Expect goals galore in tomorrow's SML fixtures
Kick off 10.30am
GILFILLAN CUP
Group 1
BENTLEY v CLIFTON VILLA (at Brandywell Showgrounds)
Going by Saturdays opening Gilfillan fixture, you can be guaranteed goals, plenty of goals.
Bentley banged in six against Phoenix Athletic but conceded five at the back in a match that sounded like a cracker.
Villa, the aristocrats and reigning Gilfillan champions, will present a much more severe test than Athletic.
Last season, manager Paddy Tracey celebrated his first silverware as manager long and hard and the big man will be anxious to repeat the trick this time round.
Prediction: Clifton Villa to be too strong
Group 2
CULMORE v STRABANE ATHLETIC (at Culmore)
Strabane Athletic’s 6-1 win last time out over Artigarvan threw down a serious gauntlet to the rest of the teams in their group. The Co Tyrone side have blown hot and cold in recent years, but they appear to have recruited well over the summer and this season could be the year they make a real impact.
Culmore, still young and learning new tricks every year, are gradually beginning to realise their undoubted potential.
They finished last season as runners up in Division One and are always a difficult proposition in their own back yard.
Prediction: score draw at the Point
Group 3
TRISTAR v DU PONT (at Templemore Central);
Tristar failed to appear in their game against Creggan Swifts last weekend and will be hoping it is not a portent of what is to come in the season.
The red and white stripes suffered an annus horribilus last season ending the year at the bottom of the Championship.
That said, Tristar have a number of hugely talented young players in their ranks and if they can add a little experience to their squad they can give anybody a game.
Du Pont suffered a similar fate as their opponents last year, with McGill’s team stranded at the bottom of the Premier table.
Every new season brings fresh hope and Du Pont will no doubt attack 2015/16 with renewed vigour.
Prediction: Du Pont to nick it
Group 4
NEWTON HEATH v DUNGIVEN (at Lisnagelvin No 2);
Newton Heath kick off the new season with a difficult looking fixture at home to Dungiven.
Newton were far from their best last season, finishing just above the relegation zone in the Championship.
Dungiven’s 2-2 draw with HML was a very encouraging sign for Sean Paul Dunne’s side.
The county men only joined the SML last season and would appear to have enough fight and quality to suggest they can make better in-roads this time round.
It’s GAA season which generally robs them of a few good players but no matter what starting 11 they field they are sure to battle for 90 minutes.
Prediction: Newton Heath by the odd goal
Group 5
ROSEMOUNT v WESTBANK UNITED (at Prehen No 1) Rosemount handed a debut to new keeper Patrick Quigley last week and the youngster showed he could prove be a great signing for them this season, with a number of top drawer saves in a 2-2 draw with Brandywell Celtic.
Rosemount make incremental improvements every year and are quickly becoming a constant fixture around the Premier Division’s mid-table.
They lock horns with a Westbank side that have become accustomed to finishing right up at the top.
The 2013 Gilfillan champions suffered a rare lean season last year and manager Robbie Mitchell will be anxious to lay down an early marker for the 2015/16 season.
Prediction: Westbank to edge the one
Group 7
CLOONEY v HATMORE HARPS (at Lisnagelvin No 4) Clooney lit up Division One last season with a number of sparkling displays in their inaugural year in the SML.
If they can build on that and perhaps add a little more quality in key areas, they can enjoy another successful season.
Hatmore Harps finished third in the Championship after winning promotion from Division One the previous year.
They got off to a great start to the Gilfillan Cup last week, defeating new club Foyle FC 3-1.
Prediction: Hatmore Harps to have too much firepower
CITY COLTS v TAMNAHERIN CELTIC (at Prehen No 6);
This fixture reunites the two finalists in last season’s Johnny Burnside Cup final.
Marty Doherty’s Celtic will be keen to avenge that defeat and their 6-2 win over Clooney at the weekend suggest his side have hit the ground running.
GAA star Kevin King has been added to the squad and he will bring a more potent threat to the Celtic attack.
Colts boast a number of quality players, but with a lot of miles on their collective clocks the question must be asked – do they still have the hunger and indeed the legs to cut it?
Tomorow will tell the tale.
Prediction: Tamnaherin to gain a little revenge