sarsfield’s top the division alongside St Ernat’s with both having eyes set on promotion and they will travel to Antrim in search of another couple of points, and although the Antrim men are capable of improvement an away win looks probable.
St Teresa’s v St Enda’s
Wednesday’s opponents go into this one having lost 2 and won 2 and this one could be close. Glengormley based St Enda’s have struggled to maintain their status of late following the departure of several top players but they have gained a couple of wins in the division.
St. Teresa’s were forced to call of their game last week owing to sickness in the camp but if all are back on board will start this one as favourites and home advantage could see them earn another win..
St Mary’s Rasharkin v St Patrick’s Lisburn
Rasharkin have struggled this season but recorded a first win over Davitt’s last time out and they will hope to build on that win when Naomh Padraig visit Dreen.
The Lisburn side have been going well this season with four wins from five starts and currently sit in third place with an away win suggested to ensure they remain in contention.
Division Three (all games at 7.00pm)
Eire Og v Patrick Pearses
Nothing separates the sides in this one as both Eire Og and their visitors Pearses have recorded 1 win from 4 starts. This one could go either way with Pearses given a tentative nod.
Wolfe Tones v Laochra Loch Lao
Laochra Loch Lao sit in second place in the ratings, four points in arrears of St Agnes and they should gain another couple of points in this visit to Wolfe Tones to consolidate their berth.
Kickham’s Ardoyne v St Agnes
With just a couple of victories to date, Ardoyne need a win here if they are to keep their promotion ambitions alive but St. Agnes have been flying this term and should have enough to gain another brace of points.
St Malachy‘s v Cardinal O‘Donnell’s
Both St Malachy’s and their opponents O’Donnell’s remain in touch at the top and points are required as they look to bridge the gap.
O’Donnell’s recorded a good win over Pearses last day out and they could add another victory in this one.