Ulster Intermediate Football Championship preliminary round
Banagher (Derry) v Belnaleck (Fermanagh) (today, Owenbeg, 4.30pm)
TWELVE months ago Belnaleck were finishing preparations for an Ulster Junior quarter-final against Dundrum and now they are back in provincial action, this time at intermediate level.
They started last year’s Ulster campaign in Newry and Colm Bradley’s side will be on the road again to take on Banagher in Owenbeg.
They came through some tough battles in Fermanagh, including a replay win over Maguiresbridge and a two-point victory against Enniskillen Gaels, before playing some of their best football in the final against Irvinestown.
Banagher posted some big tallies en-route to the Derry title, no doubt helped by some attacking lessons passed on by joint-manager Enda Muldoon.
Alongside him on the line is Declan Mullan and with the likes of Mark Lynch, Brian Og McGilligan, Paul Cartin and Peter Hagan in their ranks, they can progress to an Ulster quarter-final against Donegal champions Glenfin.
Odds: H: 1/5 D: 10/1 A: 4/1
Verdict: Banagher
Ulster Junior Football Championship quarter-finals
Keady (Armagh) v Aghadrumsee (Fermanagh) (today, Athletic Grounds, 2.30pm)
THERE is no rest for Keady’s many dual players as they try to navigate provincial matches in both codes. Last week they were successful in getting past Eoghan Ruadh in hurling, and they have a great chance of moving forward in the football too.
Paul Doyle’s side have won 22 of their 23 games in all competitions this season.
The most important of those was the Armagh final when they won their second title in four years with Ryan Donnelly hitting eight points in their 0-18 to 0-13 win against former Ulster champions An Port Mor.
Colm Monahan came into Aghadrumsee this year and guided them to their first intermediate title since 1990.
The Magpies will look to the likes of county man Eddie Courtney and their captain Eugene Kearns to drive them on, but this could be a big ask.
Odds: H: 4/9 D: 8/1 A: 2/1
Verdict: Keady
Limavady (Derry) v Teconnaught (Down) (today, Owenbeg, 2.30pm)
TECONNAUGHT have won every game that they have played in Down this year but Donal Bell and John McCarthy’s side will face a massive step up in quality today.
That winning streak nearly came to an end in last weekend’s rearranged Junior final against Kilclief, but they dug deep in difficult weather conditions to secure a one-point win.
The Rann Road men only managed eight points, but that was enough to secure the double.
Their scoring potential should increase with the return of Andrew McCartan who was suspended for the county final.
Limavady easily defeated Moneymore in the Derry final and the likes of Ruairi Hasson and Callum Brown bring real quality to the side. Home advantage could be decisive.
Odds: H: 4/9 D: 8/1 A: 2/1
Verdict: Limavady
Emyvale (Monaghan) v Newtownstewart (Tyrone) (tomorrow, Clones, 12.30pm)
EMYVALE are chasing a third Ulster Junior title and they look strong once again after hitting 5-13 against Drumlane in the preliminary round.
Declan Loughman has a fantastic attack with Ryan McAnespie, David McMahon and David McAllister all very capable of causing damage.
Newtownstewart were perhaps slight underdogs against Beragh in the Tyrone final but a fine start allowed them to claim the silverware. Ryan Mayse should be fit for Martin McNulty’s side but Aidan McSorley is set to miss out.
Odds: H: 4/9 D: 8/1 A: 2/1
Verdict: Emyvale
Ulster Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final
Mullahoran (Cavan) v Sean Treacy’s (Armagh) (today, Kildallon, 2,30pm)
THE Cavan Championship is still in progress but Mullahoran have been nominated to represent the Breffni county in Ulster.
They have been comfortable in their two games to date within county boundaries, hitting 4-13 against Cootehill and 4-18 against East Cavan Gaels, but they will be up against it here.
Sean Treacy’s won Division Two of the Ulster Tain League last week following a 4-14 to 2-16 win over Louth outfit Knockbridge in Newry, and the Lurgan outfit should progress to a meeting with Cushendun.
Verdict: Sean Treacy’s
Antrim Intermediate Football Championship final
St Enda’s v Gort na Mona (today, Corrigan Park, 2.30pm)
ST Enda’s are heavy favourites as they go in search of a first intermediate title at Corrigan Park.
Frank Fitzsimon’s young side have won plenty of silverware all the way up and nobody has managed to get anywhere close to them on the way to the final. Gort na Mona had a much more testing path with their quarter-final against Dunloy and semi-final against All Saint’s ending up the same score – 2-9 to 0-13 in their favour. Dermot McVeigh raised a green flag in both games with Padraig McHugh and Paul Conlon also on target
Odds: St Enda’s: 1/5 D: 9/1 Gort na Mona: 4/1
Verdict: St Enda’s
Armagh Intermediate Football Championship final
Mullaghbawn v St Peter’s (tomorrow, Athletic Grounds, 1.45pm)
RONAN McAlinden’s St Peter’s side are attempting to complete an intermediate double but they struggled for the majority of their semi-final against Shane O’Neill’s before a couple of brilliant Darren Moore scores got them over the line.
Mullaghbawn have really caught the eye in dumping out Culloville, Forkhill and Wolfe Tones.
They could inflict further damage on Culloville because if they win here, they will take the senior promotion spot that the Blues had provisionally secured during the league.
Odds: Mullaghbawn: 6/5 D: 13/2 St Peter’s: 10/11
Verdict: Mullaghbawn
Monaghan Intermediate Football Championship final
Doohamlet v Sean McDermott’s (tomorrow, Clontibret, 3.30pm)
DOOHAMLET are the specialists of the Intermediate Football Championship and are aiming for their fourth title in nine years.
Dessie McBennett is back at the helm and county men Colin Walshe and Barry McGinn are key players.
Sean McDermott’s have lost the last two Junior Championship finals, but they’ll hope that Niall Kearns can extend his good form for one more game to help them pull off a surprise.
Odds: Doohamlet: 2/5 D: 8/1 Sean McDermott’s: 9/4
Verdict: Doohamlet
Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship final
Augher v Tattyreagh (tomorrow, Healy Park, 2pm)
TATTYREAGH had a dream season in 2017 as they claimed the junior title for the first time and now Stephen McHugh’s side can make even more history in Omagh.
They are facing an Augher side that has really taken off in the championship, especially after hammering Loughmacrory in the first round when a tight match was anticipated. They can finish the job here.
Odds: Augher: 4/7 D: 7/1 Tattyreagh: 7/4
Verdict: Augher