The next phase of the football championships is scheduled for this week-end Friday/Saturday/Sunday 29th/30th/31st August with all of the games fixed at neutral venues.
SFC Group 4 – Sat 30th August
Saturday Creggan (4.00pm)
St Mary’s Ahoghill v St Paul’s
Having conceded their place in division One, St Mary’s Ahoghill opened their championship account with a win at Aghagallon in round one underlined the fighting qualities within the Cloney side.
They lost heavily to St Brigid’s in round 2 but a win here and victory for St. Brigid’s over Aghagallon could see the Ahoghill men finish second in the group and a place in the quarter-finals
St Paul’s are without a win to date in Group 4 but the Shaw’s road men are not to be discounted and they will hope to finish with a win as they travel to Creggan.
A close one is anticipated in this one but Eamonn Brady’s men will start as slight favourites and they may well gain the verdict.
SFC Group 4
Glenavy Saturday (4.00pm)
St Mary’s Aghagallon v St Brigid’s
Having endured a less than positive league campaign, St Mary’s Aghagallon received another blow when they lost to St Mary’s Ahoghill in the opening round of Group 4 but they got their campaign up and running last day out with a win over St. Paul’s in round 2.
St. Brigid’s have been the form team in the group and have recorded big wins over St. Paul’s and St. Mary’s Ahoghill to date and while Aghagallon could provide a stiff challenge, St. Brigid’s look capable of overcoming that challenge.
Sat 30th August – SFC Group 1
Group 1
Kelly Park Saturday (6.30 pm)
Cuchullian’s Dunloy v Erin’s Own Cargin
This one brings together the 2023 finalists when Cargin recorded a 2-10 to 0-11 win over Cuchullian’s and this pairing are certain to attract a big crowd to Kelly Park.
Ronan Devlins’s side are on a mission to gain a 4th senior title in succession and their seventh in the past eight years with near neighbours Kickham’s Creggan having halted the sequence when they proved successful with 1-12 to 0-07 win over St Mary’s Aghagallon in 2021.
Cuchullian’s have often been there or thereabouts on the championship trail over the years but more so in hurling and although they have been active on the football scene in recent years the Cuchullian’s last gained a senior title back in 1936.
Cargin have recorded wins over Tir na nOg and St John’s but this looks like their toughest test to date as they line out against a Dunloy side which has been in fine form in this campaign.
The Cuchullian’s really impressed in round one with an emphatic 2-30 to 1-11 first round victory over St. John’s but they got it much tighter in round two with a 4-15 to 5-08 win over Tir na nOg.
Cargin will start this one as favourites but if Dunloy can field at full strength then they could push the Toome side all the way.
SFC Group 1
Ballymena Saturday (6.30pm)
St John’s v Tir na nOg
After a poor league campaign and an opening day hammering to Dunloy in the championship, St. John’s did show improvement in Round 2 when Cargin visited Corrigan Park but still ended on the losing side.
The Toome men were installed as the firmest of favourites to gain the verdict in that one and finished 4-15 to 1-11 ahead but St. John’s showed some improvement from round 1 but a strong finish and a late goal blitz from the Toome men opened the door to victory.
St John’s hinted at improvement however and they will travel down to Ballymena to meet Tir na nOg feeling they can win this one.
Tir na nOg lost to both Dunloy and reigning champs Cargin in their opening two fixtures but performed much better than St. John’s against the same opponents.
They led their hosts Cargin in Toome in round one before a strong finish saw the home side finish ahead and were again competitive against Dunloy at Whitehill before losing by 418 to 5-08.
Neither side can now qualify for the quarter finals but both will be keen to avoid bottom spot in the group and a place in the dreaded relegation play-offs and this one could be mighty close with a tentative vote going to Tir na nOg based on their respective championship campaigns to date.
Sunday 1-00pm (St Enda’s)
SFC Group 3
All Saint’s Ballymena v Lamh Dhearg (1.00pm)
The contestants in this one have lost their opening two games in Group 3 and defeat for either would ensure a place in the relegation play-offs so while qualification is out of reach for both, there is still much at stake here.
Both Sunday’s opponents lost to Creggan and St. Gall’s in what was deemed the group of death with All Saints starting well in both their games but fading badly late in both their games.
Lamh Dhearg pushed both St. Gall’s and Creggan to the wire and their greater experience at this level will see them start this one as firm favourites and All Saints will need to be at their best for the full 60 plus minutes if they are to gain their first Group 3 win.
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Creggan Kickham’s v St Gall’s
SFC Group 3
(Dunsilly Pitch One) Sunday – (1.00pm)
This could be the game of the round as previously unbeaten Creggan and St. Gall’s cross swords at Dunsilly to decide who will top Group 3.
Both Sunday’s opponents have recorded victories over Lamh Dhearg and All Saints and both have impressed in the championship to date.
Both the contestants are considered as contenders in the race for the title and this could be a close one and should attract a good crowd to Dunsilly.
This one could go either way but Kickham’s will start as slight favourites and they may well finish in front.
Sunday 31st August
SFC Group 2 Sunday – (4.00pm)
(Toome)
O’ Donovan Rossa v Con Magee’s Glenravel
With one victory each in the championship, this meeting of Rossa and Con Magee’s in Toome is certain to be a close hard fought encounter with victory bringing the reward of a place in quarter-final to the victor.
Both sides lost to Group leaders, Casement’s, Portglenone but recorded wins over St. James Aldergrove with Rossa earning a 3-14 to 0-12 win away from home whilst Con Magees recorded a 3-14 to 2-11 victory at Fr. Maginn Park.
Rossa will start as slight favourites but this one could go either way and a draw cannot be ruled out
St James Aldergrove v Casement’s Portglenone
Sunday – Whitehill (4.00pm) SFC Group 2
Casement’s have recoded two victories to date and are going well at the moment and last year’s beaten finalists have been installed as favourites to go all the way by some observers.
The Portglenone men were not asked serious questions to date and have recorded convincing wins over the visiting Con Magees and away to Rossa.
St James have had a poor start in the championship, losing to both Rossa and Glenravel and although they will give this one their best shot another Casement’s win and a place at the top of Group 2 looks likely.
IFC Group 1
Moneyglass Friday – 6-45pm
St. Ergnat’s v Naomh Padraig Lisburn
St. Ergnat’s opened their IFC campaign with a good win over Sarsfields in Moneyglass but had to wait 17 days for their next game away to St. Enda’s.
They were pushed hard by the Glengormley side but earned a draw and a win here would put them in a strong position.
The Lisburn side performed well in Division 2 of the league but anything other than a St. Ergnat’s win looks unlikely and my vote goes to the home side
IFC Group 1
Rasharkin Saturday 6-00
Rasharkin v St. Enda’s
St. Mary’s Rasharkin have nothing but pride to play for in this one with relegation to division 3 already decided and defeats in both their opening championship game.
St. Enda’s could yet gate crash the qualification places in Group 1 should Moneyglass or Sarsfields slip up and that could be the carrot for the Hightown side who should win this one.
IFC Group 2
Enright Park Saturday 6-pm
Gort na Mona v Naomh Comhghall
St. Joseph’s Glenavy look to have tied up Group 2 with three wins from 3 and St. Teresa’s and Davitt’s look like contesting second place so Gort na Mona and St. Comgall’s look to be playing for pride in this one.
Both sides are capable of better than their results to date have shown but if Barry Burns’ side are at their best then Naomh Comhghall can edge this one.
IFC Group 2
Sunday 2pm Davitt’s
Davitt’s v St. Teresa’s
Second place in Group 2 is the prize for the winners of this one with St. Teresa’s on 3 points from 3 starts and Davitt’s on 2 from 2 starts.
A win for either would almost certainly earn them second place in the group and home advantage could play a part.
A lot will depend on just what St. Teresa’s side will turn up as they have mixed the good with the mediocre in the present campaign but I give a tentative vote to the Glen Road side.
GRAHAM TARMAC JFC Round up
Friday JFC Group 1
Friday 6-15 Fennell Park
Kickham’s Ardoyne got themselves back in contention of a qualification place in Group 1 with a big win over O’Donnell’s last day out and should have enough to beat St. Malachy’s in this one.
JFC Group 2
Eire Og v Pearses
Friday 7-30 pm at Eire Og
Eire Og have raised a few eyebrows with their performances in Group 2 when they hit 5 goals in their opening day win over Laochra Loch Lao and Wolfe Tonnes suffered the same fate as they hit another 5 on day two to top the group.
This one could be closer but the vote goes to goal scoring specialists, Eire Og.
JFC Group 1
O’Donnell’s v St. Agnes
MacRory Park Sunday 2-00
St. Agnes have been the outstanding performers in division 4 this year as they gained promotion to division 3 and they have carried that form into the JFC.
They recorded a big win over Ardoyne in round 1 with St. Malachy’s failing to field in round 2 and a win here would see them top the group and they should have enough to overcome the challenge of O’D’s.