ACFL Division 1 semi-final

Erin’s Own v All Saints

Tir na nOg 2-00pm Saturday

Reigning county SFC holders, Erin’s own Cargin and last year’s Intermediate Football Champions, All Saints kick off this weekend’s action when they face off in the Division 1 League semi-final at Whitehill on Saturday (2-00pm).

The Erin’s Own side finished their league campaign four points ahead of Creggan and St. Brigid’s and six ahead of Saturday’s opponents, All Saints, who played a game less than the other three.

Unconfirmed news suggests that St. Brigid’s have withdrawn from the other semi-final against Creggan which was scheduled for Glenavy at 5-00pm on Saturday evening and if that is the case then the Kickham’s will presumably be handed a place in the final.

At the time of writing the Erin’s Own v All Saints game is still on the fixture list and should go ahead and both sides will take the opportunity of getting a competitive game under their belts prior to the championship.

Cargin will rightly start as firm favourites and have once again been the team to beat this season, suffering only one defeat in the league against St. Brigid’s.

The reigning County Champions have continued to impress in 2025 with their excellent balance of youth and experience.

John McNabb is an excellent keeper and has contributed handsomely with important scores this year and has embraced the new rules with relish as has his Erin’s Own colleagues.

Kevin McShane, James Laverty, Gerard McCann, John Carron and Michael and Tomas McCann are all experienced campaigners in a side complemented by a host of young emerging talent.

Pat and Tom Shivers, Jamie and Callum Gribbin, Benen Kelly, Sean Og Quinn and Sean Og O’Neill are just a few of the players who will be keen to stake a place in the forthcoming championship side if called upon on Saturday.

For All Saints it has been another good season as they finished in the top four for the second consecutive year and they now find themselves in bonus territory as they face Ronan Devlin’s side in Saturday’s semi-final.

Like Cargin they are likely to be without a number of players through holidays and injuries but players like Conor Brennan, Sean McVeigh, Michael McCarry, Connell Lemon, Emmet Killough, James and Benny McDonnell, Conor Stewart, Kavan Keenan, Rian Tom and Matthew Downey will relish the challenge if available.

Whatever side Saturday’s opponents field it is Cargin who will start as firm favourites and rightly so but Baker Bradley and his All Saints side will give it their best shot and see where it takes them.