HISTORY will be made in Armagh next weekend when the top flight Senior A title is won by either Madden or Clann Eireann for the first time ever.
The pacesetters go head-to-head in the final game of the season level on points but Madden’s one-point victory over their Lurgan rivals back in May means that a draw will see them crowned champions. Clann Eireann – who will include county stars Conor Turbitt, Tiernan Kelly and Barry McCambridge – have to win to take the title.
At the other end of the table, rivals Ballymacnab and Granemore face a battle for survival. Ballymacnab (who won the first meeting of these sides) need victory or they will need to win the Gerry Fagan Cup for the first time in their history to retain their top flight status. A draw will be enough for Granemore who are two points better off. Mullaghbawn, who won promotion to SFLA last season, have already been relegated to the second tier.
In Senior Football League B, the South Armagh derby between Dromintee and Silverbridge will determine the champions. Both teams are already assured of promotion but Silverbridge are best placed to take the title. They have a two-point advantage over their neighbours and won the reverse fixture by five points on home soil.
Below the top two there is plenty to play for as St Peter’s, Maghery, Sarsfields and Clan Na Gael (all on 14 points) vie for the top four finish that will secure their place in Pot Three for the championship draw. Maghery (who include Aidan Forker, Ben Crealey and Ciaran Higgins) host Clan na Gael (Stefan Campbell and Shane McPartlan) while Sarsfields and St Peter's take on already relegated host Shane O'Neill's and Grange respectively.
The Intermediate Leagues are also packed with intriguing match-ups as the A and B sections go down to the wire. The IFLA title will go to either Culloville or Cullyhanna and both finish with challenging final round fixtures against opponents fighting for a top four finish and a potentially more favourable draw in the intermediate championship.
Culloville travel to the Cathedral City to take on a Pearse Og side that have won their last five games on-the-trot. The Blues need a point or better to secure the title. Meanwhile, Cullyhanna will need to beat St Paul's at home and hope the Ogs can extend their winning streak to six.
The champions will automatically be promoted but the runners-up will lose out to the intermediate championship winners.
At the other end of the table, Tullysarran, Tir na nOg and Wolfe Tones are all fighting for survival. Bottom-of-the-table Wolfe Tones host Tullysarran in Derrymacash and victory will give them a chance of staying up but only if Carrickcruppen do them a favour by beating Portadown's Tir na nOg.
Survival is in their own hands but Tullysarran's form since June has been poor. They lost four in-a-row (including a 1-17 to 0-12 reverse at Carrickcruppen) but they did end that run last time out with a morale-boosting draw against league leaders Culloville.
In IFLB, Keady's Michael Dwyers have already won the league. The runners-up will be either Belleek or Annaghmore who meet in Belleek on Saturday, July 29. Bottom-of-the-table Middletown and Forkhill look certain to be relegated to JFL for 2024 unless they conjure up a dramatic u-turn in form and win the Intermediate Championship.
In the Junior A division, Clonmore have secured the title and automatic promotion and Collegeland can clinch second place if they draw or beat Ballyhegan at home. At the other end, Dorsey Emmetts have endured a challenging season in which they lost all 11 games and have been relegated to the JFLB division which has been won by An Port Mor.
