Senior Championship games this week

M&L Senior Championship.

The action starts on Wednesday evening 7pm at Slaughtneil where the postponed game between Ballinderry the championship favourites and Kilrea will take place. The game was to be played ten days ago but the tragic death of Janice Marie Harney sister of Ballinderry player Martin caused the game to be called off.

While Kilrea have improved they will still be very much the underdogs against a Ballinderry team that has not lost a game this season under manager Niall Conway and in the majority of these games they were well below full strength.

Kilrea did force an away draw against the Shamrocks in the league but Ballinderry's greater championship experience allied to their strong midfield of Enda Muldoon and James Conway should see them through.

On Thursday Bellaghy is the venue for the replay between local rivals Glen and Lavey. In the drawn game Lavey looked to have it won at the three quarter staged when they led by 0-11 to 0-4 but they collapsed completely in the closing sages as Glen introduced Jonathan Bradley at midfield and seven points on the trot saw the Maghera outfit get an unlikely draw.

Glen are full of surprises and did unseat Glenullin in the first round, if Lavey are to get through at the second attempt they will need to improve in the middle of the field where they were in trouble all through the drawn game. If Glen start well they could complete the surprise.

On Friday at Glenullin there is the eagerly awaited replay between Slaughtneil and Coleraine. In the drawn game at Lavey the Coleraine men got off to a flying start with two early goals but Slaughtneil battled back and a Jim Kelly goal put them back in the picture. They led by a point going into added time but a Gregory Bradley point gave Coleraine a deserved second chance.

Paul Bradley and Jim Kelly gave the Coleraine defence a lot of trouble in the first encounter and unless they can tighten up on this pair it could be Slaughteil through to the last eight.

BGS Intermediate Championship

On Sunday there is a brace of double headers in the Intermediate championship. Both are timed for 4-30 and 6 O'Clock.

At Slaughtneil the opening game is between Craigbane and Moneymore with Craigbane if they have overcome some of their injury problems slight favourites but the return of Paudie O'Neill at full forward will be a big boost for Paddy McGuckin's men. If Moneymore are to win they must improve on their last round performance against Ballerin and they will find Craigbane a step up from that. Craigbane beat a good Foreglen team at the second attempt and with players like Adrain McLaughlin, Lee Moore and Cahal O'Kane in attack they might have enough scoring power to go through to the last eight.

The second game at the venue will be seen by many as the one that could produce the eventual winner. Greenlough and Castledawson are the top two teams in the league and they look set to produce the game of the round. Castledawson are fortunate that there is a second chance as they slipped up against Steelstown and that will have put them on their guard.

Greenlough are in flying form losing only once this season and that was against Faughavale in the league a result they reversed in the championship. It looks a tight one to call but Greenlough look to have more options in attack.

Over at Banagher Steelstown and Faughanvale get tings under way and this looks like a very close contest between two teams who have already drawn in the league. Steelstown have got a lot of their injury problems solved and that win over Castedawson will have boosted their confidence no end. Faughanvale are going well in the league and in their last championship game had a fine win over Claudy. They will be suited to the big Banagher pitch and have the pace in attack to open up the tight Steelstown back line featuring Paddy Campbell and Paul O'Hea as their star men.

Defending champions Ballymaguigan have a tough nut to crack in the form of Foreglen who have already beaten them in the league. They have not been overly impressive in beating Ballerin and Moneymore in the earlier rounds.

Foreglen are a fast and very fit side and will have a big advantage in youth and pace. Its hard to see the holders being able to pin down the two ace Foreglen attackers Kevin O'Connor and Nigel Bradley for the full hour.