The Struggle to Survive in Brian McCormick Sports and Leisure Division 1

Most teams in Division 1 have three league games remaining and this will be the case for all teams next Saturday evening with both backlog games being played this week. On Wednesday Gaoth Dobhair play Glenswilly at Machaire Gathlán and then take on Realt na Mara at the same venue on Saturday. Both games are at 7.30 pm.

Gaoth Dobhair v Gleann t-Súilí 7.30 pm Ref Jimmy White

Gaoth Dobhair v Realt na Mara 7.30 pm Ref Marc Brown

The remaining three rounds of fixtures are set for Aug 18^th, Aug 25^th and Sat Aug 31^st. With the league title already won by Kilcar the most interesting games are those involving the relegation candidates. Milford are in the greatest difficult – winning all three of their games will give them 10 points and they have to hope Realt na Mara and St Michaels lose all of their remaining games. Two of Milford’s three fixtures are at home against Realt na Mara on Aug 18^th and St Michaels on Aug 31^st:

Aug 18^th : Milford v Realt na Mara; Aug 25^th Milford v Kilcar; Aug 31^st Milford v St Michaels.

All three opponents will also benefit from returning County players – Jamie and Paul Brenann for Bundoran, Michael Langan for St Michaels and Eoin McHugh, Ryan McHugh and Paddy McBrearty for Kilcar. Sean MacCumhaill’s are second from bottom and probably need four points for safety but will welcome back Oisin Gallen from County duty. They have St Eunan’s at home on the 18^th, a tough away fixture in Machaire Gathlán on Aug 25^th and a game against Realt na Mara on Aug 31^st which could potentially be a deciding fixture in both team’s survival.

Aug 18^th : Sean MacCumhaill v Naomh Ádhanhnáin; Aug 25^th Gaoth Dobhair v Sean MacCumhaill; Aug 31^st Sean MacCumhaill v Realt na Mara.

As discussed, Realt na Mara (on ten league points) have away fixtures against two of their fellow strugglers and in between they face Naomh Conaill in Gaelic Park as well as their catch-up game against Gaoth Dobhair this weekend.

Aug 10^th Gaoth Dobhair v Realt na Mara Aug 18^th Milford v Realt na Mara; Aug 25^th Realt na Mara v Naomh Conaill; Aug 31^st Sean MacCumhaill v Realt na Mara.

St Michael’s are the other team in bother. They boosted their survival chances considerably with two wins last weekend but meet another in-form team in Cloughaneely in their next fixture:

Aug 18^th : Cloich Cheann Fhaola v St Michael’s; Aug 25^th St Michaels v Glenswilly; Aug 31^st Milford v St Michaels.

Cloughaneely and Glenswilly are also conceivably caught up in the relegation struggle but a win in either of their remaining games is likely to leave them safe and they may not even need that comfort if other results go their way. Glenswilly will have Michael Murphy back in harness but Jason McGee’s return for Cloughaneely will depend on his recovery from last Saturday’s game against Mayo with 12 days to go before Cloughaneely play again.

Aug 7^th Gaoth Dobhair v Glenswilly Aug 18^th: Glenswilly v Kilcar; Aug 25^th St Michaels v Glenswilly; Aug 31^st Glenswilly v St Eunans.

Aug 18^th : Cloich Cheann Fhaola v St Michael’s; Aug 25^th St Eunans v Cloich Cheann Fhaola; Aug 31^st Cloich Cheann Fhaola v Gaoth Dobhair

Brian McCormick Sports & Leisure Division 1 – Aug 4^th 2019