Plenty to sort out in Junior semi-finals and relegation play-offs

CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEWS

The pairings for next Sunday's JFC semi-finals weren't completed until after Tuesday's quarter-finals between Ballinlough and Syddan and Kilbride against Moylagh.

Jimmy Geoghegan went for Ballinlough to see off Syddan in the last six game and advance take on Clann na nGael in the semi-final in Kilmainham on Sunday at 11.30pm.

Clann na nGael advanced directly to the semi-final by virtue of topping Group B with three wins and a loss from their four games.

However, worryingly for them that loss came in their last outing back on 25th August when they were comprehensively beaten by Dunsany.

The three wins from their first three games were enough to secure top spot, but since then Clann na nGael have lost several players to injury and travels and that could well diminish their threat and boost whoever wins the quarter-final chances of advancing to the decider.

The second semi-final is likely to be played in Walterstown on Sunday at 12pm and it should be a cracker with the impressive St Brigid's waiting in the wings for Kilbride.

Kilbride will be up against a strong St Brigid's side who didn't put too much stock in their final group game where they lost to Ballinlough.

It will take a Herculean effort to recover from Tuesday night's exertions and that extra freshness might just suit St Brigid's.

SFC, IFC & JFC RELEGATION

Four teams in each of the SFC, IFC and JFC grades remain in relegation trouble and next weekend they will have another chance to preserve their status and avoid being dragged into a one-off game to decide their fate.

St Peter's saw their SFC safety net pull from under them late on against Gaeil Colmcille and they must now take on seasoned survivors Moynalvey in Batterstown on Friday (8pm).

This is a massive game for the Dunboyne men whose confidence must be rocked by the concession of late goals in each of their last three games that saw them go from Keegan Cup contenders to hovering over the edge of the drop.

Moynalvey are no stranger to a goal and they might need two or three to survive this test.

It's hard to go against St Peter's given their quality, but confidence must be shattered, so anything could happen.

The second SFC relegation semi-final between Na Fianna and Skryne is set for Summerhill on Sunday and both sides will go into this game with contrasting fortunes.

Na Fianna were poor in their loss to Seneschalstown, whereas Skryne can take solace from a decent first-half showing against Ballinabrackey.

This will be another tight one, but Na Fianna should just do enough to ease their worries.

In the IFC relegation semi-finals Dunderry are enduring a rotten run of form and that looks like continuing against Nobber in Paddy O'Brien Park on Friday night (8pm), while in Boardsmill on Saturday (5pm) Longwood look like they might face a mountain to climb to get the better of Bective.

Unlike in the SFC and IFC the relegation contenders in the JFC get just two chances to survive and Dunsany will be hoping to bounce back from their devastating loss last weekend that saw them surrender top spot in their group and drop into relegation trouble.

Kilmainham will provide the opposition for Dunsany in Walterstown on Sunday (11.30am), while St Ultan's are likely to find St Vincent's too tough to handle in their semi-final clash at Slane, also on Sunday at 11.30am.

PREMIER FC DIV 1 FINAL

The top two from Group A of the Premier FC Div 1 narrowly negotiated their respective semi-finals and will clash again in the final in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday (2.30pm).

When the sides met in round two Dunshaughlin edged out Ratoath by 2-10 to 1-10, but since then Ratoath seem to have strengthened and their one-point win over St Colmcille's in the last four gives them the slight edge over Dunshaughlin who saw off Donaghmore/Ashbourne, also by a point, in their semi-

final.