Soccer set to kick off

Soccer set to kick off

31 July 2024

IT might be high summer, but the new local soccer season kicks off on Saturday.

There are fixtures in the Steel and Sons Cup and in the top sections of the Amateur League.

Steel Cup holders Comber Rec, who beat Crumlin Star 3-2 in the Christmas Day showpiece, begin their defence of the trophy with a trip to Dunmurry to face Colin Valley.

Cup ties are unpredictable affairs, but Comber will feel confident of seeing off opponents who play two flights below them in the Amateur League.

Drumaness Mills, last season’s beaten Clarence Cup finalists, are away to St Matthews from Division 1B of the Amateur League and should fancy their chances of getting through.

There are home ties for Kilmore Rec, who face Shorts, Ballynahinch United, who take on Suffolk, and Saintfield United, who entertain Wellington Rec.

Manager Craig Bowman is beginning his third season in charge of the Saints and has added a number of new players to his squad over the summer with the aim of improving on last season’s eighth placed finish in Division 1C.

Also in the first round, Portaferry Rovers travel to Newtownards to tackle Ards Rangers.

Killyleagh YC, Dromara Village, Ballynahinch Olympic and Newcastle have all been given byes into the second round which will be played on Saturday, August 17.

Killyleagh are at home to the PSNI, Dromara are away to Lisburn Distillery, Ballynahinch Olympic are also at home to either Holywood or Sirocco Works and Newcastle visit either Crumlin Star or Rathcoole.

Also in the second round, Ballynahinch United will be away to Ards Rangers or Portaferry Rovers should they get past Suffolk.

Kilmore Rec will be away to Lower Maze if they beat Shorts, Drumaness Mills visit St Lukes if they beat St Matthews and Saintfield United are also away to Glentoran seconds if they can get past Wellington Rec. Comber Rec will travel to 18th Newtownabbey if they beat Colln Valley.

In the Premier Division of the Amateur League, Dromara Village have been given the toughest possible start with a trip to champions East Belfast, which they follow on Tuesday night with another trip to Derriaghy, last season’s Clarence Cup winners.

Also on Tuesday, Comber Rec are at home to Immaculate, while Drumaness visit Crumlin United.

In Division 1A, Killyleagh YC open up on Saturday at home to Larne Tech Old Boys, while Ballynahinch Olympic are also at home to St Oliver Plunkett.

Next Tuesday, Ballynahinch Olympic entertain Kilmore Rec in a local derby and Killyleagh are away to Holywood FC.

In Division 1B, Newcastle are away to Greenisland on Saturday and home to Aquinas next Tuesday. Portaferry Rovers are away to Bangor Amateurs on Tuesday.

In Division 1C, Castlewellan Town, last season’s 2A champions, travel to Barn United on Saturday and are also away to Ballywalter Rec on Tuesday evening.

Ballynahinch United are at home to Suffolk on Tuesday, while Saintfield United are away to Bloomfield the following evening.