All-County Football League Division One takes centre stage this weekend

AFTER a sabbatical that some had for longer than others, the Brian McCormick sponsored All-County Football League Division One clicks back into gear this weekend.

St Eunan’s continued to play fixtures as others resisted over the last month and last Thursday moved to the top of the top flight having drawn 1-11 to 3-5 at Four Masters.

Having already defeated Malin 1-11 to 1-7 on August Bank Holiday Monday, Maxi Curran’s side can put their feet up this weekend and cast their eyes over their opponents in the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta SFC Group 2, Naomh Conaill, who make the short trek to face another side in the same group, Dungloe.

Martin Regan’s side were last in action four weeks ago when they defeated Gaoth Dobhair 1-14 to 0-13 at Davy Brennan Memorial Park and know a win over Tony Boyle’s team on Sunday will lift them over St Eunan’s and to the summit of the table – and even then the Glenties team will still possess a game in hand.

St Michael’s have only been beaten twice this term and travel to Pairc Naomh Columba on Sunday to face Glenswilly. When the sides last met at the Bridge on Good Friday, it was St Michael’s who won out against Michael Canning’s experimental side 1-9 to 0-9.

Glenswilly (photo of Ciaran Bonner above by Geraldine Diver/Glenswilly GAA photos) have failed to win in their last three, having lost 0-13 to 0-9 at home to St Eunan’s and been defeated 0-13 to 1-6 by Ardara, following a 0-11 to 1-8 draw at Gaoth Dobhair.

However, with both Glenswilly and St Michael’s expected to be among the shake-up in the championship, Sunday’s meeting with one another provides an opportunity to shake off the cobwebs.

Last year’s Division One champions Kilcar are four points off the top but have four matches in hand on St Eunan’s. A home win against Gaoth Dobhair on Sunday can half that particular deficit.

Kilcar played their part in a marathon County U-21 championship fixture with Naomh Columba, which John McNulty’s team won 1-19 to 0-20 after extra-time. Gaoth Dobhair haven’t been in action since the aforementioned four-point loss to Naomh Conaill last month.

Ardara and Four Masters are two clubs who have won the league in recent years, with their respective successes coming in 2009 and 2010. However, this term both are sailing quite close to the wind at the bottom of the table, with only Malin, who have improved considerably in recent weeks, below the pair.

John McConnell’s Ardara drew 0-10 to 0-10 apiece with the Malin side managed by Liam Bradley on their last outing, as Four Masters’ young team were also involved in a share of the spoils last week against St Eunan’s.

All-County Football League Division One fixtures – Sunday, 3pm

Ardara v Four Masters

Dungloe v Naomh Conaill

Glenswilly v St Michael’s

Kilcar v Gaoth Dobhair

All-County Football League Division One table