The SolarFix NI Junior Cup and Shield quarterfinals are the highlight of Saturday’s fixtures, while Saturday also sees the commencement of the Danske Bank Schools Cup Group stages.
There is also an intriguing top-of-the-table clash in Boys Under 18 Division 1, while Sunday sees the Girls Age-Grade season swing into action.
The clash of Ballynahinch 2XV and Portadown should attract a large crowd to Ballymacarn Park.
Hinch have a proud record in all domestic cup competitions. The Stags made it all the way to last season’s final but fell at the final hurdle to Enniskillen. Their last success was in the 2017/18 season which represents somewhat of a famine for the Down men.
Portadown are also hoping to transfer momentum built up in the league to the cup. Currently sitting in third spot in Championship 1, the Chambers Park outfit are enjoying a good spell of results, and they will be relishing the short trip to Ballynahinch.
Omagh and Ballymoney met on the opening day of the season at Kilraughts Road. On that occasion the Accies claimed a narrow win. Another close encounter should be on the cards at the Thomas Mellon Playing Fields.
Dromore are riding high in Championship 1 and they will want to keep their perfect season intact at Shaw’s Bridge against Cooke, while the meeting of Bangor and Lurgan at Upritchard Park could be one that goes the distance.
Saturday also sees the quarterfinals of SolarFix NI Junior Shield.
The standout tie would be the clash of Coleraine and Strabane at Rugby Avenue.
Both teams came up from Championship 3 last term, but they are experiencing contrasting seasons thus far.
Coleraine sit at the foot of Championship 2 after four games, while Strabane occupy top spot in the division.
Strabane accounted for City of Derry in the first round and will want to add Coleraine to their list of early season scalps. But on cup day, league form goes out the window, and with home advantage, Coleraine could prove to be a tough nut to crack.
There’s another derby in the North-West where Championship 1 Limavady host Rainey 2XV at the John Hunter Memorial Grounds.
Limavady are enjoying their return to Championship 1 and after four matches they only suffered their first defeat last day out against Dromore.
But Rainey travel over the Glenshane in equally confident mood with only one reverse from their three outings in the 2XV League as well as seeing off Letterkenny 35-29 in round one.
Randalstown, gained revenge for last season’s final defeat to Ards with a 31-25 win at Hamilton Park. The Neilsbrook side are on their travels again as they make the short journey to Glengormley to take on Academy.
Randalstown showed great character to comeback from a 12-point deficit against Ards, and they will need to show that same resolve if they are to leave Roughfort with a win.
Lisburn’s unbeaten run will be put to the test at Tom Simms Memorial Park against Carrickfergus. Ali Birch’s side have caught the eye over the last number of weeks with some big results on the road. But a trip to Carrickfergus will be their sternest test of the season so far.
The Boys Age-Grade season continues on Saturday morning with Virginia’s trip to Dungannon the stand-out tie in Under 18 Division 1.
Dungannon currently sit top of the league with three wins from three, but Virginia are only two-points off the pace in second place.
With the carrot of top spot for the winner, Saturday mornings clash is sure to be a tight affair.
Saturday also sees the Danske Bank Schools Cup Group begin.
As in previous years, there are four groups of four in a round robin format.
Some of the stan-out ties include Limavady Grammar Schools trip to Rainey, and the clash of Coleraine Grammar School and Belfast High School.
The Girls Age-Grade season gets underway this Sunday.
In all, there are 15 games down for decision across five leagues from Under 14 to Under 18.
Under 18 is a stand-alone League with eight teams, while Under 16 and Under 14 will have two leagues each split into West and East.
Pick of the fixtures this weekend is Enniskillen’s trip to Armagh to pay the City of Armagh/Banbridge amalgamation in the Under 18 league, and the clash of the Dungannon/Monaghan/Newry and Portadown select against Virginia.
A full rundown of this weekends domestic fixtures re available here.