The meeting of Clogher Valley and Galwegians will be the game of the weekend in 2C as the leaders tussle for top spot, the Ulster derby between Omagh and Bangor will be another exciting contest.
Ballina v Bruff, Saturday January 27th, Heffernan Park, 2:30pm
Bruff look to return to winning ways having failed to take a win in their last two outings, they travel to bottom placed Ballina.
The Mayo men do not make Heffernan Park an easy place to go and get points, despite losing a couple of home ties this year they have been competitive outside of their opener with Clogher Valley. With a four point gap now appearing in the relegation fight, they cannot afford another slip up.
Bruff have a healthy seven point gap meanwhile in the promotion race and with round 12 upon us will aim to keep up a strong run between now and the season’s end. Recent form has seen the Treaty men drop points in a draw with Tullamore last weekend in dramatic circumstances, having lost heavily to Midleton a week prior, a game both need to win for different reasons.
Clogher Valley v Galwegians, Saturday January 27th, The Cran, 2:30pm
The mouth watering tie of the weekend is the battle of the leaders, this game could be the one to determine the title should both keep up their form going forward.
Getting back to winning ways last time out will boost Clogher going into this tie, having suffered defeats to Enniscorthy and Omagh at the end of last year, they have begun 2024 with a bang. Unbeaten in their last two games they have ended that blip and look to regain top spot this weekend.
Wegians will not want to relinquish that spot easily however, the Tribesmen also in red hot form want to make it back to 2B as champions. Memories will come back of their last and also first ever meeting in the AIL at the start of December, Clogher winning a titanic tussle 22-19, heartbreak for one and joy for the other, this game will be absolutely colossal.
Midleton v Enniscorthy, Saturday January 27th, Towns Park, 2:30pm
Middleton can slowly build a push for the play-offs if they can get the ideal results as the weeks tick by, Enniscorthy will be hoping to hang onto third spot this weekend.
The Leesiders tasted a bitter 17-14 defeat last weekend coming in the dying minutes. Dust has settled since that game and now they need to regroup and win this home tie with Enniscorthy. The Devils look strong this year and would love nothing more than a crack at the playoffs, the gap is 12 points as it stands but not far within the realms of possibility.
Scorthy have Bruff breathing down their necks in fourth spot, with risk comes reward for these two, would they be happier in third or fourth spot. The Wexford men have been successful this year in being a team fighting to remain competitive after a relegation, coming off the back of defeat last weekend, confidence will need to be high coming into this one.
Omagh Academicals v Bangor, Saturday January 27th, Thomas Mellon Playing Fields, 2:30pm
Ulster derby day at Thomas Mellon Playing Fields, will it prove another fruitful week for Bangor in this relegation scrap.
Omagh currently sit ninth by virtue of score difference as Bangor winning last time out saw them move to 15 points. For Omagh to survive a potential drop they need a win and their home crowd may just swing it for them. The hosts are on a losing streak of late and will want to end that against a team also in the relegation battle.
Bangor will certainly feel confident coming off the back of a win last weekend that they can take another result this weekend and put a gap to their relegation struggles. Bangor have just two wins this season, they ended their losing streak at the start of December against Omagh on home soil, taking a trip away from home can they replicate that and move further to safety.
Tullamore v Clonmel, Saturday January 27th, Spollanstown, 2:30pm
Offaly meets Tipperary in Spollanstown this weekend Tullamore will be looking to keep on the tails of Bruff for that final playoff place with a win.
Having shared the spoils late on last time out Tullamore will be hopeful that a win can be the catalyst to keep them in the hunt for promotion this season. Being in the hunt last season they will want to get there again and with an unbeaten streak currently under the belts confidence is high.
Josef O’Connor was the hero for Clonmel last weekend after another marksman like display from the kicking tee including a late penalty saw the visitors take important points for them to mount a charge for the playoffs. With a ten point gap to Bruff, the Tipp side are hopeful to close that in the coming weeks.
More Info on Division 2C here.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.