Carniny aiming for fifth straight league title

That is the big question as the ClickNI.co.uk Saturday Morning League kicks off this week.

One of Carniny's stars of last season, Maurice McDowell, has been snapped up by Ballymena United and there is a possibility another two players may also be wanted by the senior side but Carniny boss Robert Young has the habit of replacing players with ones as good and he will have plans in place to continue their winning run. The team that finishes above Carniny Rangers will win the League.

Their Harryville rivals Harryville Homers have had an impressive pre season run of wins and with Jason Jordan assisted by John McDowell at the helm they look the best challengers.

All Saints OB and Abbeyview have recruited a few new faces this season and should have a say on who wins the title and possible a chance of stopping the two Harryville sides.

Broadway Celtic and Connor FC are now in Division One and are capable of mounting a challenge so this season should be very interesting.

BSML DIVISION TWO

Last season saw a titanic struggle between Broadway Celtic and Connor but they are away now so who will win Division Two?

Roy Davidson has moved into Management at Michelin and they headed the table last season early on and look stronger this term but they will have to get someone to score the goals which the Manager always produced.

Shore Wanderers have added a few new players to their panel and look like major challengers as do the "Ducklings" Ahoghill Thistle who have been revitalised under the management of Stewart McDonald.

St Comgalls are now ground sharing with Larne at Inver Park and the change of ground is likely to attract players they are expect to mount a challenge as are Dunloy Athletic and Westend Athletic who were promoted from Division Three.

Add to these the relegated teams from Division One FC Antrim, Holywell and Templepatrick and picking the Division Two Champion is near impossible.

BSML DIVISION THREE

Two new teams in Division Three this season Cushendall FC and Galgorm FC hope to be challenging for promotion but of the two, Galgorm look the stronger and have won promotion the last time they were in the League,

The main challenge would appear to come from FC Penarol who have won Division One Titles in the past. Junior Magill has a young side but with some experienced heads around them they must be favourites to be promoted especially as they had a great winning run toward the end of the season..

Lisnafillan Swifts have moved to Portglenone and have added several new faces to their panel and Manager Adrian Young is confident that his teams will be major challengers. Wakehurst Athletic just missed out on promotion the last two seasons and must be another major challenger in Division Three.

FIXTURES

Tuesday, August 3 (7pm) - O’Kane Cup round one: Carnlough Swifts v Abbeyview; Clough Rangers v Galgorn FC (Clough); Riverdale v Broadway Celtic (Wakehurst 2); Randalstown Sky Blues v Harryville Homers; FC Moylena v Shore Wanderers (Forum).

Wednesday, August 4 (7pm) - BSML Division Two: Ahoghill Thistle v Waveney Swifts; Seven Towers v Cullybackey Olympic (Showgrounds 4); Templepatrick v Westend Athletic (Forum); Holywell v St Comgalls (Forum); FC Inter Stars v Michelin (Waveney 2); Dunloy Athletic v FC Antrim.

Thursday, August 5 (7pm) - BSML Division One: Ahoghill Rovers v Randalstown Sky Blues; Abbeyview v North End (Forum); All Saints OB v Clough Rangers (Showgrounds 5); Ballykeel v Harryville Homers (Ballykeel); Carniny Rangers v Glenarm Rovers (Wakehurst 1); Carnlough Swifts v Connor FC; Broadway Celtic v FC Moylena (Showgrounds 4).

BSML Division Two: Braid United v Shore Wanderers (Broughshane).

Saturday, August 7 (10.15am) - O’Kane Cup round two: FC Inter Stars v Demesne Star (Waveney 2); Randalstown Sky Blues/Harryville Homers v Glenarm Rovers; Seven Towers v Wakehurst Athletic (Showgrounds 4); North End v Templepatrick (Dunfane); Holywell v Ballykeel (Forum); Woodside/Braid United v FC Moylena/Shore Wanderers; Cushendall FC v Waveney Swifts (Garron Tower School); Steadfast/Westend Atletic v Carnlough Swifts/Abbeyview; Atletico Antrim v FC Penarol; Ahoghill Rovers v Michelin; Cloughmills Thistle v FC Antrim.

BSML Division One: Carnlough Swifts/Abbeyview v Broadway Celtic; Carniny Rangers v Randalstown Sky Blues (Wakehurst 1); Harryville Homers v Glenarm Rovers (Wakehurst 2); Clough Rangers v Connor FC (Clough).

BSML Division Two: Braid United v Ahoghill Thistle (Broughshane); St Comgalls v Cullybackey Olympic (Inver Park).

BSML Division Three: Inver Athletic v Randalstown; Riverdale v Lisnafillan Swifts (Wakehurst 4).

Tuesday, August 10 (7pm) - O’Kane Cup round one: Randalstown Sky Blues v Harryville Homers; All Saints OB v Clough Rangers/Galgorm FC (Showgrounds 5); Ahoghill Thistle/St Comgalls v Connor FC (Ahoghill/Inver Park); Broadway Celtic/Riverdale v Inver Athletic (Showgrounds 4/Wakehurst 4); Lisnafillan Swifts/Dunloy Athletic v Carniny Rangers (Portglenone/Dunloy).