Parkview’s destiny set to be determined against Holywood

Ballyclare Ladies, in action during a recent clash with Ballymena, still await their Senior 1 fate.

Having finished one from bottom in Senior League Section 3, the Doagh girls now face a relegation play-to-a-finish play-off with the Section 4 runners-up.

“This has been very much a difficult transitional season for us,” said Parkview’s Clare McClean.

“Having been involved in a promotion play-off last year, we started this season minus half-a-dozen regulars for a variety of reasons, so it has been an uphill battle to stay afloat at Section 3 level.

“We are deeply indebted to several former players who came out of retirement to ensure that we would be able to fulfil all our fixtures, and now we have this final battle to attempt to preserve our Section 3 status,” she confirmed.

Balyclare Ladies

Over in Ballyclare it’s not so clear-cut for Suzanne Dickey’s senior side whose Senior League Section 1 future hangs by a thread.

Three weeks ago Omagh Ladies were the number one candidates to accompany NICS Ladies in to Section 2, but a draw with Larne and a win against North Down has given the Tyrone girls a lifeline, with one game still to play.

That’s against fellow strugglers Banbridge, and a draw would secure the future for both clubs with their total on 20 points - level with Ballyclare, who however would be condemned to a relegation play-off against Knock Ladies, owing to having an inferior goals difference.

However, a win for either Omagh or Banbridge would result in the loser going in to the play-off, leaving the Ballyclare’s coveted Section 1 status secure.

So the Ballyclare girls’ fate is now out of their own hands and they will be hoping for a positive result, one way or the other, in the crucial Banbridge-Omagh clash.

Meanwhile, Janice Wilson’s 2nd XI await a date for their Junior League Section 2 relegation play-off with Ballymena II, while Julie Cooke’s 3rd XI need two points from their remaining two fixtures to avoid the drop from Junior 7.