KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1
BALLYMONEY v CLOGHER VALLEY
The Fivemiletown side have been involved in a rentlentless fixture programme from August. Despite their long trip last weekend to Skibbereen the players are fully focused on maintaining their number one position in the league when they visit Kilraughts Road this weekend. Clogher Valley have seen the work they have undertaken at youth level producing players such as their two second rows Eugene McKenna and Michael Treanor who have come ...
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1 BALLYMONEY v CLOGHER VALLEY The Fivemiletown side have been involved in a rentlentless fixture programme from August. Despite their long trip last weekend to Skibbereen the players are fully focused on maintaining their number one position in the league when they visit Kilraughts Road this weekend. Clogher Valley have seen the work they have undertaken at youth level producing players such as their two second rows Eugene McKenna and Michael Treanor who have come through from their U19 side. Halfbacks Aaron Best and Philip Holme along with captain Stephen Baxter and the experienced BJ Wilson and centre PC Falconer can see Clogher through to another win. The County Antrim side have shown their fighting qualities in pushing for the top four in the league. They will look to turn around their opening day league defeat at Fivemiletown when they were beaten 62-0. Ballymoney number 8 Jonny Hanna and the halfbacks of Scott Nelson and James Campbell have key roles to play in deciding the outcome of this game. Can Ballymoney make it three in a row at home against the top sides after defeating Bangor and CIYMS. Clogher Valley to win. CIYMS v UUC The Belmont side will be looking for maximum points against the students. Stuart Ferguson's side won the opening day fixture at the Riverside 20-50. The East Belfast side will not want reminded of a previous slip up at home to the North Coast students. CIYMS should make home advantage count. COOKE v COLERAINE Two clubs who have failed to perform this season. Coleraine will be looking to bounce back from their 3-22 defeat at home to Ballyclare in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup semi final. With a Towns Cup tie coming up at home to Randalstown on 4th January, the North Coast side also have a local derby with Ballymoney on Saturday week. Coach Richard Beggs has been plagued by injuries this season. There is talent within the squad but they lack consistency. The Belfast side recorded an opening day 20-22 win at Sandel lodge and will want to use the 32-7 Conference League win over Ballymena 2nds last Saturday to move away from second bottom in the league. Injuries again have plagued the Shaws bridge side with Alex and Alan Gourlay, Richard Finlay, Andrew Quigley joining Phil Cartmill on the injury list. Coach Colin Atkinson will look to the experienced Graham Jewhurst to guide their young players through this difficult period. Cooke are probably slight favourites for the Shaw's Bridge fixture. DROMORE v DONAGHADEE Two sides who need to put together a winning run if they want to push for a top four place in the league. A win is vital for both sides. The Dee side will have been boosted by their impressive 23-19 win over near neighbours Bangor at Donaldson Park. Dromore won 9-15 in their last outing at Coleraine. Donaghadee have had to rebuild this season and the addition of Michael Blair, Jack Cooke and Stephen Adams to the experienced Dee pack could tip outcome of this game in Dee's favour. Once again Captain Alastair Lockhart has to lift his players. Dromore will be looking to their backrow of Gareth Fitzpatrick, Adam McGregor and Jonny Maguire to give their talented backline plenty of ball. PORTADOWN v BANGOR The North Down side will not relish this visit to the Chambers Park side who will be hurting from the disappointment of their All Ireland Junior Cup semi final defeat at Enniscorthy. Portadown won the opening league game at Upritchard Park in August (24-26) and recorded a convincing 24-43 win at the same venue in the Junior Cup. Bangor who have had promotion ambitions have struggled in recent weeks with very little game time. Two defeats at Ballymoney and Donaghadee have seriously dented their promotion claims. Portadown are battle hardened from their campaigns in the All Ireland Junior Cup, Junior Cup and Qualifying league. The reigning league champions will not give up their grip on the league without a fight. Portadown will have too much strength in their forwards and backs for this contest. Lack of strength in depth in their playing squad has hampered the seasiders ambitions. Portadown to win. KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 2 LIMAVADY v STRABANE This North West derby will see the meeting of the bottom two sides. Strabane remain bottom without a win from eight games. Limavady have two wins from nine. Despite the difficulties Strabane have had in adapting to life in Qualifying Two the side have been very competitive particularly in the forwards. Can they record their first win. Limavady to win. OMAGH v ENNISKILLEN Mellon Park will attract a large crowd for this local derby. After three wins Enniskillen suffered a 0-11 home defeat to Academy last Saturday. Omagh recorded an impressive 7-22 win at Lisburn to maintain their promotion challenge. In their previous encounter at Mullaghmeen in October Omagh scored four tries to win 11-28. Omagh coach Phil Marshall has a strong pack lead by Captain Ally Ferguson that should prove too strong for the Enniskillen side. Bonus points are important and the Tyrone side will be looking maximum points. A tough game to call. BALLYCLARE v ACADEMY After the disappointment of their Junior Cup defeat the County Antrim side will have no difficulty in focusing on this important league game at Cloughan on Saturday against near neighbours Academy. After a slow start Academy despite playing two more games than Ballyclare sit two points behind the leaders. A win is crucial for the Roughfort team. They have experience in abundance throughout their side with number 8 Chris McCarey a key player alongside their Ulster Junior contingent. For the Clare side promotion is their number one goal this season. One slip up will allow the chasing pack to close in and turn this promotion contest into a dogfight. Coach Bob Young has plenty of depth in his squad and may use several players who didn't feature on Wednesday night in this game. There have been many important games played at Cloughan this season with this fixture added to the long list. Clare were lucky to escape Roughfort in the earlier league meeting with a 14-15 win. LISBURN v GROSVENOR Again two sides who promised much with both sitting mid table. Lisburn were regarded as serious promotion contenders only to slip down the table after several defeats. Coach David Smyth has much work to do. Grosvenor have put together two impressive results over Strabane and Limavady. KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 3 LURGAN v HOLYWOOD The Pollack Park side had shown some improvement in recent weeks only to suffer a 50-8 defeat at Larne last Saturday. Expect this well organised and undefeated Holywood side to take the two points. This should be an away win. KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 4 ARMOY v CIVIL SERVICE Sadly Armoy are struggling to fulfil their away fixtures. Civil Service visited league leaders Ophir last Saturday and were well beaten 46-0. Armoy still await their first win of the season. Civil Service won the home meeting between the two sides 22-0 and should succeed again. CAVAN v VIRGINIA County Cavan derby at Swellan Park this weekend is sure to attract a big crowd. Virginia won their home league meeting between the two sides (32-21) and the Gordon West Cup game at home (35-10). Can Virginia complete the treble over their neighbours? Virginia were on a roll until they suffered league defeats at BHSFP and Ophir. Cavan have won their last four league games including an impressive recent win at BHSFP. GORDON WEST CUP GROUP A - BHSFP v OPHIR One outstanding game to decide the top two in this group Both PSNI and Ophir have four points with BHSFP on two points. This is the first of two meetings in consecutive weekends between the two sides with a crucial league game at the Greenisland venue on Sat week. Ophir to win again. HAWKINS CUP - LARNE v CARRICK A fascinating second leg of the Hawkins Cup is in store at the Glynn this Saturday. Carrick won the first leg at home on the 7th September by a narrow 23-22 scoreline. With Larne riding high in Qualifying Three and Carrick showing a lot of improvement in Qualifying Two this game will attract a large crowd. Larne to win.Â
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1 BALLYMONEY v CLOGHER VALLEY The Fivemiletown side have been involved in a rentlentless fixture programme from August. Despite their long trip last weekend to Skibbereen the players are fully focused on maintaining their number one position in the league when they visit Kilraughts Road this weekend. Clogher Valley have seen the work they have undertaken at youth level producing players such as their two second rows Eugene McKenna and Michael Treanor who have come through from their U19 side. Halfbacks Aaron Best and Philip Holme along with captain Stephen Baxter and the experienced BJ Wilson and centre PC Falconer can see Clogher through to another win. The County Antrim side have shown their fighting qualities in pushing for the top four in the league. They will look to turn around their opening day league defeat at Fivemiletown when they were beaten 62-0. Ballymoney number 8 Jonny Hanna and the halfbacks of Scott Nelson and James Campbell have key roles to play in deciding the outcome of this game. Can Ballymoney make it three in a row at home against the top sides after defeating Bangor and CIYMS. Clogher Valley to win. CIYMS v UUC The Belmont side will be looking for maximum points against the students. Stuart Ferguson's side won the opening day fixture at the Riverside 20-50. The East Belfast side will not want reminded of a previous slip up at home to the North Coast students. CIYMS should make home advantage count. COOKE v COLERAINE Two clubs who have failed to perform this season. Coleraine will be looking to bounce back from their 3-22 defeat at home to Ballyclare in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup semi final. With a Towns Cup tie coming up at home to Randalstown on 4th January, the North Coast side also have a local derby with Ballymoney on Saturday week. Coach Richard Beggs has been plagued by injuries this season. There is talent within the squad but they lack consistency. The Belfast side recorded an opening day 20-22 win at Sandel lodge and will want to use the 32-7 Conference League win over Ballymena 2nds last Saturday to move away from second bottom in the league. Injuries again have plagued the Shaws bridge side with Alex and Alan Gourlay, Richard Finlay, Andrew Quigley joining Phil Cartmill on the injury list. Coach Colin Atkinson will look to the experienced Graham Jewhurst to guide their young players through this difficult period. Cooke are probably slight favourites for the Shaw's Bridge fixture. DROMORE v DONAGHADEE Two sides who need to put together a winning run if they want to push for a top four place in the league. A win is vital for both sides. The Dee side will have been boosted by their impressive 23-19 win over near neighbours Bangor at Donaldson Park. Dromore won 9-15 in their last outing at Coleraine. Donaghadee have had to rebuild this season and the addition of Michael Blair, Jack Cooke and Stephen Adams to the experienced Dee pack could tip outcome of this game in Dee's favour. Once again Captain Alastair Lockhart has to lift his players. Dromore will be looking to their backrow of Gareth Fitzpatrick, Adam McGregor and Jonny Maguire to give their talented backline plenty of ball. PORTADOWN v BANGOR The North Down side will not relish this visit to the Chambers Park side who will be hurting from the disappointment of their All Ireland Junior Cup semi final defeat at Enniscorthy. Portadown won the opening league game at Upritchard Park in August (24-26) and recorded a convincing 24-43 win at the same venue in the Junior Cup. Bangor who have had promotion ambitions have struggled in recent weeks with very little game time. Two defeats at Ballymoney and Donaghadee have seriously dented their promotion claims. Portadown are battle hardened from their campaigns in the All Ireland Junior Cup, Junior Cup and Qualifying league. The reigning league champions will not give up their grip on the league without a fight. Portadown will have too much strength in their forwards and backs for this contest. Lack of strength in depth in their playing squad has hampered the seasiders ambitions. Portadown to win. KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 2 LIMAVADY v STRABANE This North West derby will see the meeting of the bottom two sides. Strabane remain bottom without a win from eight games. Limavady have two wins from nine. Despite the difficulties Strabane have had in adapting to life in Qualifying Two the side have been very competitive particularly in the forwards. Can they record their first win. Limavady to win. OMAGH v ENNISKILLEN Mellon Park will attract a large crowd for this local derby. After three wins Enniskillen suffered a 0-11 home defeat to Academy last Saturday. Omagh recorded an impressive 7-22 win at Lisburn to maintain their promotion challenge. In their previous encounter at Mullaghmeen in October Omagh scored four tries to win 11-28. Omagh coach Phil Marshall has a strong pack lead by Captain Ally Ferguson that should prove too strong for the Enniskillen side. Bonus points are important and the Tyrone side will be looking maximum points. A tough game to call. BALLYCLARE v ACADEMY After the disappointment of their Junior Cup defeat the County Antrim side will have no difficulty in focusing on this important league game at Cloughan on Saturday against near neighbours Academy. After a slow start Academy despite playing two more games than Ballyclare sit two points behind the leaders. A win is crucial for the Roughfort team. They have experience in abundance throughout their side with number 8 Chris McCarey a key player alongside their Ulster Junior contingent. For the Clare side promotion is their number one goal this season. One slip up will allow the chasing pack to close in and turn this promotion contest into a dogfight. Coach Bob Young has plenty of depth in his squad and may use several players who didn't feature on Wednesday night in this game. There have been many important games played at Cloughan this season with this fixture added to the long list. Clare were lucky to escape Roughfort in the earlier league meeting with a 14-15 win. LISBURN v GROSVENOR Again two sides who promised much with both sitting mid table. Lisburn were regarded as serious promotion contenders only to slip down the table after several defeats. Coach David Smyth has much work to do. Grosvenor have put together two impressive results over Strabane and Limavady. KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 3 LURGAN v HOLYWOOD The Pollack Park side had shown some improvement in recent weeks only to suffer a 50-8 defeat at Larne last Saturday. Expect this well organised and undefeated Holywood side to take the two points. This should be an away win. KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 4 ARMOY v CIVIL SERVICE Sadly Armoy are struggling to fulfil their away fixtures. Civil Service visited league leaders Ophir last Saturday and were well beaten 46-0. Armoy still await their first win of the season. Civil Service won the home meeting between the two sides 22-0 and should succeed again. CAVAN v VIRGINIA County Cavan derby at Swellan Park this weekend is sure to attract a big crowd. Virginia won their home league meeting between the two sides (32-21) and the Gordon West Cup game at home (35-10). Can Virginia complete the treble over their neighbours? Virginia were on a roll until they suffered league defeats at BHSFP and Ophir. Cavan have won their last four league games including an impressive recent win at BHSFP. GORDON WEST CUP GROUP A - BHSFP v OPHIR One outstanding game to decide the top two in this group Both PSNI and Ophir have four points with BHSFP on two points. This is the first of two meetings in consecutive weekends between the two sides with a crucial league game at the Greenisland venue on Sat week. Ophir to win again. HAWKINS CUP - LARNE v CARRICK A fascinating second leg of the Hawkins Cup is in store at the Glynn this Saturday. Carrick won the first leg at home on the 7th September by a narrow 23-22 scoreline. With Larne riding high in Qualifying Three and Carrick showing a lot of improvement in Qualifying Two this game will attract a large crowd. Larne to win.Â