The second round of group games in the Senior Football Championship are scheduled for this weekend with the action getting underway tonight (Friday) when Ahoghill entertain St. Brigid’s and Aghagallon travel to St.Paul’s.
Group 4
Friday 15th August 7-00pm Cloney
St Mary’s Ahoghill v St Brigid’s (Ahoghill) at 7.00pm
St Mary’s Ahoghill failed to complete their league programme and accepted relegation and were cast in some quarters as ‘no hopers’ when they travelled to Aghagallon in round 1 of the championship.
Eamon Brady’s charges won that one by the minimum as their fighting spirit burned brightly.
St Mary’s have home advantage for their second group game when St. Brigid’s visit Cloney and will again start this one as outsiders with the Musgrave Park side fancied in some quarters to go all the way in the competition.
They will be expected to win this one with something to spare but they should be wary of the fighting spirit of the home side who will give it everything and cannot be ruled out.
St. Brigid’s had a big opening day win over St. Paul’s and should have enough to record another win against the Ahoghill side but it could be much closer than some may expect.
Group 4
St Paul’s v St Mary’s Aghagallon (Shaw’s Rd) Friday 7.00pm
Aghagallon lost to St. Mary’s Ahoghill at Pairc naGael in round 1 in a game they were expected to win and find themselves in the ‘last chance saloon’ as they travel to Shaw’s Road to meet a St. Paul’s side in a similar position.
St Paul’s suffered a heavy defeat to St Brigid’s in the first round and anything less than a win here may not be enough to keep their qualification prospects alive.
A close one looks in prospect and although Aghagallon have a bit to prove they might just have enough to edge this one with a draw not to be ruled out.
IFC Group 2
Pairc MhicDhomhnaill 7-00pm Friday
St. Teresa’s v Gort na Mona
St. Teresa’s have one point from two outings in Group 2 while Gort na Mona lost their opening game in the group to St Joseph’s Glenavy who look to have already got one foot in the quarter final following two win from two outings.
Both sides desperately need the win to keep their championship hopes alive but home advantage could swing it St. Teresa’s way.
Senior Football Championship (round two)
Section One
Saturday 16th August 6-30pm
Tir na nOg v Cuchullian’s Dunloy Whitehill (6.30 pm)
Cuchullian’s recorded an impressiove opening round victory over the visiting St John’s and announced they were well prepared for this year’s championship and they will travel to Whitehill to meet Tir na nOg as firm favourites.
The win over the Johnnies certainly served notice that the former beaten finalists mean business this term, having brushed aside their Corrigan Park visitors with the minimum of fuss passing the finish line with a 2-30 to 1-11 verdict.
The winning score did in fact include a super total of nine 2 pointers and their ability to produce such scores would suffice as an ingredient to enable further passage in the championship.
Tir na nOg lost to reigning champions Erin’s Own in their opening game in Toome but put in a fighting performance before losing by six points.
The Ogs were given little chance in that one by most observers but performed admirably and a repeat of that performance would put them in with a fighting chance.
Cuchullian’s will start this one as favourites however and a repeat of that impressive performance against St. John’s could see them edge what could be a close encounter.
JFC Group Group 2
St Agnes 5-00pm Saturday
Laochra Loch Lao v Pearses
Laochra lost their opening game when they fell to an Eire Og side who scored 5-5 on the night while Pearses had an opening day win over Wolfe Tones.
This one fixed at the neutral venue of Pairc Una could be close but if Laochra can tighten things up in defence then their greater need could see them win.
JFC Group 2
St. Paul’s Saturday 5-00pm
Eire Og v Wolfe Tones
Eire Og recorded an impressive win over Laochra Loch Lao at Colaiste Feirste in round 1 where they hit the net on five occasions and if they can produce something similar on the Shaw’s Road then they can top the group come Saturday night.
Saturday 16th August
SFC Group 2 Saturday 6-30 Pairc Rossa
Having endured a poor league season, Hugh Mc Gettigan’s charges showed improvement late in their campaign.
That improvement continued in the championship with an opening day win over St James Aldergrove in Crumlin and they return to home base for the visit of Casements.
Casement’s opened their championship account in an eye catching 5-22 to 0-08 victory over the visiting Con Magee’s.
Last year’s beaten finalists will go into this one as favourites and although they may be asked a few questions by the home side, Casement’s may just gain the win which will secure a place in the quarter finals.
SFC Group 3
Sat 16th August – 6-30pm Milltown
St Gall’s v All Saint’s Ballymena (Milltown) 6.30 pm
St Gall’s are amongst the front runners in the race to gain the silverware this term as their league form and their opening win over the men from Lamh Dhearg in the championship would strongly suggest and they will have obvious home advantage in this one as they play hosts to All Saints.
The Ballymena men, having earned a place in the division one league final gave a good Creggan side a run for their money in their opening championship game and will travel to West Belfast in the knowledge that a positive result is a must but they will have to be at their very best to get that win and the nod goes to St. Gall’s.
IFC Group 6-30pm- Chapel Hill
Glenavy v Davitt’s
Both sides are unbeaten to dater with St. Joseph’s defeating Gort na Mona away and St. Tersa’s at home in their 2 games to date while Davitt’s travelled to Dunsilly and recorded a good three point win in their only fixture to date.
This one could be close but home advantage could swing the way of an in form Glenavy
SFC Group 2
Sunday 2-00pm Fr Maginn Park
Con Magee’s Glenravel v St James Aldergrove
Both Glenravel and Aldergrove lost their opening games in Group 2 and a win looks a must for both sides if they are to retain any hope of qualification.
Glenravel lost heavily to Casements whilst the men from Aldergrove suffered a similar fate at home to Rossa.
Glenravel have home advantage for this one and it could be a factor in swinging it the way of the Con Magee’s but this one could go either way.
SFC Group 1 (Corrigan Pk)
Sunday 3-30pm
St John’s v Erin’s Own Cargin
Reigning senior champions Cargin are on the trail of four in a row as travel to West Belfast to meet the challenge of St John’s at Corrigan Park.
The home side failed to cope with Dunloy in the opening round of the competition but despite the superiority of the Cuchullian’s in than one the Johnnies did chalk up 1-11 and with home advantage this time they will line out against their South West rivals in a more confident mode.
Cargin failed to impress in their opening round meeting with their Randalstown visitors but Ronan Devlin’s men are more than capable of better and although their hosts will ask questions aplenty the Toome men may well provide the answers.
SFC Group 3
Creggan- 4-00pm
Lamh Dhearg v Kickham’s Creggan
Lamh Dhearg lost to the visiting St Galls in the opening round and will travel to Creggan in the knowledge that a win is a must if they are to maintain their championship ambitions.
Kickham’s Creggan are amongst the favourites in this year’s championship and gained an opening day 7 point victory over the All Saint’s at Quinn Park.
The Kickham’s will start this one as firm favourites and although the Hannahstown men will battle to the end, the vote goes to Creggan.
IFC Group 1
Hightown 4-00pm- Sunday
St. Enda’s v Moneyglass
This is only St. Ergnat’s second game in Group 1 after defeating
Sarsfield’s in their opening game back on the 30th July. Sarsfield’s have had 2 further fixtures since then and top the group with four points including a win over St. Enda’s last weekend.
St. Enda’s won their opening game against Naomh Padraig and have home advantage for this one but the visiting Moneyglass men have the ability to make it two from two.
JFC Group 1
Rossa Park 3-00pm Sunday
St. Agnes v St. Malachy’s
League winners, Naomh Una collected the division 3 title this year and recorded an opening day win over Ardoyne in Group 1 of the JFC. St Malachy’s drew with O’Donnell’s at Cherryvale on the same day and will give this one a real lash but the ‘Aggies’ should gain the win to remain top of the group.
JFC Group 1
Davitt’s Park – 3-00pm Sunday
Ardoyne v O’Donnell’s
Ardoyne lost to an in form St. Agnes at Pairc Una in their opening championship game and really need to win this one again O’Donnell’s if they are to keep their qualification hopes alive.
O’Donnell’s fought out a hard earned draw against St. Malachy’s on the same day in their opening game but the Kickham’s may just edge this one but it could be close.