Down Club Championships get underway

DOWN SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE

GLENN V BREDAGH

Thursday, Liatroim, 7pm

BREDAGH secured promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1976, a boost that should help overturn a Glenn team that beat them in the league.

Verdict: Bredagh

LOUGHINISLAND V CASTLEWELLAN

Thursday, Darragh Cross, 7pm

CHAMPIONSHIP is always a different animal, but Loughinsland escaping relegation will be a relief as they go into this game. Two goals separated the teams earlier this month and Castlewellan could again be on the wrong side of the result.

Verdict: Loughinisland

KILCOO V CLONDUFF

Friday, Páirc Esler, 7pm

REGARDLESS of Friday’s showdown, both teams will have a say in where the Frank O’Hara Cup spends the winter. Kilcoo to bounce back from their recent defeat and grind out a win.

Verdict: Kilcoo

DOWNPATRICK V AN RIOCHT

Saturday, St John’s, 5pm

AN RIOCHT come into the game on the back of three wins at the end of an inconsistent season, but Downpatrick have the players to get off to a winning start.

Verdict: Downpatrick

BALLYHOLLAND V LONGSTONE

Sunday, An Riocht, 3pm

LONGSTONE ended their promotion run with victory over Bredagh and face Ballyholland who won just once in their last five games.

Verdict: Longstone

CARRYDUFF V BRYANSFORD

Sunday, Downpatrick, 6pm

BOTH teams ended level on points. Carryduff pushed Kilcoo all the way last season and could find a way to beat one of the household names on the Down club scene.

Verdict: Carryduff

WARRENPOINT V SAUL

Sunday, Clonduff, 6pm

THE ‘Point were a kick of a ball from winning the title in 2019 and will be fancied to beat Saul who moved up after lifting the Intermediate title last season.

Verdict: Warrenpoint

BURREN V MAYOBRIDGE

Monday, Páirc Esler, 7.30pm

ANOTHER humdinger in prospect. League champions Burren have all the tools in the locker to do the double. A tough game against another team from the top four. Burren to edge it.

Verdict: Burren

DOWN SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE

BALLYCRAN V BREDAGH

Sunday, Ballycran, 2pm

THE champions bounced back after their defeat to Portaferry to see off Ballygalget. It will be a tough assignment for Bredagh.

Verdict: Ballycran

PORTAFERRY V BALLYGALGET

Sunday, Portaferry, 4.30pm

ANTRIM League champions Portaferry sit top of the pile with two clean sheets thrown in. Ballygalget have hit the net six times in their two outings, so something is going to give.

Verdict: Portaferry

DOWN INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE

CLANN NA BANNA V ANNACLONE

Thursday, Mayobridge, 7pm

VERY little separates the teams in terms of league positions. Annaclone lurked at the bottom of Division Two with Clann na Banna at the top of 3B. Recent form could sway it.

Verdict: Clann na Banna

BRIGHT V DRUMGATH

Friday, Dromara, 7pm

DRUMGATH’S recent league win will fill them with confidence as they tip toe into the championship and it’s hard to see them slip up against a Bright team without a win this season.

Verdict: Drumgath

ATTICALL V AUGHLISNAFIN

Saturday, Glasdrumman, 2pm

SCORE difference separated them in the league, with Atticall dishing out a 18-point hammering when the sides met in a recent ‘dead rubber’ counting for little. Last year’s Junior champions have been marginally more consistent.

Verdict: Aughlisnafin

LIATROIM V ROSTREVOR

Saturday, Páirc Esler, 6pm

ROSTREVOR were senior champions 24 years ago, but haven’t been close since. Liatroim have won three of their last five games, but at a lower level that Saturday’s opponents.

Verdict: Rostrevor

TULLYLISH V DARRAGH CROSS

Saturday, Kilcoo, 7pm

RELEGATED Darragh Cross lost their last three games and will be up against a Tullylish side who finished strong at the top of Division 3A

Verdict: Tullylish

NEWRY BOSCO V BALLYMARTIN

Sunday, Rostrevor, 1pm

BOSCO have struggled at the bottom of Division 3B all year and face a tough task on Sunday in Rostrevor. Ballymartin haven’t been setting the world alright either, but should start with a win.

Verdict: Ballymartin

SAVAL V ST PAUL’S

Sunday, Castlewellan, 1pm

DANNY Hughes is in his first season as Saval boss and was on the heels of Bredagh and Longstone. On form, they should have enough to see off St Paul’s.

Verdict: Saval

ST JOHN’S V NEWRY SHAMROCKS

Monday, Newcastle, 7pm

SHAMROCKS have the most impressive score difference in Division 3A and it’s hard to see them slipping up against a St John’s side struggling for consistency.

Verdict: Newry Shamrocks