Qualifying League One enters week fifteen with four league games remaining for league leaders Clogher Valley as they look to secure their second league title in three years.
Clogher Valley bounced back from their All Ireland Junior Cup defeat by beating CIYMS 41-8 at the Cran last Sat, to open up an eleven point lead on second place Portadown.
The competition to qualify for next season’s All Ireland Junior Cup involves Bangor, Dromore, Ballymoney, CIYMS and Coleraine fighting it out for a top four placing. At the bottom both Cooke and Donaghadee are involved in their own battle to avoid finishing second bottom. With Instonians sitting second bottom in AIL 2B there are various permutations that could effect promotion and relegation in Qualifying One.
Wherever you are in the four Qualifying leagues there is so much to play for in the coming weeks. With the Quarter Finals of the Towns and McCrea Cups taking place on Sat 22nd Feb the participating clubs will be looking wins before next week’s Cup games.
Junior Cup winners Ballynahinch seconds play fellow Towns Cup Quarter Finalists Ballymena seconds in a crucial Conference 1 match at Ballymacarn Park this weekend. The only Qualifying Two side left in the Towns Cup, Omagh, travel to Gibson Park to play Malone seconds in a Kukri QL & Conference Two game.
In Qualifying Two Ballyclare remain the favorites to win the league after their convincing 40-14 win at Grosvenor last weekend. Both Omagh and Academy will fight it out for second place.
In Qualifying Three there will be no league games this weekend as seven of the eight teams will be involved in Gordon West Cup Quarter Final matches. The table top clash of Larne and Holywood at the Glynn on the 1st March will decide the league winners.
In Qualifying Four, runaway league leaders Ophir are involved in Gordon West Cup action as the Divisions sole representative.
Qualifying One
Ballymoney (5th) v UUC (10th)
Neil Beddow and Jason Taggart will have been pleased their players came through a testing league game with Donaghadee last Sat to win 11-5. The Kilraughts side want a top four finish with the opportunity to play in the AIL Junior Cup one of their goals. They also have a challenging Towns Cup Quarter Final at Eaton Park against an inform Ballymena seconds on the 22nd Feb to play. They have won their last three games and would be expected to pick up maximum points against UUC this weekend. The students remain without a win after thirteen league games. When the two sides met in October at the Riverside, Ballymoney won 23-15. Ballymoney to win
CIYMS (6th) v Coleraine (7th)
Seven points separate these two sides with Coleraine having a game in hand. Coleraine remain undefeated in their last five league and Cup games. CIYMS have lost their last four league games against CV, Portadown and Bangor twice. Both sides have the talent in their playing squads to be sitting in the top four of the league. Coleraine will look a win before they take on Clogher Valley at Rugby Avenue next Saturday in the Towns Cup. CI have a difficult McCrea Cup game with the undefeated Queens seconds next weekend. When the two sides met at Coleraine in October, CIYMS ran out 32-25 winners. Coleraine to win.
Cooke(8th) v Bangor(3rd)
A win is crucial for both sides as Cooke look to move away from the bottom of the table with Bangor looking to consolidate their third place in the league. Bangor to win.
Donaghadee(9th) v Clogher Valley(1st)
The North Down side have lost their last four league games albeit by small margins. Their last league win was at home to neighbours Bangor 22-19 on the 7th Dec. They have a tough Towns Cup Quarter Final with the inform Omagh at Donaldson Park on the 22nd Feb. When these two sides met at the Cran in October, Clogher Valley ran out comfortable 37-8 winners. They bounced back from their AIL Junior Cup loss to defeat CIYMS 41-8 last Saturday, scoring six tries in the process. Coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black have a full squad to select from. Dee will be hoping that player coach Paul McKenzie will be fit to resume playing after being out for several weeks. Clogher Valley to win.
Portadown(2nd) v Dromore(4th)
Another intriguing game this weekend with Dromore seeking to overturn a narrow 17-13 defeat at Barban Hill when the two sides met in October. Portadown have had four weeks off to recover from their 19-10 home defeat to league leaders Clogher Valley on the 18th Jan. Coaches Richard Hedley and Ciaran O'Kane have five league games left to consolidate their second place in the league. With inform Clogher Valley showing no signs of slipping up during the run in, the current champions grip on the league title appears to have gone for this season. Dromore remain undefeated in their last five league games and coaches De wet Bekker and Jeremy Ogle will be looking for their players to maintain this winning run. Portadown to win.
Qualifying Two
Academy (3rd) v Carrickfergus(8th)
Alot at stake for both sides in this County Antrim derby, with Academy maintaining their push to finish in second place. Their game with Omagh at Roughfort on the 15th March will more than likely decide the runners up spot. When these two sides met at Carrick in November, Academy ran out comfortable winners 27-16. Carrick have underperformed this season and find themselves at the wrong end of Qualifying Two. Coach Warren McClean and Captain Andy Kinkead have much work to do with six games remaining to avoid getting caught up in a relegation battle. Academy to win
Ballyclare(1st) v Randalstown(5th)
Champions elect Ballyclare sent a strong message to the rest of the chasing pack when they defeated Grosvenor 40-14 last Saturday . Winger Adam Wardrop was the star scoring five tries. Randalstown promised much before Christmas but successive defeats to Academy and Omagh have ruled them out of contention. This is the first meeting of the two sides this season. Coach Gary Longwell will be looking a response from his players. Expect a keenly contested Antrim derby at Cloughan on Sat. Ballyclare to win.
Limavady(9th) v Enniskillen(7th)
Four points separate these two sides in the bottom five of the league. Bottom side Strabane remain without a win from eleven league games. Limavady won a vital bottom of the table contest with Carrickfergus last Sat 11-5. This contest at the John Hunter Memorial Grounds has put pressure on both sides this weekend. Both sides have already met twice this season. Limavady winning a Junior Cup match at Mullaghmeen in Sept 20-10. When the two sides met at the same location in November, Enniskillen ran out 23 - 17 winners. Limavady's remaining matches include games against Ballyclare, Academy and Omagh. Limavady to win
Qualifying Four
Virginia(3rd) v Armoy(7th)
Virginia last played a game on the 11th Jan when they won 26-19 at Stormont against Civil Service. Armoy last played a league game on the 11th Jan when they lost 25 - 5 at BHSFP's. With the outside chance of promotion by finishing second behind runaway leaders Ophir, there will be quite a contest between them and near neighboursCavan over the coming weeks. Virginia to win.
BHSFP(4th) v Londonderry YMCA(6th)
When these two sides met at Drumahoe in January, High School ran out comfortable 19-0 winners. In their last league outing three weeks ago, High School lost 18-0 at Cavan. YMCA won their last league outing on the 18th January when defeated Civil Service 27-10 at Drumahoe. Belfast High School to win.
Clogher Valley bounced back from their All Ireland Junior Cup defeat by beating CIYMS 41-8 at the Cran last Sat, to open up an eleven point lead on second place Portadown.
The competition to qualify for next season’s All Ireland Junior Cup involves Bangor, Dromore, Ballymoney, CIYMS and Coleraine fighting it out for a top four placing. At the bottom both Cooke and Donaghadee are involved in their own battle to avoid finishing second bottom. With Instonians sitting second bottom in AIL 2B there are various permutations that could effect promotion and relegation in Qualifying One.
Wherever you are in the four Qualifying leagues there is so much to play for in the coming weeks. With the Quarter Finals of the Towns and McCrea Cups taking place on Sat 22nd Feb the participating clubs will be looking wins before next week’s Cup games.
Junior Cup winners Ballynahinch seconds play fellow Towns Cup Quarter Finalists Ballymena seconds in a crucial Conference 1 match at Ballymacarn Park this weekend. The only Qualifying Two side left in the Towns Cup, Omagh, travel to Gibson Park to play Malone seconds in a Kukri QL & Conference Two game.
In Qualifying Two Ballyclare remain the favorites to win the league after their convincing 40-14 win at Grosvenor last weekend. Both Omagh and Academy will fight it out for second place.
In Qualifying Three there will be no league games this weekend as seven of the eight teams will be involved in Gordon West Cup Quarter Final matches. The table top clash of Larne and Holywood at the Glynn on the 1st March will decide the league winners.
In Qualifying Four, runaway league leaders Ophir are involved in Gordon West Cup action as the Divisions sole representative.
Qualifying One
Ballymoney (5th) v UUC (10th)
Neil Beddow and Jason Taggart will have been pleased their players came through a testing league game with Donaghadee last Sat to win 11-5. The Kilraughts side want a top four finish with the opportunity to play in the AIL Junior Cup one of their goals. They also have a challenging Towns Cup Quarter Final at Eaton Park against an inform Ballymena seconds on the 22nd Feb to play. They have won their last three games and would be expected to pick up maximum points against UUC this weekend. The students remain without a win after thirteen league games. When the two sides met in October at the Riverside, Ballymoney won 23-15. Ballymoney to win
CIYMS (6th) v Coleraine (7th)
Seven points separate these two sides with Coleraine having a game in hand. Coleraine remain undefeated in their last five league and Cup games. CIYMS have lost their last four league games against CV, Portadown and Bangor twice. Both sides have the talent in their playing squads to be sitting in the top four of the league. Coleraine will look a win before they take on Clogher Valley at Rugby Avenue next Saturday in the Towns Cup. CI have a difficult McCrea Cup game with the undefeated Queens seconds next weekend. When the two sides met at Coleraine in October, CIYMS ran out 32-25 winners. Coleraine to win.
Cooke(8th) v Bangor(3rd)
A win is crucial for both sides as Cooke look to move away from the bottom of the table with Bangor looking to consolidate their third place in the league. Bangor to win.
Donaghadee(9th) v Clogher Valley(1st)
The North Down side have lost their last four league games albeit by small margins. Their last league win was at home to neighbours Bangor 22-19 on the 7th Dec. They have a tough Towns Cup Quarter Final with the inform Omagh at Donaldson Park on the 22nd Feb. When these two sides met at the Cran in October, Clogher Valley ran out comfortable 37-8 winners. They bounced back from their AIL Junior Cup loss to defeat CIYMS 41-8 last Saturday, scoring six tries in the process. Coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black have a full squad to select from. Dee will be hoping that player coach Paul McKenzie will be fit to resume playing after being out for several weeks. Clogher Valley to win.
Portadown(2nd) v Dromore(4th)
Another intriguing game this weekend with Dromore seeking to overturn a narrow 17-13 defeat at Barban Hill when the two sides met in October. Portadown have had four weeks off to recover from their 19-10 home defeat to league leaders Clogher Valley on the 18th Jan. Coaches Richard Hedley and Ciaran O'Kane have five league games left to consolidate their second place in the league. With inform Clogher Valley showing no signs of slipping up during the run in, the current champions grip on the league title appears to have gone for this season. Dromore remain undefeated in their last five league games and coaches De wet Bekker and Jeremy Ogle will be looking for their players to maintain this winning run. Portadown to win.
Qualifying Two
Academy (3rd) v Carrickfergus(8th)
Alot at stake for both sides in this County Antrim derby, with Academy maintaining their push to finish in second place. Their game with Omagh at Roughfort on the 15th March will more than likely decide the runners up spot. When these two sides met at Carrick in November, Academy ran out comfortable winners 27-16. Carrick have underperformed this season and find themselves at the wrong end of Qualifying Two. Coach Warren McClean and Captain Andy Kinkead have much work to do with six games remaining to avoid getting caught up in a relegation battle. Academy to win
Ballyclare(1st) v Randalstown(5th)
Champions elect Ballyclare sent a strong message to the rest of the chasing pack when they defeated Grosvenor 40-14 last Saturday . Winger Adam Wardrop was the star scoring five tries. Randalstown promised much before Christmas but successive defeats to Academy and Omagh have ruled them out of contention. This is the first meeting of the two sides this season. Coach Gary Longwell will be looking a response from his players. Expect a keenly contested Antrim derby at Cloughan on Sat. Ballyclare to win.
Limavady(9th) v Enniskillen(7th)
Four points separate these two sides in the bottom five of the league. Bottom side Strabane remain without a win from eleven league games. Limavady won a vital bottom of the table contest with Carrickfergus last Sat 11-5. This contest at the John Hunter Memorial Grounds has put pressure on both sides this weekend. Both sides have already met twice this season. Limavady winning a Junior Cup match at Mullaghmeen in Sept 20-10. When the two sides met at the same location in November, Enniskillen ran out 23 - 17 winners. Limavady's remaining matches include games against Ballyclare, Academy and Omagh. Limavady to win
Qualifying Four
Virginia(3rd) v Armoy(7th)
Virginia last played a game on the 11th Jan when they won 26-19 at Stormont against Civil Service. Armoy last played a league game on the 11th Jan when they lost 25 - 5 at BHSFP's. With the outside chance of promotion by finishing second behind runaway leaders Ophir, there will be quite a contest between them and near neighboursCavan over the coming weeks. Virginia to win.
BHSFP(4th) v Londonderry YMCA(6th)
When these two sides met at Drumahoe in January, High School ran out comfortable 19-0 winners. In their last league outing three weeks ago, High School lost 18-0 at Cavan. YMCA won their last league outing on the 18th January when defeated Civil Service 27-10 at Drumahoe. Belfast High School to win.