League opener at Ballinderry

It does not come any tougher than a trip to the loughshore to take on the reigning Derry and Ulster champions on their home patch.

When these sides met in the league last year they battled out a high scoring draw prior. Since that game the Shamrocks went all the way in Derry and then annexed the Ulster title before losing out in the All-Ireland club semi-finals to eventual champions St Vincents of Dublin.

Eoghan Rua meanwhile lost out in the Derry semi-final to Ballinascreen after a replay.

In their four years in the top flight Eoghan Rua have yet to secure a victory over Ballinderry in the league, although they do have that historic 2010 Derry championship final victory over the Shamrocks in the record books.

With a number of players on county duty with Derry, Sean Leo McGoldrick, Niall Holly, Ciaran McGoldrick and Declan Mullan Eoghan Rua have not had the opportunity to field a full strength side in the build up to the start of the league.

Certainly not the best preparation for a trip to Ballinderry but that’s the hand the Coleraine club has had to deal with. The Shamrocks will be hot favourites to take the opening points of the season, it looks like a long journey home from the loughshore empty handed for the Eoghan Rua men.