ANTRIM
THE Group of Death will go to the last round of games after Aghagallon dragged themselves back into contention with victory over St Gall’s. Pete McGrath’s side face league champions St Brigid’s in their last game knowing they must better whatever Creggan do against the Milltown Row men. Strangely, those games are split up over the Saturday and Sunday of the final weekend of August.
Holders Cargin are through in top spot with a game to spare, with rivals St John’s and Rossa facing off in the final group game to join Ronan Devlin’s side in the last eight. Lamh Dhearg and Dunloy are through from Group One, with St Joseph’s and St Enda’s out.
Ahoghill’s win over already-eliminated Glenravel means the winners of their derby duel with Moneyglass will emerge from Group Three alongside Portglenone, who are through with two from two.
“It’s no way to promote the game in Armagh...” Hurling championship semi-final in doubt as Craobh Rua object to fixture congestion and burn-out issues
“I was walking around in the parade thinking I wasn’t going to play...” Armagh Sam Maguire winner Blaine Hughes came perilously close to missing All-Ireland final
Qualified for quarter-final: Cargin, Portglenone, Dunloy, Lamh Dhearg
Eliminated: St Enda’s, St Joseph’s, Glenravel, Tir na nÓg
This weekend: No games
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
ARMAGH
WHILE Clan na Gael’s impressive win over Crossmaglen raised eyebrows, so too did Cullyhanna’s big win at home to Killeavy. Last year’s All-Ireland intermediate champions sent out a bit of a signal and face neighbours Silverbridge on Saturday after the Harps won in Culloville.
There was also a good win for Madden in Maghery, leaving the loughshore men facing into a big clash with Clann Eireann on Saturday as well. Ballymacnab’s win over Dromintee and Armagh Harps’ 13-point margin of victory in Mullaghbawn were notable too, but with only one team going out of each group, it’s very early days.
This weekend
Friday, 7pm: Ballymacnab v Armagh Harps; Dromintee v Mullaghbawn
Saturday, 4pm: Killeavy v Culloville; 4.30pm: Cullyhanna v Silverbridge, 5.30pm: Granemore v Clan na Gael, 7pm: Maghery v Clann Eireann
Sunday, 1.15pm: Sarsfields v Crossmaglen; 2.45pm: Madden v St Peter’s
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
CAVAN
MULLAHORAN will face league champions Ramor United in round two after both scored good wins in their opening game, beating Cavan Gaels and Ballyhaise respectively. Crosserlough’s 17-point victory over Lavey was the standout result of the first weekend, with the winners facing Laragh United and Lavey meeting Castlerahan in game two. Ramor, Mullahoran, Crosserlough, Ballinagh and Killygarry all won, with holders Gowna drawing with Kingscourt in the first game last Thursday night. Each team has three more group games to play, with the top eight in a pool of twelve qualifying for the quarter-finals.
This weekend
Friday, 8pm, Cuchullains: Laragh United v Crosserlough; 8pm, Kingspan Breffni: Kingscourt v Killygarry
Saturday, 6.30pm, Cornafean: Ballinagh v Cavan Gaels; 6.45pm, Kingspan Breffni: Mullahoran v Ramor United
Sunday, 2pm, Ramor: Castlerahan v Lavey; 4pm, Ballinagh: Gowna v Ballyhaise
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
DERRY
NEWBRIDGE’S thumping 3-16 to 0-7 win away to neighbours The Loup suggested they might have a good say in this year’s championship. They had been talked out of contention a bit in the absence of Padraig McGrogan but laid down a bit of a marker on a weekend that saw Glen return to winning ways in Bellaghy. The All-Ireland champions rode their luck a bit in the first half but were comfortable for most of the second until a late rally brought Damian Cassidy’s side within two at the end. Slaughtneil hammered rivals Swatragh by 17 points to sit top of Group A, while Dungiven breathed life into their summer with a win over Kilrea in a repeat of the de-fact league final that went the other way. In Group B, Magherafelt edged out Lavey and join Newbridge on four points after two games. This is a hurling weekend in Derry, with football in two weeks. Lavey, Loup, Ballinascreen and Kilrea could all do with a win then. Everyone will play two more games, with the top four in each of the groups of six qualifying.
This weekend: No games
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
DOWN
THINGS get underway this weekend in the Mourne county, though they begin by retaining their tradition of stringing it out over five days and saving the big one for Monday night. That will see Warrenpoint face Clonduff in Kilcoo. By then the holders will have faced Loughinisland in an interesting tie on Saturday evening in Liatroim. RGU Downpatrick v Ballyholland on Friday is the most eye-catching of the rest. Winners this weekend split into one side of the draw and meet each other in round two, with this weekend’s losers facing off the same weekend in what would be their last chance.
This weekend
Thursday, 7.30pm, Burren: Castlewellan v Mayobridge
Friday, 7.15pm, Bryansford: RGU Downpatrick v Ballyholland
Saturday, 4pm, Castlewellan: Glenn v Carryduff; 7pm, Liatroim: Loughinisland v Kilcoo
Sunday, 2pm, Teconnaught: Longstone v Bredagh; 4.30pm, Downpatrick: Bryansford v Saul; 7pm, Clonduff: Burren v Liatroim
Monday, 7pm, Kilcoo: Warrenpoint v Clonduff
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
DONEGAL
AFTER defeat by St Eunan’s at home at the weekend – when Shaun Patton didn’t play – holders Naomh Conaill’s next assignment is away to MacCumhaills. The top eight face each other next with the bottom eight all getting a good chance to earn two points and claw their way into contention for a top-12 finish from the group of 16. Four Masters’ impressive start continued with an easy win in the Downings. They’re joined in the top four by Glenswilly, St Eunan’s and MacCumhaills, with St Michael’s and Dungloe also have won both of their opening fixtures. Naomh Conaill lie in seventh with Gaoth Dobhair eighth and Kilcar ninth. The top four after two more games each will go straight into the quarter-finals, with the next eight facing an extra game.
This weekend: St Naul’s v Killybegs, Four Masters v Glenswilly, Cloughaneely v Downings, Glenfin v Kilcar, St Eunan’s v Gaoth Dobhair, St Michael’s v Dungloe, Aodh Ruadh v Ardara, MacCumhaills v Naomh Conaill
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
FERMANAGH
ENNISKILLEN Gaels warmed up for the impending start of the championship by claiming a first league title since 2001 with victory over Derrygonnelly on Saturday evening. The last two championship winners faced off in Brewster and Conor Love’s goal ten minutes into the second half proved decisive in a 1-10 to 2-4 win for Simon Bradley’s men.
The groups have been sorted on account of the final league positions. The Gaels are in Group A with Kinawley, Belnaleck and Teemore, while the Harps will face Erne Gaels (under Declan Bonner and final losers the last two years), Ederney and Devenish. Games begin in two weeks’ time. Top team goes straight into a semi-final.
Group stage draw Group A: Enniskillen Gaels, Kinawley, Belnaleck, Teemore
Group B: Erne Gaels, Derrygonnelly, Ederney, Devenish
This weekend: No games
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
MONAGHAN
LAST year’s beaten finalists Inniskeen are yet to win after two games, drawing with Latton over the weekend. John McEntee’s side will have another two games, both of which they’ll be fancied to win against Killanny and Donaghmoyne, so there’ll be no panic stations yet. Clontibret are in good shape with two from two. They face Donaghmoyne on Saturday evening knowing a third win would almost certainly advance them to a semi-final. In the other group, Scotstown have a weekend off having won in Aughnamullen. They’re top with four points. Ballybay beat Corduff and that may ultimately determine their finishing order when the group ends, most likely with those three in the positions they’re currently occupying.
This weekend
Saturday, 3.30pm: Killanny v Latton; 6.30pm: Donaghmoyne v Clontibret
Sunday, 2pm: Corduff v Aughnamullen; 5pm: Cremartin v Ballybay
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
TYRONE
A LITTLE over 5pm on Sunday evening, an exhausting league campaign that crammed seven games into 25 days will be at its end. There’s much still to sort too, with Errigal Ciaran, Carrickmore, Killyclogher (who have a game in hand against bottom side Eglish) and Dungannon all joint top on 18 points. Galbally, Dromore and Loughmacrory remain in contention for top-four finishes. Eglish are long cut adrift at the bottom but even their performances have picked up. Coalisland are second bottom but finish with two home games, the last of which is against Eglish on Sunday. Coalisland are on seven points so Clonoe (8pts), Ardboe (9pts) and Edendork (9pts) all look nervously over their shoulders. Straight knockout championship starts the weekend of September 7/8.
This week: Final two rounds of league, Wednesday and Sunday