Brandywell Harps seeking major scalp to keep their title hopes alive

Weather permitting, the Derry & District Premier Division resumes this Sunday and Brandywell Harps will be hoping to keep alive their challenge for the title.
Trojans (17) Adam McCready slots the ball into the top corner to put his side level before the break during Sunday's D&D encounter with Phoenix Swifts at St. Columb's Park. DER0216MC044Trojans (17) Adam McCready slots the ball into the top corner to put his side level before the break during Sunday's D&D encounter with Phoenix Swifts at St. Columb's Park. DER0216MC044
Trojans (17) Adam McCready slots the ball into the top corner to put his side level before the break during Sunday's D&D encounter with Phoenix Swifts at St. Columb's Park. DER0216MC044

They will receive a significant boost should they defeat league leaders Park Bar at St Columb’s Park.

Harps currently sit six points behind Park and victory over their old rivals would bring them right back into the mix in the title race.

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Elsewhere in the division, reigning champions, Top of the Hill Celtic, are five points adrift of the leaders and they will be targeting a win over Phoenix on Sunday so they can be in a position to take advantage of any slip-ups from Park Bar.

Lisahally will be seeking their first league win since September when they take on Culmore while Don Bosco’s are hoping for back-to-back wins when they meet Oxford.

Fixtures - Brandywell Harps v Park Bar (St Columb’s Park); Top of the Hill Celtic v Phoenix (Lisnagelvin 2); Don Bosco’s v Oxford; Lisahally v Culmore (Strathfoyle); Don Bosco’s v Oxford (Prehen 3). All games kick-off at 11.30 a.m.

Sympathy

Last weekend’s Derry & District F.A. fixtures were postponed due to the death of Annie Smyth, the mother of the association’s Games Organiser, Liam.

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The Committee, managers and teams send their condolences to the Smyth family at this difficult time.

Premier Division

Brandywell Harps v Park Bar

Harps currently sit six points behind their opponents at the top so a win would keep them in the title race and manager, Liam Deery, has a young squad of players who are improving with every game.

Park Bar hold a one point lead at the top but have two games in hand over Trojans in second place. Colm Cassidy has transferred Paul Smith from Trojans and he could be a key player on Sunday.

Park to win.

Top of the Hill Celtic v Phoenix

Celtic, the current champions, know they simply have to win this game to stay on the heels of the leaders.

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They are five points off the top spot. Last time out they were minus quite a few regulars and, as a result, slipped up.

Phoenix still have hopes of making the top six at the cut off point but need to win on Sunday.

Last week, despite losing out to Trojans, Christy McGeehan’s side did put up a great performance.

Celtic to win.

Lisahally v Culmore

Lisahally now sit at the bottom of the table after a dismal run that has not seen them win since September. Spike Doherty still seems to be having problems getting a full strength side on the pitch but this clash gives them the chance of picking up a much needed win. Culmore have improved in the last couple of weeks and a win here would see them stay in the hunt of a top six position at the cut-off point in a couple of weeks time.

Lisahally to win.

Don Bosco’s v Oxford Stars

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Bosco’s have moved off the bottom with a win last Sunday and a win here could see them rise up to sixth place in the table. Once again in that game they missed a host of fine chances and should have won more comfortably.

Oxford had a great win over Tristar last Sunday but were stunned after it when long serving manager Paul Roddy, called it a day. They have a chance to gain revenge on Bosco’s who put them out of the Terry Kelly Cup final.

Oxford to win.

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