Game On – We preview the province’s big club games

ANTRIM

Antrim ACFL Division One Group One

Cargin v St John’s

Sunday, Cargin 2pm

DAMIAN Cassidy is in his fourth season in charge of Cargin, and the county champions’ league campaign begins against John Kelly’s St John’s team.

St John’s are a dual club, and will be battling on both fronts in this year’s campaign, so it will be interesting to see how strong a side Kelly is able to play in this league opener. The Johnnies are still one of the top teams in the county, and were championship finalists in 2017 when Lamh Dhearg won.

Last season, Cargin felt some chagrin at the lack of fanfare that was held around their league victory. With the competition run off in an even shorter window this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they might understand if there is even less celebrations. However, they tend to take this competition very seriously.

Other matches to watch out for include Naomh Eanna playing Naomh Brid, a game between two clubs who have enjoyed strong underage success in the past few years.

Antrim ACFL Division One Group One

Lamh Dhearg v Creggan

Sunday, Lamh Dhearg, 2pm

LAMH Dhearg were beaten finalists in last year’s Senior Championship and would have been hoping for a stronger run this year up until everything got postponed because of the outbreak.

After needing two replays to beat Portglenone in the semi-finals of the championship, Lamh Dhearg took Cargin to a replay in the decider.

Lamh Dhearg were champions in 2017 and they have a strong team that they feel will be good enough to challenge again this year.

They have county stars like Conor Murray, who recovered from injury to return last year. Similarly Paddy Cunningham, a long-serving Antrim forward, returned to inter-county action as well which suggests that he was going to have a big part to play in his club’s fortunes.

How those players will have weathered over the break will be interesting.

For Creggan, their management situation changed as two St Enda’s men, Gerard McNulty and Thomas McNulty, took over from Kevin Madden who went to join Mickey Harte’s Tyrone management team.

Creggan are one of those Antrim sides that feel that they have the team to challenge for the championship after they reached the final in 2018. The league should have been their time to prepare for the championship, and for the McNultys to get to know their players. That has been set back.

DONEGAL

Donegal Division One Section A

Milford v Glenswilly

Sunday, Moyle Park, 5pm

LAST year, Milford made a great impression in the Senior Championship. The club made their bow on the senior stage and managed to qualify out of the group stage.

They were actually in the same group as Glenswilly, but by the time they played Ryan McKinley’s team (Pauric Bonner has taken over this year) they had qualified for the last eight.

Unfortunately things didn’t go well for them and they exited the competition soon after.

But Milford are a team that want to make another impression this year. While they ended the 2019 league with relegation, they remain in the Senior Championship. They regard progress as maintaining their senior status and perhaps getting a little farther. This weekend, they open their regional leagues campaign against a Glenswilly team who famously leave their big performances for the championship.

Donegal Division One Section B

Kilcar v Killybegs

Sunday, Kilcar, 5pm

KILCAR are a team with such a wealth of talent, and we often wonder why they haven’t won more in recent years. The reason could be that the Donegal Championship is a hot bed of talent, and a team must have a strong will, as well as a strong bench to survive.

Since 2010, Killybegs have appeared in as many county finals as Kilcar. They were finalists in 2010 and 2013. Kilcar lost the 2016 final, but won the 2017 decider.

Kilcar will be favoured to win this one of course as they have more stars on their squad such as the McHughs and the McBreartys, but it feels like Killybegs are a team who are in form, and could really make some progress this year.

It’s a regional league game, but the Kilcar-Killybegs rivalry could play out here in exciting fashion.

ARMAGH

Armagh Senior Football League A

Maghery v Crossmaglen

Sunday, Maghery, 2pm

THE Senior A League season kicks off in blockbuster fashion as Maghery host Crossmaglen on Sunday afternoon.

It will be the first sideline meeting of former Armagh teammates Finnian Moriarty (Maghery manager) and his Cross counterpart Stephen Kernan.

New Cross captain James Morgan and the experienced Tony Kernan are fully fit having suffered a disruptive 2019 season. Aaron Kernan is back on board while Paul McKeown and Stephen Finnegan have dropped down to the club’s reserve ranks.

Maghery had their own injury issues last year in the form of Ronan Lappin and Conor Mackle and while they won’t be fit for this weekend, they should feature at some stage this season. Captain David Lavery and Michael Gallagher will be fit for the visit of the county champions though.

While this year’s league programme doesn’t impact on championship seedings, expect some fireworks as the two teams attempt to lay down an early marker. These matches are usually extremely physical, and this should be no different.

The 2020 action begins on Friday night (8pm) as last year’s county finalists Ballymacnab welcome Dromintee. Bernie Murray remains in charge of the ‘Nab while John Kennedy is back for another season with the south Armagh outfit. At the same time, Armagh Harps, under the guidance of new manager Damien Jordan, will welcome Granemore to Abbey Park.

In the final round one game, Killeavy start with a home match against Shane McConville’s Pearse Og (2pm).

DOWN

Down Senior League Division 1A

Clonduff v Kilcoo

Friday, Hilltown, 7.30pn

REIGNING Ulster champions Kilcoo will begin the 2020 season with a Division 1A clash away to neighbours Clonduff on Friday.

The Magpies travel to Hilltown after the greatest season in their history, and although this match carries no weight as relegation has been postponed for the season, it will still be fiercely contested. There will be a league final, although teams will not have their eye on that just yet.

Despite indications that they may step down after last season’s run to the All-Ireland final, manager Mickey Moran and attacker Conor Laverty are back for another year in Kilcoo colours. Clonduff will once again be managed by Mark Harte and Adrian O’Donnell. As a result of Covid-19, the Down Division One league has been split into two five-team divisions with Cumann Pheadair Naofa hosting Steven Poacher’s Bryansford in Friday’s other Division 1A clash.

In Division 1B, Ballyholland will meet newly-promoted Carryduff at Fr Lynch Park while Loughinisland welcome Burren. All games throw in at 7.30pm.

Rostrevor and Mayobridge have a bye in their sections, so they will meet at Petit Park.

MONAGHAN

THE Monaghan Senior Hurling Championship begins with two preliminary round ties this Sunday as Monaghan Harps welcome Carrickmacross to Gavan Duffy Park and Clontibret have home advantage against Inniskeen. Both games start at 2.30pm.

The Harps are managed by Adrian Dalton and Pat Meehan with John Hahessy helping out too. They weren’t in last year’s championship but they feel they have a decent crop of young players coming through with experienced players like Seamus McLoughlin and Dermot McMahon, new to the club, giving them a more solid platform.

It was a league format last year and Carrick started with a narrow loss to Truagh. If they had won that game they would have reached the final if their other results had stayed the same.

They are managed by Aidan Slevin, Sean Guinan, Eamon Collins and Brian Wheelan and they will look to county goalkeeper Patrick Bermingham, Gareth Keenan and Oran Kiernan to drive them on. Club chairman Barry Connelly is also out of retirement.

Inniskeen are again expected to be without many of their dual players as they try and build on a disappointing 2019 campaign.

Their sole championship win came in the final game when they defeated Clontibret by a goal to avoid the wooden spoon in the group. The O’Neill’s will be aiming for revenge in the other preliminary tie.

TYRONE

Tyrone ACFL Division One Group Two

Dromore v Omagh

Sunday, Dromore, 3.45pm

DROMORE have performed very well in the league in recent seasons but have been unable to transfer it to the championship arena.

That, you’d think, will be the main barrier Colm McCullagh’s side will be attempting to cross this season.

They are the league holders though and they will be hoping for a good start against the St Enda’s men.

They have been boosted by the return of Cathal McCarron who has transferred back to the Tyrone club.

Carl McCabe is in charge of Omagh once again and they have their major men back, bar one. Justin McMahon is yet to confirm that he will be playing but the club is still hopeful that he will line out with them.

Ronan O’Neill will spearhead their attack once again.

CAVAN

Cavan ACFL Division One

Ballyhaise v Cavan Gaels

Sunday, Annalee Park, 2.30pm

CAVAN star Gearoid McKiernan is set to play his first game for Cavan Gaels as they travel to Ballyhaise for the first league game of the season.

The midfielder completed his transfer from Swanlinbar in October and should prove a massive asset for Kieran Donnelly’s side in the coming months.

Ballyhaise were promoted last year after an emphatic 3-14 to 1-7 play-off win over Bailieborough. They then defeated Killinkere in the Division Two final.

They will be one of the big hitters in this year’s Intermediate Championship and with the experienced Declan Brennan at the helm, they should have a good chance. Shane Briody has returned from abroad and has rejoined the panel.