Something for the weekend

If anyone is at a loose end and looking for a football match to go and see, then this coming weekend is, weather permitting, full of interesting fixtures.

First of all it’s Intermediate Cup weekend with eight fourth round ties taking place. Five of these will be in Dublin, with two in County Kildare. Just the one match kicks off in Cork but the clash between cup holders Avondale United and College Corinthians is arguably the tie of the round, pitching the top two sides from the Munster Senior League against each other. Corinthians currently top the table, three points ahead of Avondale, but John Cotters’ side have two games in hand. The teams meet at Avondale Park on Sunday morning at 11 am.

Kildare side Newbridge Town will host Meath’s Parkvilla at Station Road in Newbridge on Friday night while, across the county, Leixlip United play host to Cork side St Mary’s on Sunday afternoon at the Leixlip Amenities Centre. Leixlip will be tough opponents for Ken Daly’s St Mary’s side. Under former Shamrock Rovers star John Martin, Leixlip are running away with their division, the second tier of the Leinster Senior League, and look odds on to be promoted to the Premier division next season.

There are five Intermediate Cup games taking place in Dublin over the weekend. Friday night sees St Patrick’s CYFC play Bangor Celtic at the Ringsend Astro Park, with the other four matches taking place on Sunday. St Pats are proving to be cup specialists in recent seasons with memories of last year’s adventure in the Leinster Senior Cup still fresh in the mind. They were ultimately beaten in the final by Shamrock Rovers, an Aaron Greene goal proved the only difference at Tallaght Stadium.

Sunday morning will see an early start for Glenville and Beggsboro who meet at Palmerstown school with an 11 am kick-off. But spare a thought for west Cork side Bandon AFC who must make a similar kick-off time at the Red Cow where they will take on Bluebell United.

The remaining ties also see Cork teams traveling to the capitol as Everton take on Phoenix in Scribblestown while Blarney United play Tolka Rovers at Frank Cooke Park. Both these games have 2pm kick-offs.

Those looking for a sneak preview of the coming League of Ireland season have a choice of three pre-season friendlies over the weekend. Shelbourne host Longford Town at the AUL complex in Clonshaugh on Saturday with both sides containing plenty of new faces. Finn Harps, meanwhile, travel to play Enniskillen on Sunday while Wexford Youths host Drogheda United at Ferrycarrig Park.

There is also a full programme of U19 league games if you fancy a look at the stars of tomorrow. Bohemians face Shelbourne in a Dublin derby at Dalymount park on Saturday, while across the city Shamrock Rovers host Cobh Ramblers at Tallaght. Bray Wanderers are also at home on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Salthill Devon’s U19s to the Carlisle Grounds.

There are three other U19 matches across the country on Saturday. Derry City play Dundalk at the Brandywell while Sligo Rovers host Letterkenny Rovers at Sligo IT. Further south, Mervue United entertain Wexford Youths at Fahy’s Field.

Sunday’s U19 action sees games take place in Drogheda, Cork and Galway as the young Drogs take on Waterford United at Hunky Dorys Park, Cork City host Finn Harps in a re-arranged fixture that now takes place at Mayfield Sports Complex, and GUST host Athlone Town at Eamon Deacy Park.

The weekend also sees the latest round in the Bus Eireann Women’s National League. There are three fixtures slated for Sunday with Tallaght Stadium hosting it’s second game of the weekend as Shamrock Rovers play Peamount United. Morton Stadium in Santry is the venue for Raheny united as they take on Castlebar Celtic, while the fixture list is completed by DLR Waves hosting Cork Womens FC at Jackson Park in Kilternan.

Intermediate Cup

Fri 25 Jan
Newbridge Town v Parkvilla - station road (7.45)   OFF
St Pats CYFC (1-1) Bangor Celtic - ringsend astro park (7.45)

Sun 27 Jan
Avondale United v College Corinthians - avondale park (11am)   OFF
Glenville v Beggsboro - palmertown school (11am)
Bluebell United v Bandon FC - red cow (11am)
Phoenix v Everton AFC - scribblestown (2pm)
Leixlip United v St Mary’s - leixlip amenities centre (2pm)
Tolka Rovers v Blarney United - frank cooke park (2pm)

LoI Pre-Season Friendlies

Sat 26 Jan
Shelbourne v Longford Town - AUL, clonshaugh (2pm)   OFF

Sun 27 Jan
Enniskillen v Finn Harps - enniskillen ()   OFF
Wexford Youths v Drogheda United - ferrycarrig park (2pm)   OFF

U19

Sat 26 Jan
Elite
Bohemians u19 v Shelbourne u19 - Blanchardstown IT (2pm)
Bray Wanderers u19 v Salthill Devon u19 - carlisle grounds (2pm)    OFF
Shamrock Rovers u19  (1-2) Cobh Ramblers u19 - Sacred Heart  (2pm)

Northern
Derry City u19 v Dundalk u19 - brandywell (2pm)
Sligo Rovers u19 v Letterkenny Rovers u19 - sligo IT (2pm)

Sun 27 Jan
Elite
Cork City u19 v Finn Harps u19 - mayfield sports complex (12pm)
Drogheda United u19 v Waterford United u19 - hunky dorys park (2pm)   OFF

Southern
GUST u 19 v Athlone Town u19 - eamon deacy park (7.30)
Mervue United u19 v Wexford Youths u19 - fahy’s field (2pm)

Bus Eireann Women’s National League

Sun 27 Jan
DLR Waves v Cork Women’s FC - jackson park (2pm)
Raheny United v Castlebar Celtic - morton stadium (2pm)   OFF
Shamrock Rovers v Peamount United - tallaght stadium (2pm)

*Please note that fixtures can be subject to last minute changes*