Consistency eluding most teams so far in H&A Group Football league

Ballinascreen are keeping the pressure on Newbridge at the top of Division One.

placeholder image — Ballinascreen are keeping the pressure on Newbridge at the top of Division One.

With 10 wins to date Newbridge are by far the most consistent at the top of the league

A mixed bag is possibly the best way to sum up how the H&A Group Division 1 Football league is going after 11 rounds of action.

No doubt about the team of the league and with 10 wins to date Newbridge are by far the most consistent, and it has them very much in control and clear at the top of the pile. The county champions’ only blip to date came back in round 2 with defeat away to Kilrea at the beginning of April.

Consistency is what a lot of teams have not shown and having saw most of the teams now, the performances have varied somewhat from game to game. That is expected though in the league and as the championship draws closer and the county scene over, teams will begin to get stronger and more settled sides will begin to appear week in week out.

The new rules have also played a part, with plenty of high scoring encounters. The one rule that clubs are struggling or most afraid of is the correct numbers in either half of the field, many been very cautious.

The Solo and Go also not getting used as much as one would expect but when done so has been beneficial in the moments it has been used.

The 'Bridge will have three of their remaining four games away from home beginning with a testing encounter in Slaughtneil next up. While Newbridge have lit up the league with top drawer performances, Ballinascreen have hit a fine run of form suffering just the one defeat in their least seven to sit in second spot, five points off the ‘Bridge.

Newly promoted Glenullin and Faughanvale have also had impressive impacts and both have five wins under their belts. The ‘Glen men overcoming the Watty Grahams in one of those while the ‘Vale had a very good win in Magherafelt in their latest outing.

At the bottom of the table Castledawson look in big trouble with just the one win to date and are sitting in that relegation spot as the table stands. They travel to Glen tomorrow (Wednesday) while just above them are Ballinderry who occupy the relegation/promotion play-off spot welcome Loup on Thursday.

Forglen and Limavady are battling it out at the top of Division Two.

With four rounds remaining, there is plenty of time for changes but with teams now beginning to focus firmly on the up-coming championship, you would feel the sides will be upping the tempo and as the weeks go on the county players will begin to filter back into their club sides.

In Division 2, Limavady lead the way as they push for a place in the top flight for next season. They have suffered just the one defeat and have a three point lead over Foreglen and Banagher, however Banagher have a game in hand. A very interesting few weeks and games lie ahead as the battle for promotion heats up. At the other end Ballerin have found the going tough and are rooted to the bottom as they still are in search of a point.

Lissan and Doire Trasna lead the way in Division 3, with both due to come face to face in the second last round of fixtures while both Magilligan and Ardmore are struggling at the other end without a point to date. The bottom two face off in the final round scheduled for the opening weekend of August.