THE Derry Senior Football Championship last eight will be finalised by tomorrow evening after the final round of group games.
With three-in-a-row champions Glen and the main contenders all through, it’s all about filling the last two spots.
The game of the weekend is at Davitt Park, where Swatragh entertain Bellaghy as Group A goes crunch.
With Glen, Slaughtneil and Dungiven qualified and Kilrea out of the championship, jeopardy knocks again.
The Tones must win whereas a draw would be enough for Swatragh.
Bellaghy must find form after two defeats. And they were different. From a position of control against Dungiven, they were reeled in. Their last outing saw them come a cropper against a ruthless Slaughtneil.
Charlie Diamond and Conleth McShane have been chipping in with scores but they’ll need more tomorrow.
Declan Cassidy made a return from injury to join Derry team-mate Paul Cassidy in attack.
Swatragh ran into a similar Slaughtneil lesson before getting burnt by Glen’s blistering start. After digesting three goals, there was a creditable fightback that wasn’t enough.
There was a wasteful start before they took control against Kilrea but Francis Kearney’s late free left the sides level.
Conor McAtamney, alongside brothers James and Patrick Kearney, form their midfield axis. The latter’s twin brother Francis plays up front with the youngest sibling, Sean, as their scorer and playmaker.
This is the last-chance saloon and should hoover up any neutral fans looking for a proper championship taste.
Swatragh have built some form but their inconsistency in recent seasons will cast a cloud. Bellaghy, after two defeats, will have to pour everything they have. Now is the time.
Elsewhere in Group A, Slaughtneil have nothing to gain with top spot already guaranteed.
Manager Mark Doran can balance his plan between maintaining momentum and wrapping anyone needing minded in cotton wool.
They welcome Dungiven to Emmet Park and they will be buoyed by a performance that should have earned a draw against Glen last week. It’s a chance for them to test themselves ahead of knock-out stages.
Glen host Kilrea knowing they can’t finish top. They welcomed Cathal Mulholland home from his travels during the week.
Malachy O’Rourke will have the luxury of leaving Conor Glass, Danny Tallon and Jack Doherty – who have picked up knocks – in reserve with the serious test of their title yet to come.
There are more possible permutations at the bottom of Group B, Newbridge are guaranteed top spot and Magherafelt will finish in second.
Beyond that, Lavey, Loup, Ballinascreen and Steelstown are vying for two spots.
Lavey’s form has improved since finding themselves seven points down at half-time against Magherafelt.
They’ll scratch their heads wondering why their comeback wasn’t enough to avoid a narrow defeat. Their stock has risen since but they welcome Steelstown for a crunch game on Sunday.
Should they avoid defeat, Lavey will face Glen in the quarter-finals. Lose and home, and the Erin’s Own men need other results to go in their favour. Even a Steelstown win won’t be enough to pull the city side through. They’d need a helping hand elsewhere.
A Ballinascreen win over Newbridge could pull them back into the mix. If Loup beat Magherafelt, it would be enough to see them through.
A Loup draw and score difference could come into play with the potential of three teams ending up on four points. A Loup defeat and a win for Ballinascreen could again see the calculator needed since the teams drew earlier in the campaign.
Clear as mud? Not really. Sunday will clear everything up.
