Brigade look to pull clear in senior title race
The stagger unwinds in the Long’s SuperValu title race this weekend as Killyclooney take their turn to sit it out; allowing the other three protagonists the chance to take a sizeable advantage into the final two league matches of the season.
Brigade are in pole position heading into this round of fixtures, however Andy Britton’s men face an acid test on Saturday as they welcome Newbuildings to Beechgrove in a repeat of this season’s senior cup final.
A home win would leave the hosts closing in on another title, however the visitors are still in need of points themselves in order to ensure their safe passage into next season’s Premier Division.
Newbuildings do still have three more games to come after this and should confirm their status comfortably, but they’ll want to do so sooner rather than later.
Even a win for Brigade may not be enough to keep them top this weekend- fourth placed Bready probably need to win both of their weekend games- away at Eglinton and Bonds Glen- as they only have one match left after this.
Were that to happen, the Magheramason side could potentially leap-frog the other trio, however the villagers are also in need of top eight points which makes it an interesting afternoon there as well.
It’s a similar situation at the Bleachgreen; Ardmore after points to keep them in the title hunt hosting a Fox Lodge side desperate to stay in the top half.
Donemana and St Johnston have two games in hand of the pack, the second of which on Sunday is against each other.
They’re both on the road on Saturday before squaring up at the Holm on Sunday- Coleraine away at Coleraine while the Saints are at Glendermott.
If either of them can manage to win twice it would give their Premiership chances a real shot in the arm.
In Saturday’s remaining games, Strabane will look to continue their mini-revival at home to Bonds Glen while Burndennett go to Ballyspallen for their penultimate league game of the season still searching for their first win.
The League 4 cup final is also this weekend and sees Bready 4ths take on Donemana 3rds in a two-innings contest at Fox Lodge starting on Friday.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Friday/ Saturday
League 4 Cup final (at Ballymagorry)
Bready 4ths v Donemana 3rds
Saturday
Long’s SuperValu League
Ardmore v Fox Lodge
Eglinton v Bready
Brigade v Newbuildings
Coleraine v Donemana
Glendermott v St Johnston
Strabane v Bonds Glen
Ballyspallen v Burndennett
Sunday
Long’s SuperValu League
Donemana v St Johnston
Bonds Glen v Bready
LONG’S SUPERVALU SENIOR LEAGUE- CURRENT STANDINGS
| TEAM | PLAYED | WON | LOST | NO RESULT | BONUS PTS | TOTAL PTS |
| 1-Brigade | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 226 |
| 2- Ardmore | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 214 |
| 3-Killyclooney | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 212 |
| 4-Bready | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 207 |
| 5-Eglinton | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 30 | 150 |
| 6-Newbuildings | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 149 |
| 7-Fox Lodge | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 149 |
| 8-Coleraine | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 145 |
| 9-Donemana | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 35 | 135 |
| 10-St Johnston | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 121 |
| 11-Strabane | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 29 | 109 |
| 12-Bonds Glen | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 21 | 81 |
| 13-Glendermott | 12 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 47 |
| 14- Ballyspallen | 12 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 31 |
| 15-Burndennett | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 24 | 24 |
