The end of the first phase of the Division One Football league draws near with only a couple of rounds remaining before the participants in the knock out stages are finalised. The penultimate round is on Saturday with the final round scheduled for Wed 2nd July.
Division One – Sat 21st June
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v O’ Donovan Rossa
Cuchullian’s have enjoyed a good season to date and were more than impressive in Wednesday evenings win over St Mary’s Ahoghill but they are not in the reckoning for a place in the knock out phase.
They have already secured division one football for next season and currently sit on 10 points and with a number of their hurlers back in the side at Cloney they looked mighty impressive.
Rossa have endured a poor season but Wednesday evening’s win over All Saint’s would suggest that Hugh McGettigan’s side are capable of better and they will travel to Dunloy hoping to build on that impressive performance.
Dunloy will start as firm favourites in this one but with their backs against the wall and retention of status at stake the Shaw’s road men may well give their hosts a run for their money.
All Saint’s Ballymena v Con Magee’s Glenravel
All Saint’s travelled to Rossa last time with their eyes firmly fixed on a place in the league play offs but suffered defeat to bottom place Rossa and looked a shadow of the side that has performed admirably earlier in the league.
That defeat followed another below power performance against Ahoghill where they were fortunate to get over the line and they will need to show improvement if they are to get anything from the Con Magee’s visit.
Con Magee’s have had a good season to date occupying a mid-table position with their place in the top grade next term assured but games between these sides are never easy to predict.
This is likely to be another close one as near neighbours come together but the home side will start as favourites and could gain the points to ensure their place in the play offs.
St James Aldergrove v St John’s
St John’s with just 7 points at present underlining a poor season for the Corrigan men and they will travel to Crumlin to meet St. James’ Aldergrove seeking a full return of the points to ease their relegation worries.
St James have enjoyed a good 2025 season and have 14 points at the moment and that ensures a place in the top grade for next season.
The home side will start this one as favourites but their visitors need is greater and an away win for the Johnnies is quite possible.
St Brigid’s v St Mary’s Ahoghill
Current division 1 league champions St Brigid’s have enjoyed a good season and have 20 points to date and a win in this one would assure a place in the knock out stages.
St Mary’s Ahoghill have struggled this season and suffered a heavy defeat to an on fire Dunloy on Wednesday past and Eamon Brady’s side look in some trouble at the moment and the retention of division 1 status looks fragile.
Ahoghill travel to St Brigid’s in search of the win to keep their hopes alive but anything other than a St. Brigid’s victory would be a major surprise and the Musgrave Park side are likely to take the points.
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Erin’s Own Cargin v St Gall’s
Cargin continue to set the pace in division 1 and as it stands the Toome men are certain to reach the knock out phase as they play hosts to St Gall’s in their penultimate assignment.
The Milltown men have enjoyed a good campaign to date but with 14 points secured they will not be involved in the knock out stage this term.
Ronan Devlin’s side have answered the call and despite suffering their first defeat to St Brigid’s recently, they regained composure with a victory at Portglenone last time out.
The Toome men will start this penultimate league game as firm favourites and they should gain another brace of points.
Tir na nOg v Casement’s Portglenone
Tir na nOg are one of four sides fighting for their division 1 lives and have struggled for most of the season and desperately need a win to ease their relegation worries.
Casement’s have enjoyed a positive season but their defeat to Cargin is likely to see them finish just outside the top 4.
Casement’s will start as favourites however and will be hoping for a major slipup by one of the three sides above them in the table but Tir na nOg’s greater need may well drive them onwards to victory.
Lamh Dhearg v Kickham’s Creggan
Creggan are almost certain for a place in the play offs with 20 points secured as they travel to Hannahstown aiming to seal their place in the semi-finals.
Lamh Dhearg have 15 points and are outside the qualifying places but with ground advantage and home support they could give the Kickham’s men a run for their money but an away win looks the most likely result.
St Paul’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon
St Paul’s looked prime candidates for relegation in the early stages of the league but the Shaw’s Road side have improved as the season progressed and they recorded a good win at Glenravel on Wednesday night to move onto 9 points and they look likely to retain status.
Aghagallon have the same number of points as their hosts, following a good win over Aldergrove in their last game and may just be running into a bit of form at the right stage of the season.
St Paul’s will start as favourites but a draw would suit both sides and a share of the points can’t be ruled out.
Sunday 22nd June
Division 2 (all games 2.00 pm)
St Teresa’s v St Patrick’s
St Teresa’s have fared well this term but they did find the going tough at times and they will travel to Lisburn to meet St Patrick’s hoping for a positive return.
The Lisburn men have enjoyed a good campaign this term and have shown a lot of improvement but although they may well give the visitors a run for their money, a St Teresa’s win is anticipated.
St Enda’s v Michael Davitt’s
Davitt’s have struggled for points this term but recorded a good win over Rasharkin last time out and will be hoping to add to that win as they fight to avoid relegation.
St. Enda’s currently hold top spot in division 2B and on current form look likely to add another win from the Davitt’s visit.
St Mary’s Rasharkin v Gort na Mona
Rasharkin have endured a long list of injuries this season and have struggled to cope in division 2 and points have proved elusive.
They do have ground advantage in this one as Gort na Mona visit but their fate already looks to have been sealed and they could suffer another defeat in this one.
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v St Joseph’s Glenavy
Moneyglass suffered a first defeat of the season when Sarsfield’s visited on Wednesday night and that win puts the Paddies in pole position for the division 2 title.
St. Ergnat’s just have to keep winning and hope the Stewartstown Road side slip up in their final game against Naomh Padraig on 2nd July and
St Ergnat’s with a youthful panel should win this one.
Division Three Sat 21st June (4.00pm)
Laochra Loch Lao v Wolfe Tones
Laochra Loch Lao have impressed in the league and currently sit in second place. They recorded a good win over Ardoyne on Wednesday night while Wolfe Tones were picking up their second win of the season against O’Donnell’s but home advantage should see Laochra take the points here.
St Agnes v Kickham’s Ardoyne
St. Agnes suffered their only defeat of the season away to Satuday’s opponents and will be keen to avenge that defeat and collect the points that would secure them the division 3 title and an Aggies win is predicted.
Cardinal O’ Donnell’s v St Malachy’s
O’ Donnell’s trail St. Malachy’s by five points in the table and suffered defeat to bottom club, Wolfe Tones last time out and will do well to get anything from their visitors in this one with St. Malachy’s given the nod.