Twelve will become eight this weekend as another four teams will be knocked out of the SFC while four qualify for the quarter-finals.
Sarsfields v Ballymacnab – Fri 8 Sept – BOX-IT Athletic Grounds – 7.30pm
Sarsfields will still be wondering how they didn’t see off Clan na Gael last week, having led by seven heading into the final quarter.
Although coming out the wrong end of the result, so much of what the High Moss men did was on the money.
The long ball tactic to Eamon McGeown worked a treat and their likely to revisit that gameplan on Friday.
Ballymacnab also tasted defeat when a victory was in their grasp in their top of the table clash against Killeavy.
But they let Tommy Coleman’s men reel off 1-5 in the dying minutes and Killeavy advanced right to the last eight.
The Nab still carry a huge amount of attacking threat and like Sarsfields, will look for long early ball into their forward line.
Dromintee v Clan na Gael – Sat 9 Sept – Crossmaglen – 5pm
Confidence in the Clan na Gael camp is bound to be sky high at the minute having completed another heroic comeback.
Three games in a row, the Clans have come from behind to keep their unbeaten run in the championship intact.
Shane McPartlan has been key to their form and is a huge driving force in the team. He’s currently the top scorer in the SFC with 3-19.
Dromintee, after their 18-point mauling at the hands of Ballymacnab, bounced back to overcame Maghery.
That kept them in the championship for another week and they welcomed Darren McKenna back into the starting line-up.
They remain without the likes of Cathal McKenna and Ronan Quinn but have enough options to cause the Clans problems.
St Peter’s v Armagh Harps – Sun 10 Sept – BOX-IT Athletic Grounds – 4pm
St Peter’s have recovered excellently from their 15-point hammering to Clann Eireann in the first round of the SFC.
They earned a draw away from home against Granemore before seeing off Grange in the final round of the group stages.
Aaron Findon did leave the play injured last weekend however and may not be available for the playoffs.
The Harps snatched a draw against Madden last weekend, thanks to two late goals from Darragh Murphy.
That’ll fill Pascal Canavan’s men full of belief and they’ve already had a run out in the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.
Tadgh Grimley didn’t feature the last day out and his physical presence and aerial ability were a big miss.
Silverbridge v Granemore – Sun 10 Sept – BOX-IT Athletic Grounds – 6pm
Silverbridge are perhaps the in-form team in the county at the minute having put together two eye-catching wins.
They’ve rattled off 6-31 in their last two outings, with Tiarnan Murphy putting together a tally of 4-6.
Sean Conlon and Pauric Keating were among the goal scorers against Shane O’Neill’s too and Colm Nally’s men will be full of confidence.
Granemore head into the encounter off the back of a 10-point defeat to league champs Clann Eireann last week.
With the attacking threat of Jason O’Neill, Niall McAleenan’s side look a bit short in that department up top.
Still, last years beaten finalists are an experienced outfit and have plenty of quality remaining in their ranks.
