Crossmaglen Rangers have their sights fixed on a hat-trick of Armagh Senior County Championship titles but they are only too well aware that they will face a tough opening challenge against Clan na Gael at Davitt Park, Lurgan on Sunday (2.30pm).
The sides contested last year’s decider in which the Rangers came out on top and they will hope to replicate that win this time round.
With Stefan Campbell and Shane McPartlan ready to lead their challenge, the Lurgan outfit are keen to make a big impression this time round but Rian O’Neill, Callum Cumiskey, Cian McConville and Oisin O’Neill look poised to underpin a defiant Rangers effort.
Sunday’s other Armagh Championship offering sees Ballymacnab and Dromintee go head to head at the former venue (4.30pm).
Ballymacnab will be without their injured talisman Rory Grugan which could prove a big setback while All-Ireland Final goal-scoring hero Aaron McKay will be to the fore for Dromintee.
On Saturday afternoon, Sarsfields will have home advantage against Granemore (5.00pm) while St Peter’s will host Clann Eireann in an all-Lurgan derby (7.00pm).
Conor Turbitt, Barry McCambridge and Tiernan Kelly in particular did newly-crowned All-Ireland champions Armagh proud through their considerable efforts this year and are capable of now taking their Clann Eireann club onto a higher level.
McCambridge is in line for the coveted Player of the Year award and should he seal the deal in this respect, it would be another massive bonus for the Orchard County.
The Antrim Senior Football Championship, meanwhile, will also be taken a stage further over the weekend with some intriguing battles in store.
Reigning champions Erin’s Own Cargin, who have won the title six times since 2015, will have their heavy artillery on board including Pat Shivers, Justin Crozier, James Laverty, Jamie Gribbin and Tomás McCann for their visit to confront St John’s at Corrigan Park on Sunday (2.00pm) while at the same time St Ergnat’s Moneyglass will meet Casements Portglenone.
The clash of St Mary’s Ahoghill and Con Magees, Glenravel (2.00pm) completes a triple bonanza in terms of enticing fixtures with James O’Connell, Patrick Graham and Bernard Graham capable of firing up St Mary’s while Eamon Fyfe, Conor Carey and Niall Swan can set the tone for Con Magees’ display.
And there is no shortage of fare on the Saffron County menu on Saturday either with St Enda’s taking on Dunloy, O’Donovan Rossa meeting Tir na nOg Randalstown, Kickhams Creggan and St Brigid’s crossing swords and St Gall’s opposing St Mary’s Aghagallon (all 5.00pm).
St Gall’s dominated the Antrim sphere several years ago and with players such as Tiernan Keenan, Conal McGirr, Callum Walsh, Brendan Bradley, Niall Burns and Daniel Quinn very much on song the team will have their focus on silverware once again.