The football leagues are nearing completion with another round, in all of the three divisions scheduled for Wednesday evening 28^th June.

Division One

Section A

 Lamh Dhearg v Creggan (7.00pm)

This looks like a close one in prospect as Creggan travel to Hannahstown to meet Lamh Dhearg although both are probably out of range for the league title.

The home side and their visitors sit on 18 points apiece and with an eight point gap between them and the front running Casement’s pride would seem the only prize at stake.

Creggan lost to their neighbours Cargin on home turf last time and as they will travel hoping to get back to winning ways.

Both will be supplemented in personnel with a return of their respective Saffron representatives expected to return to club duties and ground advantage may well tip the balance in favour of the Hannahstown men.

Casement’s v Erin’s Own Cargin (7.30pm)

Casement’s are close to securing their first ever division one league title as they hold a four point lead over the chasing pack and safe in the knowledge that a win over Cargin will secure the title.

A win for the Toome men would see them bridge the gap to two and ensure John Mc Keever’s charges could not afford another reversal in their remaining fixtures and that should ensure a close encounter in Kelly Park.

Cargin will travel to Portglenone in a positive mode with all hands on board following a return from injury and county duty for some of their squad.

A close one is in prospect but ground advantage may well tip the balance in favour of the Casement’s men.

St Mary’s Ahoghill v St Mary’s Aghagallon (7.30pm)

Aghagallon enjoyed a good 2023 season to date but they have lost their way in recent times. A home defeat to Ahoghill a few weeks back was not anticipated by many but proved a setback for Aghagallon and they will travel to Clooney hoping to avenge that result.

Ahoghill enjoyed an excellent season to date and qualified for the top six before the cut-off.

A close one is anticipated in this one but ground advantage may well play a part with a home win possible.

Section B

St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v St Brigid’s (7.30pm)

Moneyglass welcome St Brigid’s to Marian Hill as both the contestants strive for much needed points.

Both sides are far from secure in the retention of their division 1 status with Moneyglass a couple of points ahead of their visitors who have a game in hand.

St Ergnat’s with 14 points to date have suffered a couple of recent reversals and a win would certainly aid their survival chances but their opponents are in the same position.

St. Brigid’s should have a number of county panellists back in action but ground advantage may possibly aid the St Ergnat’s cause

O’Donovan Rossa v St John’s

With 16 points, the Johnnies lead division 1B and look well out of the relegation issue as they travel to Shaw’s road to meet their keen rivals O’ Donovan Rossa.

The home side have only 11 points to date and are involved in one of the tightest battles for years to avoid the drop and they will be striving to add another couple here.

The rivalry which exists between these two is legendary and the situation as it exists will ensure another hard fought encounter between this pairing.

St John’s will travel with confidence but ground advantage may well aid Rossa to the win and a welcome couple of points.

 (7.30pm)

Tir na nOg v St Gall’s (7.30pm)

This meeting of Tir na nOg and St Gall’s at Whitehill should be close with the points at stake of equal importance to both the contestants.

Both sides have 10 points and in the penultimate fixture of the season the points at stake there is little room for a slip up.

Tir na nOg had a good win over Moneyglass last time and will hope to build on that win as the Milltown men visit Whitehill.

Another close one in prospect but with home advantage Tir na n|Og can build on last week’s win.

Division Two

Section A

All Saint’s Ballymena v St James Aldergrove (7.45pm)

This one looks a likely candidate for ‘match of the evening’ as All Saint’s host fellow promotion chasers Aldergrove in a fixture which will attract a big attendance to Ballymena.

The home side could only manage a draw against the visiting Davitt’s last time out and cannot afford another slip and even a win may not be enough to give them the title.

They meet a St James side which has picked up the pace recently and, like their hosts are in contention for the title.

Both sides will have their ears to the ground, hoping that league leaders Glenravel slip at Davitt’s. If that were to happen then a win for either could secure the title and this one could go either way.

Michael Davitt’s v Con Magees Glenravel (7.45pm)

Davitt’s are capable of mixing it with the best in this division as a recent draw with Ballymena pays testament and they are capable of causing visitors, Glenravel problems but the Con Magee’s have one foot already in division 1 for next season and anything other than an away win would be a major upset.

                                                         Gort na Mona v Glenavy

This looks another hard one to call as Gort na Mona welcome Glenavy to Enright Park with both safe in the top six but out of contention for promotion. Both sides have 14 points but the home side will start as slight favourites and may gain the win.

Section B

St Teresa’s v Patrick Sarsfield’s (7.45pm)

Sarsfield’s have shown good form in this section and are well clear of the relegation zone with 16 points and the ‘Bear Pit’ residents will look to increase their tally in this one as they travel up to the Glen road to meet St Teresa’s.

St Teresa’s have 14 points are also well clear of the relegation issue and will be hoping for another brace of points.

St Teresa’s will look to add to their tally and with pride the only issue here they may well gain the verdict.

St Paul’s v Cuchullian’s Dunloy (7.45pm)

Having endured a poor season, reigning Intermediate champions Dunloy have gained in stride of late.

It has come too late to save their division 2 status however and pride will be the motivating factor if they are to take anything from this game.

St Paul’s have had a poor season by their own standards but have shown recent improvement and with home advantage could collect the points from this one.

Kickham’s Ardoyne v St Patrick’s Lisburn (7.45pm)

Kickham’s Ardoyne have enjoyed a quite productive season and have 14 points to date and have secured division 2 status for next season as they play hosts to St Patrick’s.

The Lisburn men have endured a poor return for their efforts this term and they are set to return to division 3 in 2024. Division Three (all games at

7.30pm)

Patrick Pearses v St Agnes

Patrick Pearses have enjoyed a productive 2023 season and with 24 points they can be pleased with a top three finish for the season.

St Agnes have 12 points to date but Pearses should take the points at Woodlands.

Wolfe Tones v St Malachy’s

St Malachy’s had a good 2022 season but have struggled this term but the men from the Markets should shade this one as they face a Wolfe Tones side who will have benefited from a first season in the Antrim leagues.

St Mary’s Rasharkin v Cardinal O’ Donnell’s

St Mary’s Rasharkin have remained unbeaten in 2023 harvesting an impressive 30 points along the way.

MacRory Park side, Cardinal O’ Donnell’s have stayed hot on the heels of their country cousins and a win here would keep their outside chances of the title alive but Rasharkin should have too much for them in Dreen.

 St Comgall’s Antrim v Eire Og

St Comgall’s did not fare as well in league proceedings as last term but with 17 points to date they have enjoyed a fair season and they may well add another brace of points in this one as Eire Og visit.

All Ireland Ladies Football Championship

Antrim 1-18 Longford 0-08

It would have taken a losing margin of 22 points for Antrim’s All Ireland Intermediate journey to come to an end at Cargin today and, whilst that scenario was never likely, none the less Emma Kelly’s side were focussed on getting the win from the encounter to top Group 4 and secure a home quarter final.  

Longford had a difficult week with former boss Alan Mullen handing his resignation to the county board on Wednesday, just three days after falling to a 17-point loss to Westmeath. Longford Slashers clubman Sean Meenaghan took the reins of a team going through somewhat of a transition, seeing relegation from Division 3 and an underwhelming Leinster Championship campaign.  

Grace Shannon opened the scoring for the visitors, but Lara Dahunsi almost instantly equalised for the home side with a fisted point and Orlaith Prenter added two shortly thereafter to take a lead they would never relinquish. Maria O’Neill was unlucky first with an effort for a point which struck the upright and then from a shot on goal which drew a fine save from Longford’s Riane McGrath between the sticks. Dahunsi added to her tally and Prenter another from a free to give Antrim a four-point lead.  

Áine Tubridy also got on the scoresheet with a well taken point before Prenter fed Dahunsi who chipped over the bar from short range. Glenavy’s Grainne McLaughlin joined the list of scorers with a short range free in front of the sticks.  

Antrim’s period of dominance, which yielded eight points, had a brief interruption when Maria O’Neill fouled Katie Crawford and Slashers’ Shannon stuck the resulting free over. The renaissance was short-lived, as a wonderful team move saw Dahunsi receive the ball in the midfield, lean back and drop it in over the blackspot. Another point for McLaughlin had Antrim on 10 points. Grace Shannon led for Longford and claimed a second point for the visitors but less than a minute later Prenter was doing what Prenter does best, selling a series of dummies and slotting the ball over the bar.  

Shannon added another two from frees but Laura Agnew was right back in there for the Saffs on the stroke of half-time to see the home side lead 0-12 to 0-5.  

McLaughlin opened the scoring in the second period to put Antrim 8 points in front from a free but Shannon, still her side’s only scorer, added another two to reduce the gap to six. A long period without a score was ended when Agnew got her second.  

Maria O’Neill fed Dahunsi who was bearing down on goal when Longford’s Maria Kelleher put in a clumsy challenge and took the legs out from under the St Paul’s forward. After a long discussion with his umpires, referee Gavin Finnegan sin-binned Kelleher and signalled a penalty with Prenter obliging from the spot.  

Maria O’Neill was unlucky again seconds later when she found the back of the net, but Down man Finnegan gave a free out. Longford had their own chance in front of goal a few minutes later but Antrim nudged the ball out for 45. Katie Crawford became Longford’s second scorer when Antrim had difficulty clearing their lines and Longford capitalised.  

Dahunsi added her sixth score from 20 meters out after a well-worked team move and McLaughlin grabbed another, but Bronagh Devlin was unfortunate not to raise a green flag, chipping the ball over the crossbar from near-point-blank range.  

Orla Corr, who put in a Player of the Match performance, forcing several key turnovers and making excellent passes throughout the encounter, sealed out an excellent game with a point from distance.  

Saffron’s boss Kelly hailed the performance at Erin’s Own today but is firmly focussed on the quarter final saying “Great to get the win to top the group. The girls put in another good shift but now we need to prepare for the next round which is knock-out football. Hopefully we can get a big crowd out at Davitts to drive the girls on in two weeks time.”  

With the win, Antrim have secured a home draw for the quarter final stage on 9^th July, but will have to wait until Monday to find out their opponents.  

Antrim scorers: O. Prenter 1-4, L Dahunsi 0-6, G McLaughlin 0-3, Á. Tubridy 0-1, O. Corr 0-1, L. Agnew 0-2, B. Devlin 0-1  

Longford scorers: G. Shannon 0-7, K. Crawford 0-1.

 

ACFL DIV 2
Naomh Séamas 2-13 v 0-7 Pádraig Sáirseil CLG
Aldergrove showed the depth and quality of their squad when challenged with
two games in three days. Aldergrove were comfortable winners in the end
finishing undefeated at home.
The Crumlin side got off to a fast start moving three points clear after five minutes of
play. Ryan Owens strong running in midfield setting up scores for Declan
Gough and Seamus Mc Garry. Aldergrove welcomed the return of Fearghal
Burke who had been on the sidelines with a long-term injury. Burkes quality
immediately showed with a 40-yard pin point pass to Ryan Mc Carthy on the
edge of the square and Mc Carthy made no mistake in placing the ball in the
top corner of the net.

Aldergrove continued to apply pressure with fast hand passing play from Aidan
Irvine, Malachy Burns and Eoin Gough attacking from deep. With the fast pace
of Aldergrove fouls were created with Burke and Mc Garry converting from the
tightest of angles.
Sarsfields hit back with three consecutive scores to bring the game within two
points. Five minutes before half time Aldergrove rallied with more scores from
Andy Flood, Cormac Mc Garry and Ryan Mc Carthy bringing the half to an end.
HT Naomh Séamas 1-7 v 0-3 Pádraig Sáirseil CLG
Aldergrove started the half strongly with a superb point from Conor Morris
almost on the sideline. They continued to grow in confidence with
further scores from Declan Gough, Seamus Mc Garry and Ryan McCarthy.
Sarsfields hit back with two more scores bringing the game to 7 points
between the sides but Aldergrove found another gear and with strong running
forward from Gerald Mallon, Conleth Herndon and Eoin Hamill, Mc Carthy
found the net again.
A mention must also go to the man in the middle Patrick Tumelty who had a
solid performance letting the game flow.
With one game left for all teams, next Wednesday will be the deciding factor
with the opportunity of the league title opened for three teams.