GAA - Division Two and Three football previews

Sunday, May 10th, 3.30pm H & A Mechanical Services Division 1 Newbridge v Slaughtneil Dungiven v Coleraine Bellaghy v Foreglen Magherafelt v Lavey Glen v Kilrea Ballinderry v Glenullin Banagher v Ballinascreen Loup v Swatragh

ALL GAMES SUN 3.30pm unless stated otherwise H & A Mechanical Services Division 2 Drumsurn v Ballymaguigan A single point separates these two sides in fifth and sixth position in the league. Richard Ferris has taken up the reigns at Drumsurn this year and as you might expect his team is already over-achieving. Five Pearse McNicholl points and a coolly taken Cathair Friel goal built the foundations for an impressive win over Doire Trasna last week. Opponents Ballymaguigan made many sit up and notice after that crucial win away at Steelstown a fortnight ago, but were held at home by Lissan last week, but that may turn out to be a point gained rather than a point lost. County player Sean Brady banged over six points last week and along with Liam Young and Gary Burke they have scorers all over the front line.

Doire Trasna v Limavady Doire Trasna have cemented their Intermediate status in recent years and had real hopes of pushing on this season. Colin Murray, Dee Starrett and Cormac Carlin are in all in fine scoring form and should all make hay while the sun shines this weekend. With two wins from their first four games they have had a decent enough start. They should make that three wins after Sunday’s game which they play host to bottom club Limavady. Limavady saved their best for last when they defeated Faughanvale to avoid relegation at the end of last season. The Wolfhounds have plenty of talent, but most of it is still green behind the ears. Ruairi Hassan and midfielder Eoghan Rogers have consistently played well in a losing cause this season.

Lissan v Craigbane Lissan added to their solitary win this season with a battling point gained at Ballymaguigan last week. Paddy Coey and Derry Under 21 player Patrick McElroy have backboned Lissan’s decent play this season, and both will be required to be at their best this Sunday. Craigbane’s decision not to go up to Division One this season appears to be the right one as they find themselves sitting in the wrong half of the table, with only that one win over Moneymore achieved so far. Lee Moore has been outstanding up front for Craigbane, and racking up high scores week in week out. Elsewhere veteran Gavin Conwell has been producing the goods at midfield, in a team with a number of teenagers still finding their feet. An away win at Lissan, might just prove to be a turning point for the men from St Joseph’s.

Castledawson v Claudy Last year’s intermediate championship winners Castledawson have made an unbeaten start to the league so far this season. Last time out they look at their ominous best hammering Ballerin by 19 points with Niall McNicholl, Aidan McElhone, and Kieran O’Kane all scoring heavily. Claudy will hope to consign last week’s disappointing defeat in the top of the table clash against Greenlough to history. Prior to that game, Micky O’Kane’s men had made a flying start to the season winning their first three games. Centre half back Conor Johnston and forward Aaron Kerrigan and Blaine Carlin have all excelled in those wins. Moneymore v Desertmartin Moneymore have amply demonstrated that the leap for junior to intermediate football can be a huge one. The Henry Joys swept all before them last year and went the entire campaign without defeat. This time round, they know all to well the bitter taste of defeat having lost all four league games so far. Treble winning manager John O’Brien has gone and his loss has been greatly felt. Moneymore do have quality players – Paudie O’Neill, Jack Barton and Patrick Feeney, Stephen Barker. But they really need to find that elusive first win, and find it soon. Desertmartin are in better shape, but only just. One win over the hapless Limavady is their sole victory in three outings in a game in which Gavin McGreevy and Oran Kelly both bagged 1-3. This local derby should be full of thrills and spills, with Moneymore perhaps just edging out the ‘Martins. Greenlough v Slaughtmanus Greenlough took a real grip on the league title after handing out a whooping to title rivals Claudy last weekend in their own back yard. County players Niall Loughlin and Enda Lynn have lead the line, but in truth Greenlough look imposing all over the pitch. Home advantage should really se the St Oliver Plunkett’s extend their unbeaten lead. What a difference a year makes. Slaughtmanus had their best season in a generation last year under Jim McGroarty and should really have won the championship had they remembered to put their boots on the right feet in the final. Since then an internal squabble has robbed the team of seven men from that championship team and while Slaughtmanus are still a dangerous animal, they are nowhere near where they were last season. With Ryan Barr and Kevin King up front, they still pose a serious threat even to a Greenlough defence. Steelstown v Ballerin Lat weekend’s single point win up at Craigbane could prove to be vital when all is said and done at the end of the season. Having lost by a point at home the previous week, the Brian Og’s resolve was tested, and in the end they passed that test with flying colours. Eight different men all raised the white flag for Steelstown in that game, with Gareth Logue and Mark Foley top scoring with three points each. Elsewhere Eamonn Donnelly and Emmett Deane have impressed in a Brian Og’s side that has moved into joint second place in the division. Would the real Ballerin stand up? The Sarsfield’s have blown hot and cold so far this season. Having taken a 19 point whooping at Castledawson, Ballerin bounced straight back with an impressive ten point win over Moneymore in the very next game. Shane Ferris and Bobby Mullan top scored in that game with 1-1 apiece. H & A Mechanical Services Division 3 Seán Dolan’s v Faughanvale (tonight 7.30pm) While Sean Dolans have yet to actally win a game so far this season (their two points earned after Magherafelt conceded their game a fortnight ago) they have been playing well. Manager Mark McCosker has most of his big players back in the red and white – Alan Grant, Joe Gallagher, Ciaran Wilkinson, Kevin Nixon, the two McCoskers, Sean O’Donnell, Paul Melaugh. The Creggan men struggled a little for fitness in the early part of the season, but performed well in defeats away to Glack and Ardmore. On Sunday, they face the biggest test of all with unbeaten table toppers Faughanvale come to town tonight. Player/manager Joe Gray has brought the same professionalism he carried throughout his playing career to his coaching exploits. Still hurting from their relegation from the Intermediate ranks, the ‘Vale are men on a mission this year and have steamrolled over all-comers so far this season. Teenagers Oisin Quinn and Michael McLaughlin have formed a formidable midfield partnership in the absence of the injured Ryan King. Kevin Martin and Joe Gray himself have shouldered most of the scoring. The green and white hoops are supremely fit and can run all day. And defensively the ‘Vale are extremely hard to break down. It will take a typically bullish performance from Sean Dolans to get something from this one.

Glack v Ardmore Two teams just off the front runners in Division Three lock horn sat Brolly Park in a game that neither side can ill afford to lose if they have any promotion hopes this season. Ardmore have been the surprise package in the division this year with only that two point loss to Drum the only blemish from their first four games. Last week they came out best in a close derby match against Sean Dolans, with Dee McGee, Barry Gormley and an impressive Aaron Gallagher all enjoying fine games. However, Sunday’s away trip to last year’s championship finalists Glack will be a real test of Eoin Mailey’s team’s resolve. Glack have only played two games this season, defeating Sean Dolans before losing to Drum by a point. Ryan Morgan, Niall McGowan and Shane Toner are the danger men up front for the O’Connors, while veterans Jimmy O’Connor and Eddie McLaughlin provide the pace and grit. Drum v Magilligan This is a game with history. To say these two sides don’t like each other would be selling the fixture short. Drum look like the team best to challenge Faughanvale for the league title, but much will depend on how they respond to their first defeat of the season when they were well beaten by the league leaders on Friday night. Rory O’Reilly and Niall Ferris both missed that game and their absence up front was clearly felt. Like Sunday’s opponents Drum, Magilligan’s sole defeat this year came at the hands of Faughanvale in a poor first day back at school. The St Aidan’s men bounced back to defeat Doire Colmcille, showing the kind of attacking football they have in their lockers. Conor Logue and Ciaran O’Hare lead the line in a dangerous forward line, while Coleraine goalkeeper Michael Doherty is the man between the sticks. Ogra Colmcille v Doire Colmcille Ogra Colmcile came down from Intermediate football along with Faughanvale and many had marked Ogra as possible dark horses. However, Ogra have yet to really find their best form in Division Three yet with only that one win over Magherafelt 3rds to their name. Front man Stephen Devlin shoulders much of the scoring responsibilities. It’s still early days in the season, but Doire Colmcille find themselves in a league position that has been all to familiar to them in recent years. Manager Brian Duffy has been working hard of the pre-season to improve his lot, and there is enough talent in Duffy’s young side that should see their first league win not too far away. Eamon Gillen is flourishing into a quality defender, while Dee Watson and Mark Chambers have impressed in the middle third. Up front, Derry Under 21 Dean Curran has the skills to unlock the tightest of defences. If the city men can travel with their best fifteen, and if they can get early ball to Curran, they might just come out top in the battle of the Colmcilles.

ALL MATCH REPORTS IN TUESDAY'S COUNTY DERRY POST.