PREVIEW: A crunch weekend in Armagh

HERE are this weekend’s Armagh football fixtures.

Details are correct at the time of writing. Check the Armagh website for any changes before making your journey.

ARMAGH SENIOR FOOTBALLCHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE

GROUP A

CULLOVILLE V MAGHERY

Sunday, Culloville, 6.30pm

CULLOVILLE are one of the in form team at the minute teams at the minute in the SFC and they’ll be determined to make it a clean sweep of victories in Group A, especially on home soil.

Verdict: Culloville

KILLEAVY V CLAN NA GAEL

Sunday, Killeavy, 6.30pm

IT’S been a poor campaign so far for Clans, with two consecutive defeats. Whoever loses here is pretty much out of the competition and league champions Killeavy look to be in the best place to get the win.

Verdict: Killeavy

GROUP B

CULLYHANNA V PEARSE OG

Sunday, Cullyhanna, 3.45

PEARSE Og need to win this game or their season will come to an end but Cullyhanna is an incredibly difficult place to go to and Stephen Reel’s side should get the job done without much fuss.

Verdict: Cullyhanna

MADDEN V MULLAGHBAWN

Sunday, Madden, 3.45

MADDEN look to be back in the groove given their huge win over Pearse Og and home advantage could just swing this game in their favour, although it won’t be easy against an up and coming Mullaghbawn team.

Verdict: Madden

GROUP C

CROSSMAGLEN V SILVERBRIDGE

Saturday, Crossmaglen, 6.30pm

A DEFEAT could see Silverbridge crash out of the competition, depending on other results. Crossmaglen have certaily held the upper hand in this rivalry for a long time and it would be a surprise if that changes.

Verdict: Crossmaglen

GRANEMORE V ST PETER’S

Saturday, Granemore, 6.30pm

ANYTHING other than a win here will see Granemore’s season come to an abrupt end. They are on zero points at the minute, while St Peter’s will be targeting at least a second place finish and a win will guarantee them that.

Verdict: St Peter’s

GROUP D

CLANN EIREANN V ARMAGH HARPS

Friday, Clann Eireann, 6.45pm

ARMAGH Harps go into the contest off the back of their surprising defeat to Carrickcruppen in round two. Clann Eireann are the favourites to go all the way and with two wins under their belt already, they’re expected to make it three.

Verdict: Clann Eireann

CARRICKCRUPPEN V DROMINTEE

Friday, Carrickcruppen, 6.45pm

CARRICKCRUPPEN were the story of round two, coming from ten down to defeat the Harps away from home. This one is likely to go right down to the wire and home advantage could ultimately just decide it i favour of the Camlough outfit.

Verdict: Carrickcruppen

ARMAGH INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALLCHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE

GROUP A

FORKHILL V COLLEGELAND

Saturday, Forkhill, 4.15pm

COLLEGELAND need to avoid defeat here or their journey in the Intermediate Championship is over. Forkhill are one of the dark horses for the title and will have their eyes set on topping Group A.

Verdict: Forkhill

KEADY V WHITECROSS

Saturday, Keady, 4.15pm

WHITECROSS are unbeaten in the championship having claimed back-to-back draws while Keady are on the same points with one win and one defeat. Keady should be too strong for their opponents but Whitecross will certainly put up a fight.

Verdict: Keady

GROUP B

TULLYSARAN V SHANE O’NEILL’S

Saturday, Tullysaran, 6.30pm

THIS one is a complete dead rubber, with Shane O’Neill’s already guaranteed top spot and a place in the last eight, while Tullysaran have been knocked out of the competition.

Verdict: Shane O’Neill’s

WOLFE TONES V CLANN EIREANN II

Saturday, Wolfe Tones, 6.30pm

THESE two sides are playing to figure out who finishes second and third in the group. Clann Eireann II were impressive last weekend, posting 6-14 against Tullysaran, and their firepower could see them through.

Verdict: Clann Eireann II

GROUP C

ST PAUL’S V BELLEEK

Sunday, St Paul’s, 2pm

BELLEEK are fighting to stay in the competition having suffered back-to-back defeats. St Paul’s are one of the top contenders for the Intermediate Championship crown and should have too much.

Verdict: St Paul’s

GRANGE V ANNAGHMORE

Sunday, Grange, 2pm

GRANGE are the form team in the championship to date having posted 3-22 and 3-18 in their two games. Annaghmore are guaranteed a playoff place, as long as Belleek don’t win, while Grange will look to top the group.

Verdict: Grange

GROUP D

DERRYNOOSE V TIR NA NOG

Saturday, Derrynoose, 4.15pm

ANYTHING other than a defeat here for Derrynoose will see them advance to the playoffs. They had an eye-catching win over Ballymacnab last weekend and they’ll look to build on that against Tir na nOg.

Verdict: Derrynoose

SARSFIELDS V BALLYMACNAB

Saturday, Sarsfields, 4.15pm

BALLYMACNAB are guaranteed a playoff place but if they can win by two points here, they’ll finish top of the group. Sarsfields are notoriously hard to beat at home however, which should make for a great contest.

Verdict: Ballymacnab

ARMAGH JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS

THOMAS DAVIS V ST PETER’S II

Saturday, Armagh Harps, 4pm

THOMAS Davis will have been disappointed not to have finished top of their group and they should have too much for St Peter’s IIs, who go into the game having lost their last two outings.

Verdict: Thomas Davis

EIRE OG V MIDDLETOWN

Sunday, Clonmore, 2pm

MIDDLETOWN ended up coming in third position in the group, winning just one game. Eire Og were impressive in the group stages and they’ll have their eyes set on causing a bit of an upset here.

Verdict: Eire Og

BALLYHEGAN V KILLEAVY II

Sunday, Granemore, 2pm

WITH James McCormack and Peter McGrane back in the fold, Ballyhegan look like a team that could go all the way in the Junior Championship. Killeavy IIs may cause them problems, but not enough to upset the odds.

Verdict: Ballyhegan

CLADY V ST MICHAEL’S

Sunday, Ballymacnab, 4pm

THIS game has the potential to go right down to the wire and both teams will feel they have a strong chance of winning it. Clady will be without attacker Kieran Connolly, but may still have enough to edge it.

Verdict: Clady

ARMAGH JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS

CLAN NA GAEL II V MADDEN II

Sunday, Clan na Gael, 1pm

CLAN na Gael II hit four goals in their win over Dromintee II last weekend and have won both of their opening round fixtures. They will be confident of making that three from three on Sunday.

verdict: Clan na Gael

SILVERBRIDGE II V DROMINTEE II

Sunday, Silverbridge, 1pm

BOTH teams are struggling in the championship so far as both sit on zero points. Silverbridge II beat Dromintee II well during the league and will probably have too much.

verdict: Silverbridge