PARK BAR v TOP OF THE HILL CELTIC
(at Brandywell)
This is the one that we’ve all been waiting for.
In all honesty, the winner of this one has a fair chance of going on to win the league this year.
There is no doubt that these two are the teams to beat in the D&D and each time they meet, there are fireworks.
OTHC, the champions, are the team to meet. Colin Logue has built a fantastic squad of players and they have enjoyed tremendous success as a result, as they cantered to the league title last year.
Park Bar, however, hurt by their third place finish last season, recruited strongly in the summer and have started the season in fantastic form.
Park put five past Tristar, three past Trojans and seven past Phoenix in their latest game and there is no doubt that they will be up for this game.
TOTHC have started the season well also but nearly as impressive as Park Bar have. It may be early in the season but the three points on offer here are huge. Not to be missed.
Prediction: Park Bar to nick it.
PHOENIX v PREHEN
(at Brandywell Showgrounds)
Phoenix should not be too downhearted by their defeat to Park Bar on Sunday.
Park are one of the very best teams in the division and they will put many teams to the sword this year as they continue the chase to get their league title back.
Phoenix instead should take great encouragement from a decent start to the season. They have already defeated Don Boscos and Oxford and while they lost to Brandywell Celtic, they gave last year’s runners up a very good game.
Prehen meanwhile are still to pick up their first victory as they continue to struggle in their first few weeks in the D&D.
The division’s new boys gave champions Top of the Hill Celtic a tough game last week, and that shows that there is some potential there. There have been very porous at the back however, and unless that changes, they could continue to struggle.
Prediction: Phoenix to get the win.
BRANDYWELL HARPS v DON BOSCOS
(at Prehen No 1)
Brandywell Harps have enjoyed a fine start to the new season and while all eyes will be on the Brandywell and the top of the table clash between Park Bar and Top of the Hill Celtic.
Liam Deery’s side will be quietly going about their business at Prehen.
While few believe that Brandywell are at the level of Park or TOTHC, their second place finish last year suggests that they do have something about them.
They have already defeated the likes of Lisahally and Phoenix so far and a victory over Don Boscos on Sunday will keep them right in the mix at the top of the table.
This week they come up against a very prolific Don Boscos team. Boscos have hit five against Lisahally and six against Tristar in recent weeks, but they have big problems in defence and that has cost them on countless occasions.
They may score tomorrow, but Brandywell’s quality in attack could mean they end up empty handed again.
Prediction: Brandywell to get the points.
CULMORE v TROJANS
(at Culmore)
It has been a mixed bag so far for Culmore.
They beat Prehen, only to fall short against Campbell’s, before they then held on for a surprise, yet memorable draw against Top of the Hill Celtic.
One thing that does seem certain however is that Culmore are very difficult to break down.
They conceded just a goal a game in those fixtures against Campbell’s and TOTHC, which is a decent return.
They could be a bit sharper in attack however and if they can solve that problem, they could soon shoot up the table.
They have another difficult one this weekend against Trojans however. Trojans recently hit eight against Oxford and they will certainly test the Culmore defence.
This should be an interesting game, especially on Culmore’s home turf.
Prediction: A score draw at Culmore.
TRISTAR v LISAHALLY
(at Lisnagelvin No. 2
It has been a season of struggle so far for Tristar. They have been very poor in defence in the first few weeks of the new season, conceding five against Park Bar and Campbell’s, and six against Don Boscos.
They are far too easy to score against and unless they improve considerably they are destined to finish bottom of the division.
Lisahally meanwhile are looking up the table rather than behind them this season. They have been much better this year already, enjoying wins over Prehen and Don Boscos and they put in a very good display to draw with Campbell’s at the weekend.
The only blot on their copybook was their defeat to Park Bar, but there is no shame in losing to the championship hopefuls.
They will just want to improve at the back as they have conceded too many goals for their liking and if they manage to do that, they could easily finish in the top half of the table this year.
Prediction: Lisahally to pick up a comfortable win.