THE Down senior championship continues this evening with two games in Group A. Top billing goes to the clash at Fontenoy Park between holders Liatroim and 2022 All-Ireland champions Clonduff.
Even with two more rounds to go after this tie, it looks as if the winner will qualify automatically for the semi-finals.
It will be Liatroim’s second game of the week after they defeated Kilcoo on Sunday in a game postponed from last Wednesday due to a bereavement.
Dearbhla Magee and Aimee McAleenan accounted for the majority of their scores in a 2-17 to 0-3 victory, their second of the campaign after beating Ballyholland the previous week.
Clonduff have only had one outing so far. They beat Ballycran 3-20 to 2-3 last Wednesday, Paula O’Hagan top-scoring with 1-10 and Clara Cowan and Claire Kearney grabbing the other goals.
It is doubtful if either forward line will get the opportunities to run up similar totals tonight, but Clonduff’s defence might hold the key.
The other tie takes place in Ballyholland, where the home side should get the better of newly-promoted Kilcoo.
Meanwhile, the second round of the Errigal Group-sponsored Derry senior championship goes ahead on Friday evening and the tie of the night has to be at Slaughtneil, where Ballinascreen are the visitors.
While the holders were convincing winners away to Glen last week, ‘Screen needed to score the last two points in a tight encounter with Lavey to emerge as 1-9 to 0-11 victors.
They relied heavily on Áine Barton frees to get them over the line, while Slaughtneil had a good range of scorers in running up 4-11 against their closest neighbours. It will take a big effort from ‘Screen to get the result here.
In Group B, Glen face another derby, this time against Lavey.
Before last weekend you would have said this game could go either way, but after Lavey’s performance against Ballinascreen it looks likely the Gulladuff girls will pick up their first win.
The two games in Group A look a little easier to call – Swatragh should beat Eoghan Rua with something to spare, while Bellaghy have too much experience for last year’s intermediate champions Newbridge.
On Saturday, there will be games in two county championships.
In Antrim, two rounds have been played so far and Dunloy are the only team with two wins. They aren’t in action this weekend but should still be on top when the final whistles sound.
Loughgiel will host a re-run of last year’s final, a tight affair with Ballycastle threatening Loughgiel’s 10-in-a-row bid until the last five minutes.
Neither team impressed in their opening game this year. Ballycastle struggled to shake off Brídíní Óga last Wednesday, while Loughgiel were lucky enough to escape from Cushendall with a share of the spoils.
There is more potential for improvement in the champions, however, and they should win.
Cushendall are also clear favourites in the other game, despite their poor first-half performance last Saturday in Dunloy.
Armagh is the only county running a straight knock-out competition and the season will end for either Ballymacnab or Keady on Saturday evening.
The ‘Nab have been close enough to Granemore over the past couple of seasons while Keady look off the pace.
Therefore the semi-finals on the weekend of September 20-22 should be Ballymacnab v Crossmaglen and Granemore v Madden.
FIXTURES (August 28-31)
ANTRIM
Saturday, August 31 (2pm)
Loughgiel v Ballycastle; Cushendall v Glenravel
ARMAGH
Saturday, August 31
Keady v Ballymacnab (5.30pm)
DERRY
Friday, August 30 (7pm)
Group A Eoghan Rua v Swatragh; Newbridge v Bellaghy
Group B Slaughtneil v Ballinascreen; Glen v Lavey
DOWN
Wednesday, August 28 (7pm)
Group A Liatroim v Clonduff; Ballyholland v Kilcoo
