PREVIEWS: A busy weekend on all fronts in Down

DOWN have a busy weekend of games coming up.

Here are the fixtures…

DOWN SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE

LOUGHINISLAND V BREDAGH

Friday, Liatroim, 7.15pm

BREDAGH bounced back from a disappointing first day out to defeat Liatroim after extra-time, while Loughinisland head into this game having suffered a hefty defeat to Burren the last day out.

Verdict: Bredagh

GLENN V CASTLEWELLAN

Saturday, Attical, 3pm

HAVING lost out heavily to Carryduff last week, how Glenn respond will be hugely important. Castlewellan bounced back from a tough defeat to Burren in round one to beat Bryansford, but could be up against it here again.

Verdict: Glenn

CLONDUFF V DOWNPATRICK

Saturday, Newcastle, 5.30pm

CLONDUFF pushed Kilcoo all the way on Monday, just losing out by four points in the end. Downpatrick march into the game having knocked out Mayobridge and will fancy their chances of causing an upset.

Verdict: Clonduff

DRUMGATH V BALLYHOLLAND

Monday, Burren, 7.30pm

BOTH these sides have put in solid shifts throughout the championship campaigns so far. Ballyholland may just be slightly further down the road in terms of development and that could see them through.

Verdict: Ballyholland

DOWN INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND THREE

ROSTREVOR V TULLYLISH

Saturday, Saval, 5pm

ROSTREVOR could have sent their name through to the winners’ pot but just missed out on a place by a single point against Longstone. They’ll be confident they can get back to winning ways this weekend, however.

Verdict: Rostrevor

NEWRY SHAMROCKS V ST JOHN’S

Sunday, Mayobridge, 2pm

ALMOST a whole division separated these sides in the league, with St John’s operating in Division Two all year, although they were ultimately relegated. Still, they may just have the edge this weekend.

Verdict: St John’s

CLANN NA BANNA V DARRAGH CROSS

Sunday, Carryduff, 3pm

CLANN na Banna will have to take the scenic route if they are to get back to the county final and losing to Attical last week certainly wasn’t part of their plans. They’ll look to bounce back and get their title bid back up and running.

Verdict: Clann na Banna

DROMARA V SAVAL

Monday, Tullylish, 7.15

SAVAL have posted 7-28 in their opening two outings so they certainly have the firepower to push for the crown. Dromara are only up from Junior and may not be able to withstand the Saval attack.

Verdict: Saval

DOWN JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FOURGROUP ONE

AGHADERG V DUNDRUM

Thursday, Aghaderg, 6.30pm

NEITHER side have any points on the board after the opening few rounds of fixtures. Aghaderg will enjoy the comforts of home advantage which could just tip the scales in their favour.

Verdict: Aghaderg

BRIGHT V GLASDRUMMAN

Saturday, Bright, 1pm

BRIGHT have started the campaign on the front foot, winning their first two games. Glasdrumman, on the other hand, only have a point to show for their efforts after three outings.

Verdict: Bright

GROUP TWO

AUGHLISNAFIN V ST MICHAEL’S

Saturday, Aughlisnafin, 1pm

AUGHISNAFIN will hope to have the edge on St Michael’s on Saturday evening and a victory here for the home side could guarantee a spot in the next phase of the competition.

Verdict: Aughlisnafin

DRUMANESS V ARDGLASS

Saturday, Drumaness, 1pm

ARDGLASS have been in flying form so far in the competition, gather maximum points from their three outings, and they’ll be confident they can make it four from four this weekend.

Verdict: Ardglass

DOWN SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FOUR

LIATROIM V CARRYDUFF

Saturday, Liatroim, 5pm

THE two teams are currently at the bottom of the group table, with Liatroim on zero points and Carryduff on one. Liatroim will hope to get their first win, but Carryduff may just edge them out.

Verdict: Carryduff

BREDAGH V BALLYGALGET

Sunday, Bredagh, 2pm

BALLYGALGET are one of the top contenders in the Mourne County, having reached the final last season. They have won all three of their opening round fixtures and will look to make it four from four.

Verdict: Ballygalget

BALLYCRAN V PORTAFERRY

Sunday, Ballycran, 5pm

PORTAFERRY are the champions and have been in flying form throughout the opening three rounds of the championship. Ballycran will hope home advantage will aid their challenge, but Portaferry should have far too much.

Verdict: Portaferry

DOWN INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO

NEWRY SHAMROCKS V WARRENPOINT

Saturday, Shamrocks, 5pm

BOTH sides got off to great starts on the opening day and fired off eye-catching tallies. In a closely fought contest, home advantage could just decide it, with Shamrocks coming through.

Verdict: Newry Shamrock

BALLELA V CLONDUFF

Saturday, Ballela, 5pm

IT already feels like a must-win here for both sides if they want to keep their championship hopes alive. Ballela may just have enough to shade this one, but Clonduff won’t go down easy.

Verdict: Ballela

DOWN JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE

EAST BELFAST V KILCLIEF

Saturday, East Belfast, 3pm

BOTH teams will be keen to get their championship accounts up and running with a victory and this one could go right down to the wire with East Belfast shading the contest.

Verdict: East Belfast

BALLYVARLEY V CASTLEWELLAN

Saturday, Ballyvarley, 3pm

BALLYVARLEY will have home advantage on Saturday evening when they host Castlewellan, who will look to go one step further than last year and get their hands on the title.

Verdict: Castlewellan