Qualifying League Previews 3 & 4
Qualifying Three remains a contest between Holywood and Larne for that all important promotion place with Ophir top of Qualifying Four.
Qualifying Three
Donegal v Newry.
Both teams occupy third and fourth place in the league. The meeting of these two sides will provide spectators with a competitive and entertaining match as these teams battle it out for third position. Donegal still have Holywood and Larne to play at home in their remaining league fixtures with the potential to influence the outcome of the league. Newry have impressed this season and will look to use the progress they have made to challenge for promotion next season. Donegal won their first meeting at Newry in October 22 – 13. Newry recorded a 25 – 11 win over PSNI last Saturday. Donegal to win
Monaghan v Larne
The Monaghan side will face fellow promotion challengers Larne after losing to Holywood at Letterkenny last Sat 38 -12. This is the first meeting of the two sides in the league this season. Larne have the best defensive record in the league only conceding 87 pts in seven games. Larne to win.
PSNI v Lurgan
The meeting of the bottom two sides in the league at Newforge on Sat will determine who potentially will be relegated this season. Lurgan after a difficult start to the season have had an upturn in their form with the team suffering a narrow 22 – 17 defeat away to Larne in the 1st Rd of the Towns Cup. Coach Bruce Corneilius appears to be turning round the fortunes of the County Armagh side. When the two sides met in October Lurgan won 23 – 14. Lurgan to win
Qualifying Four
VIrginia v Ophir
Ophir remain undefeated after nine matches with a maximum 18 points. They swept aside Cavan at Mallusk last sat to win comfortably 34 – 5. When these two sides met at the end of November Ophir won 46 – 5. Both Cavan and Virginia were Ophir’s nearest challengers and both have been emphatically defeated by the North Belfast side. Ophir are undefeated in all competitions this season and a measure of their progress will come when they face the Larne’s and Holywood’s in the Gordon West Cup. Virginia won on the road at Civil Service last Sat 26 – 19. Ophir to win
Cavan V BHSFP
Both teams are place second and fourth in the league: six and ten points behind leaders – Ophir in the league. High School have played two games less than Cavan and have the opportunity to use these matches in hand to move up into second place. The Greenisland side will be looking for a strong finish to their league programme. They will want to be considered as promotion contenders next season. Cavan had been on an unbeaten run until they played Ophir. This will be a keenly contested fixture. Cavan to win
Londonderry YMCA v Civil Service
Two sides who sit sixth and fifth in the league after a disappointing season. Both teams will look for a morale boosting win. When the two sides met at Stormont in Nov they fought out a 17 – 17 draw with the North West side picking up their sole league point. Willy Lamrock will see this game as an opportunity for his North West side to secure their first league win of the season. YMCA to win.
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