AFTER three weeks of jockeying for positions, the Derry Senior Football Championship will shed some challengers this weekend with the penultimate round of games.
Two teams needing a change in fortunes are Kilrea and Swatragh, who lock horns on Saturday evening at Pearse Park.
The home side are the current league champions but need a win to give themselves a chance of making the quarter-finals.
The Davitts, who host Bellaghy in the last round, would take a step towards the knock-out stages with a victory.
Swatragh have been a mixed bag. After a win over Dungiven, they were beaten heavily by Slaughtneil, before answering plenty of questions with an improved showing in defeat to Glen. Their problem was conceding three early goals to the champions.
Kilrea will take plenty from how they took Slaughtneil to the wire in their last game and this one should also go the distance.
Bellaghy were dealt a major blow with defeat in Dungiven after holding all the cards at half-time.
The Tones welcome an in-form Slaughtneil on Saturday, with the Emmets putting their hands up as serious challengers for Glen’s crown.
Mark Doran has brought in some young blood, while Patsy Bradley is still putting in a shift at midfield in the twilight of his career.
Bellaghy have a crunch game with Swatragh on the final day, but on current form taking anything from this weekend would be a bonus.
The final game in Group A takes place on Sunday. It will see newly-appointed Tyrone manager Malachy O’Rourke with his Glen hat firmly on as they continue their title defence.
Having lost to Slaughtneil in their opener, the Watties host a Dungiven side who made a stellar comeback to see off Bellaghy.
Ryan Dougan, Danny Tallon and Conor Glass have made returns for the holders.
Dungiven have won their last two games but Glen – and Slaughtneil in the final week – is a step up for a side littered with young players.
In Group B, Newbridge lead the way with three wins and they host Steelstown on Saturday, with the city side fighting to stay in the race.
Conor, Mark and Oisin Doherty were key men in the ‘Bridge win over Magherafelt. It was their mobility that was key and it looks like helping them into top spot ahead of the quarter-finals.
Steelstown were without Donncha Gilmore in their defeat to Loup, when they struggled to get back-to-back scores to build any momentum.
There is a crunch game in Lavey on Sunday, with Loup visiting. The home side lost by a point to both Newbridge and Magherafelt in games they could have got something from.
Rory McGill and Ryan Mulholland have been their form players with Niall Toner accurate in attack.
Loup’s avenue to success was the variation in Thomas Mallon’s kick-outs and the sheer hunger they brought. The winner here will clinch a quarter-final spot.
Also on Sunday, Ballinascreen make the journey to Magherafelt needing victory to take their championship story to the final round of games.
‘Screen gave Magherafelt plenty of trouble in last year’s quarter-final and arguably should have won.
But Magherafelt will be a dangerous opponent this weekend after being beaten last time out.
Ballinascreen need to find their best performance if they are to stay in the championship beyond Sunday.
