Championship action all the way

Championship action all the way

5 August 2015

IT’S all systems go for the Down championships when 20 matches will take place across 11 venues over five days in a feast of mouth-watering football.

The action kicks off tomorrow night with an IFC double header in Clonduff.

First up are Shamrocks and Drumaness. The sides have already met in Division 2 in a feisty affair which saw the East Down men prevail. 

This game should be a lot tighter, but if Brian McIlmurray and Donal Kennedy can get into the scoring mood then Shamrocks will be more than likely heading for the back door.

St John’s and Atticall are the main attraction on the night and this is set to be a tight game. John Clarke’s big game experience will be invaluable to the Johnnies while Martin Trainor carries Atticall’s main threat up top. Fine margins will decide this game with St John’s just getting the nod.

Friday night sees a a SFC double header at Pairc Esler.

The 6.30pm throw in serves up a battle between neighbours Annaclone and Liatroim. 

Both are coming off the back of contrasting league results. Both have also struggled in the top tier this year. This will be a physical encounter with scores at a premium.

The ‘Clone will be without the injured Brendan McArdle while big things will be expected of veteran Liam Doyle in the Fontenoys engine room. A kick of the ball will decide this tie with Annaclone set to advance.

At 8pm Clonduff and Bryansford go toe to toe. The ‘Ford have been motoring well under former Clonduff boss Frank Dawson while Gearoid Adams has been extracting the maximum from an exciting Clonduff outfit. 

Bryansford have the more strength in depth and with Danny Savage and Ciaran Brannigan in top form they will outscore a Hilltown side that will look to Arthur McConville and Barry O’Hagan to lead their charge.

Tullylish and An Riocht will exchange pleasantries in Burren in the IFC at 2pm on Saturday.

Tullylish took the spoils in their recent league encounter, but the Kingdom were not at full strength. Chris Killen has been fantastic for the Mourne men this season while a lot more is to come from Martin Clarke. 

Shannon Drainey and Gareth Johnston are the focal points of the Tullylish attack that has had no trouble in getting scores this term. Ross Carr’s An Riocht will be seeking revenge and their hunger for that may see them triumph.

The second part of the two-game programme at Burren sees Glenn face Longstone at 3.45pm. Glenn are higher up the league ladder while the ‘Stone have been completely unpredictable this season.

The Bagnalls, Matty, Liam and Gerard, along with Denis Murtagh, have been leading the line for John Kennedy’s men and despite Longstone possessing talents in the form of Ambrose Rogers, Mark Poland and Ryan Kelly, Glenn’s youthful exuberance will gain the win.

Saturday evening in Mayobridge will provide another IFC/SFC combination.

At 6pm Bosco and Loughinisland greet each other in the IFC.

The Blues are one of the favourites for this title having gained a host of experience in the past decade in the SFC.

Bosco reached a few IFC finals in recent years, but they are no longer the force they once were. Jerome Johnston will want to guard his side against complacency, but they should have little trouble in seeing off the Newry side, especially if Dan Gordon and Aaron McClements are on top of their games.

The 7.45pm throw in sees an intriguing clash between Ballyholland and Warrenpoint in the SFC. 

This could be one of the games of the early stages of the championship as Stephen Poacher’s counterattacking Harps try to contain Bernie Ruane’s free-running squad. 

Ballyholland hold the higher league position while the ‘Point have also been in impressive form.

If Warrenpoint can fend off the Harps’ physical challenges then Ryan Boyle, Ryan Mallon and Donagh McAleenan have enough pedigree to send Poacher’s army into the back door.

Sunday is the busiest day of action with no less than ten games taking place.

The four JFC round robin games take place at 2pm.

In Group A Teconnaught host Killyleagh in a local derby. The Wolfe Tones didn’t field in Friday’s league encounter, but they should a muster a team for this occasion.

Teconnaught will romp to victory with Ciaran Carville and Paddy Grant expected to be heavily involved in proceedings.

Group B sees Aughlisnafin take on Mitchels in Kilcoo. The ‘Fin have undergone a mini revolution with Conor Deegan at the helm.

They have beaten Mitchels twice already this season and if they can keep it tight at the back and get plenty of supply to Shane Mooney then they will progress as group winners with Mitchels taking the runners up spot.

In Group C Aghaderg venture to Holywood to square up to St Paul’s. The ‘Derg have had a nightmare year to date and the Saints will only serve to inflict more misery on them. 

With powerhouse Jack Brennan at midfield and set-piece specialist Sean Tucker at the head of the attack, Kevin Blaney’s charges will win with something to spare.

Group D will witness the meeting of championship favourites Glasdrumman and 2012 winners Dundrum. 

Emmett Devlin’s men have been unbeaten to date and have swept all before them. Shane Harrison has returned from the US while his brother Connaire has been unstoppable in their attack. 

Dundrum will be looking to Paul McComiskey to keep them in contention. Glasdrumman are tipped to claim the spoils going on league form.

Drumnaquoile will host an IFC double header with games at 2pm and 3.30pm.

The first game will see Dromara make a long awaited return to the intermediate ranks where they will face stern opposition in the form of Bredagh. 

The Belfast side play a fine brand of football with Kevin Harte the leader in defence and Alan Davidson a predator in front of goal. Dromara will offer plenty of resistance, but Bredagh will prevail.

The headline act is the coming together of Saul and 2013 winners Drumgath. 

Saul don’t have a great championship pedigree while Drumgath aren’t the same side that took home the WJ Farrell Cup a few years back. 

Cathal Murray’s troops have showed a marked improvement in form of late and in Pierce Laverty and Deaglain Ardnold they hold two aces. 

If Packie Downey’s presence can be curtailed then the East Down side should have enough to go through to the next round.

Kilclief and Darragh Cross lock horns in Downpatrick at 2pm in the IFC.

Darragh have been brilliant under the tutelage of Brendan Mason, while Kilclief only have a handful of survivors from their 2011 success in this competition. 

Shane Murray and Anton McGrattan have it in them to go to town on a young Kilclief defence and anything other than a St Mochai’s victory would be classed as a surprise.

At 3.30pm at the same venue Clann na Banna and Castlewellan are up against each other in the SFC.

The ‘Bann have been outclassed by most of their top flight opponents so far while the Town have been hampered by a number of defections to the US.

This may be closer than expected with Castlewellan expected to advance, especially if Sean Dornan is on top of his game.

The action comes to a conclusion on Sunday night in Pairc Esler with a massive crowd expected to turn up for the SFC double bill of Saval and Mayobridge (6pm) and Burren and Kilcoo (7.45pm).

Mayobridge are an outsider’s tip for the championship and they will face a stern test against Gavin Quinn’s Saval. 

The ‘Bridge will have Conor Garvey marshalling the defence, Benny Coulter operating at midfield and Ryan Brady and Corey Quinn doing the damage up top. 

Saval are without Niall Madine, but still pack a punch with Keelan Rice and Pat Havern in their forward unit. Mayobridge will lay down a marker with a victory.

Burren and Kilcoo is the tie that the whole county is talking about. Both sides have dominated the SFC landscape in recent times and a great game is in the offing. 

Both outfits are under new management with Burren unbeaten and positioned at the top of the league. Kilcoo have been less impressive and without Paul Devlin they have lost some of their scoring prowess. 

Kevin McKernan, Donal O’Hare and Conail McGovern represent Burren’s county contingent, but it has been the form of midfielders Mark McKay and Conor Toner, plus the attacking instincts of Sean Murdock, that have been behind Burren’s success to date. 

Kilcoo have plenty of experience and in Darragh O’Hanlon and the Johnston’s, Ryan and Jerome, along with talisman Conor Laverty they pack a serious punch.

The pressure is on the holders with Burren taken to better them.

St Patrick’s Park, Newcastle, will host the last of the games on Monday evening.

At 6.30pm Carryduff will try to extend Ballymartin in the IFC. The Lilywhites haven’t tasted defeat in the league yet and look a good bet for Division 1 football next year. 

Carryduff have blown hot and cold, but on their day are capable of producing the goods.

Ballymartin have more craft and guile and will force the Duff into submission. Peter Fitzpatrick at midfield and Ryan O’Hare at corner forward are the game changers for the Mourne team.

Rostrevor and Downpatrick come face to face at 8pm in the SFC with the outcome hard to predict. 

The RGU have been handicapped with the absence of the Turleys, Peter and Damien, but the return of Caolain Boyd and Joe Starkey has added a bit more steel to their challenge. 

Shaun Parr and the Fegan brothers, John, Conor and Jordan, all know where the posts are and with slightly more experience in their ranks they will have enough to oust D J Kane’s unit, but anything can happen in a championship  game.