Antrim Senior Football Championship (All games 7pm)
LÁMH Dhearg travel to take on St Mary’s, Aghagallon tonight with both sides sitting on four points in Group Three.
The Hannahstown men were rampant against St James’, Aldergrove last time out, scoring 5-13 in a win that helped them get over the dispiriting defeat to Naomh Éanna.
Conor Murray and Terry McCrudden helped themselves to two goals apiece in the first-half of that victory at Crumlin and Aghagallon will be conscious of trying to keep the space allotted to the likes of them and Ryan Murray to a premium tonight.
St Mary’s were reduced to 14 men when they lost the opening day reverse fixture by a single point at Hannahstown earlier this month and they will have a reversal of fortunes very much in mind tonight. The men from Aghagallon have steadied the ship since that mid-August encounter, winning games against Aldergrove and St Enda’s, with their Antrim contingent back on the panel.
With Naomh Éanna also sitting on four points in Group Three, both clubs will be aware a defeat tonight could be very damaging to their hopes of qualification. Expect a cagey encounter.
The Glengormley men are also in action tonight and will be hoping to take full points off Aldergrove for the second time in a week at Hightown. St James’ pushed Naomh Éanna all the way in last week’s clash, losing by a single goal in the end, and repeat performances from the likes of Andrew Flood and Séamus McGarry could make for another tight game.
In Group One, Rossa will host St John’s on the Shaws Road knowing that anything less than a win will leave a last-eight spot likely out of their grasp.
The two sides met on the opening day of this year’s championship, with the Johnnies edging out their west Belfast rivals by 0-12 to 0-9. They will be banking on the likes of Domhnall Nugent and Patrick McBride laying the foundations for a similar result tonight to make up for the recent loss to Cargin.
Rossa ran out seven-point winners over Moneyglass last time out and they looked impressive as eight of their players got themselves on the scoreboard on the night while Dominic McEnhill kicked five points from play.
In Group One’s other game, reigning champions Cargin travel to Marian Hill to take on neighbours Moneyglass knowing that a win will guarantee their quarter-final spot for this year.
Intermediate champions St Ergnat’s refused to throw in the towel in that defeat to Rossa and they will aim to demonstrate solid improvement since their defeat to Cargin in round one. Colum Duffin will be again expected to carry the main scoring threat for the hosts.
Cargin have been solid so far in their title defence – Tomás McCann providing them with the platform for a 10-point win over St John’s at Corrigan Park last time out – and they should have enough in the tank to dismiss Moneyglass comfortably for a second time at the group stage.
In Group Two, St Brigid’s host Portglenone at Musgrave Park knowing that a place in the quarter-finals is up for grabs for the winner.
St Brigid’s will have it all to do though if the reverse fixture is anything to go by, Casement’s running out 15-points winners on the opening day. However, the south Antrim men were poor in defeat to Ahoghill last time out and the injury to playmaker Dermot McAleese may give St Brigid’s further cause for hope.
In Group Four, St Gall’s and last year’s beaten finalists Creggan are expected to play out a nip and tuck encounter at Milltown.
St Gall’s ran rampant against a visiting Gort na Móna in their last outing, winning by 4-12 to 1-3, and they will be hoping this can serve as a springboard to a reversal of their opening day defeat to an in-form Kickham’s side.
