Derry Junior Championship Quarter Final preview

Derry’s Junior Football Championship has entered the knockout stage as eight teams progressed from the groups for the quarterfinals. 

There is no leeway for mistake, as they have moved closer to getting their hands on the trophy.

Ballymaguigan v Magilligan

Owenbeg - 6:30 pm - Friday

Ballymaguigan are currently the holders of the competition and have been imposing throughout the championship to this point. They have a perfect record after securing six wins from six, meaning they topped Group A. The club did not play last round, giving them a week to prepare for this quarterfinal, something that could prove decisive this weekend. They will enter this fixture as favourites after playing in the intermediate division this season and from their impressive performances in the championship.

If Magilligan want to upset the odds, they will need to focus on the goalscoring potency of Ballymaguigan, as their opponents have scored 16 goals across five games, while Magilligan themselves have conceded eight goals.

Magilligan started brilliantly in the championship as they upset junior league champions Slaughtmanus in round one, backing it up with a win over Drum in the next fixture. 

However, they have not tasted victory since then, and they are coming up against the favourites for the competition.

It may be a tough ask to expect Magilligan to upset the odds to defeat Ballymaguigan, who have looked first-class to this point.

Lissan v Glack

Owenbeg - 8:15 pm - Friday

Lissan will enter this fixture confident of progression after their championship so far, only tasting defeat once against Ballymaguigan, a team that has been imposing against everyone they have faced so far. 

The club have scored 12 goals across five games in the group, with their opponents Glack conceding five goals across as many games. 

Lissan have been in fine form in front of the posts but have also been susceptible to concession; in fact, this was the story of Group A and the sides that progressed, with three of the four teams obtaining over 100 points, while Moneymore is the only in the quarterfinals to have conceded more than the South Derry club. 

Defensive solidity is what Glack will hope to build a victory off, knowing that they have the ability to keep the points ticking over with Ryan Morgan in the full forward line.

While Glack will be underdogs for the game, they will take confidence from their performances against Slaughtmanus and Craigbane to know they will push Lissan all the way and be in the fight right until the final whistle, giving them every chance of a shock result.

Craigbane v Moneymore

Owenbeg - 3:15 pm - Sunday

Craigbane topped Group B after winning every game in their championship, overcoming tight fixtures against Glack and Slughtmanus while swatting aside the likes of Magilligan, Drum, and Doire Colmcille. 

The club had a good performance in the intermediate division this season and brought that form into the junior championship. 

Their opponents in the quarterfinal are the highest scorers in the competition this season, as they have accumulated 112 points to this point, but they have conceded 80.

It promises to be an entertaining fixture as both sides are clinical in front of the posts, but Craigbane will be favourites for the game with their ability to keep opponents from scoring positions. 

Moneymore know a massive performance is needed to defeat one of two sides in the competition who still have a perfect record.

Slaughtmanus v Ballerin

Owenbeg - 5 pm - Sunday

The final quarterfinal to be played in the junior championship, and it promises to be a tight and competitive affair. 

The two sides earned promotion to the intermediate division for next season, Slaughtmanus as league champions and Ballerin in the relegation/promotion playoff against Lissan.

The two sides have met twice already this season, with both games being incredibly tight, but on both occasions Ballerin came out as victors.

Slaughtmanus will hope it is third time lucky on Sunday. 

James McQuillan’s side had struggled in the opening three fixtures before a fantastic performance over Craigbane in a game they felt they should have won but for a last second goal. 

Ballerin managed the conditions perfectly in their final game against Sean Dolans last time out, as they used it perfectly to prepare them for the quarterfinals.

There will be little to separate the two sides; both sides have been tight at the back but haven’t demonstrated their potency in front of the posts to this point, with Ballerin considering themselves slight favourites just on their previous two games this campaign.