The race for silverware across the grades in Antrim football is heating up. By the close of play this weekend, the knockout picture will be a lot clearer. In the Senior Football Championship, Group One's match-ups have already decided who finishes top and who is heading into the relegation playoffs. Lámh Dhearg and Dunloy are both assured of a place in the last eight, with the winner of the group facing the second-place team in Group Four. The runner-up will face the top team from that section. They will sort it out in Ballymena on Sunday in a repeat of last year’s quarter-final that went the way of Dunloy who went all the way to the final. Both teams have impressed in their games to date with the Red Hands having the edge in scoring difference should they finish level.
The other game takes place at the same time in Corrigan Park between Naomh Éanna and Aldergrove. The vanquished (or the Glengormley side in the case of a draw due to inferior scoring difference) will head into the playoffs nobody wants to contest. Group Two is a little clearer as Cargin have already wrapped up top spot and will play the second-placed team from Group Three. Even if they lose to Tír na nÓg at Dunsilly on Friday, their head-to-head tie-breaker over the city clubs means they can’t be overtaken. The Randalstown club’s defeats to the same opposition means that even a shock win will keep them bottom. They can only draw level on points, but head-to-head defeats mean they can’t overtake the city clubs who meet at Hanahstown on Saturday to decide second with a draw doing the Johnnies on scoring difference.
The picture is repeated in Group Three with Portglenone confirmed winners. They will face either the Johnnies or Rossa at the quarter-final stage, rendering their game against bottom of the group Glenravel as a dead rubber. Moneyglass face Ahoghill on Portglenone on Friday to decide who emerges to challenge Cargin. Moneyglass have the edge in scoring should it end in a draw. Group Four is a much different picture as there are a number of scenarios that can play out with no team confirmed as quarter-finalists.
St. Brigid's Maintain Momentum with Victory over Aghagallon
St Brigid’s may have won both their games so far, but they still require a draw when they face Aghagallon at Corrigan Park on Sunday to make absolutely sure of a place in the last eight. They will do so if they get a result. Victory for the St Mary’s club and things get interesting as should Creggan defeat St Gall’s at Hannahstown the previous day, then three teams will be locked on four points. Scoring difference comes into play with the Biddies currently on +9, Creggan on scratch and Aghagallon on -1. Scoring difference could also come to the rescue for St Gall’s (scoring difference -8) who absolutely must defeat Creggan by at least five and then hope St Brigid’s do them a favour the following day. Draws in both games will see Creggan nab second place on scoring difference.
St Brigid's, with a two-point win over Aghagallon, ensured their spot in the next round. The match was a tense affair, with the lead changing hands several times. The St. Mary's men entered the half-time break trailing by a significant margin but a strong second-half performance saw them overturn the deficit and secure victory. Aghagallon had been the dominant side in the first half, with Johnny Hannon excelling and scoring five points from play. Eunan Walsh also contributed a goal for the Lough Shore men.
St. Brigid's Stage a Remarkable Comeback
However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second half. St Brigid's, fueled by a surge of energy, dominated the third quarter. They scored six unanswered points, bringing them within one point of their opponents. Aghagallon responded with three points in a six-minute spell, but that was the end of their scoring. St Brigid's regained control and pushed on to claim a 0-15 to 1-10 victory. This victory secures their place in the quarter-finals and sets up a clash with Dunloy in two weeks' time.
The Fight for Intermediate Glory Continues
There is still another round of games to be played in the two five-team groups in the Intermediate grade but the outcome of Saturday’s game when St Teresa’s host St Paul’s will all but secure their passage into the semi-finals as they have both recorded two wins from two so far. Ardoyne, already eliminated, sit this week out, but the game between St Patrick’s Lisburn (one win from two games) against Rasharkin (one win from three) could well decide who is still in the hunt for top two as the visitors simply must win or their hopes end.
In Group Two, Sarsfield’s have been hugely impressive with three wins from three and are assured of a semi-final spot. They will wrap up top spot with a draw away to Glenavy who will remain in the hunt regardless of the outcome as they meet Ballymena - keen to bounce back from their defeat to the Paddies when they host Davitt’s who absolutely must win on Sunday - in the final round.
Junior Championship: A Battle for Quarterfinal Spots
The format of the Junior Championship is different again with the top team in each group heading to the semi-finals, while second and third make the quarters. In Group One, St Agnes’ (+12 score difference) lead the way with two wins from two, so a draw at home to O’Donnell’s (-7) will seal the direct route into the last four. Should O’Dees win, they could finish top on head-to-head should Laochra Loch Lao (-7) - who must win to give themselves a shot at the quarter-finals on scoring difference - overcome Pearse’s (+2). A Pearse’s win and an O’Donnell’s win leaves a three-way tie at the top, bringing in scoring difference, while an Aggies win and a victory for Laochra Loch Lao leaves three teams to decide the quarter-final places on score difference.
Group Two is clearer as St Comgall’s have secured top and a place in the semis, meaning their game at home to Wolfe Tones is a dead rubber as the Greencastle team can’t advance. Head-to-head comes into place for both as St Malachy’s and Éire Óg - who both have beaten Wolfe Tone’s and lost to St Comgall’s - play to decide second and third with St Malachy’s having the edge on points scored as both differences sit at -2.
The Antrim Senior Football Championship is heating up as we enter the final stages. This weekend's matches will determine which teams will move on to the next round. With a place in the quarter-finals on the line, the pressure is on for all involved. The battle for supremacy in Antrim Gaelic Football is far from over.
