2nd placed Ballymurphy Celtic play host to 3rd placed St. Joseph's FC at Ballymurphy at 7:30 pm

Ballymurphy Celtic has yet to be beaten in this competition, having won 3 out of its last 4 games.
Form: D W W W    Home Form: D W W

St. Joseph's FC's last fixture played was a confident 3-0 win at home against Village FC.
Form: W L L W    Away Form: W

Ballymurphy won a hard fought battle with Ardattin 3-2.

After an even start with changes for both teams Ballymurphy took the lead through a well taken free kick by Jack Cummins. Ardattin hit back immediately after Blain Cosgrove was fouled in the box, Liam Whelan converting. Just on half time Ballymurphy took the lead again when Jack Cummins converted a penalty and could have extended it further but for an Even Kearns save. Ballymurphy were reduced to 10 men shortly after half time but extended their lead after Jack Cummins converted another penalty. The Ballymurphy goal keeper made a great save to prevent Aaron Smith reducing the deficit. Ardattin pilled on the pressure and Liam Whelan fired home with a 25 yard shot to pull one back but 10 men Ballymurphy held on. Best for Ardattin were Ethan Smith, Liam Whelan and Michael Brown, for Ballymurphy Goalkeeper and Jack Cummins stood out

Ballymurphy Celtic has yet to be beaten in this competition, having won 3 out of its last 4 games.
Form: D W W W

Bagenalstown AFC has yet to be beaten in this competition, having won 4 out of its last 5 games.
Form: D W W W W

Ballymurphy Celtic 2

Killeshin FC 3

Dragos Mamaliga netted a second half brace as Killeshin made it 3 wins on the bounce to move into third place. By contrast Celtic remain level on points with Dolmen at the bottom in the battle to avoid the drop. Killeshin had already created openings for Kieran Hennessy and Adam Steed before Ballymurphy opening the scoring on 20 minutes, Anthony Jordan played Thomas Doyle in on goal and his inch perfect chip found the net via the underside of the crossbar to put the hosts ahead. That lead only lasted 7 minutes, Niall Scully's cross caused panic in the Celtic penalty area and when the ball fell to Hennessy he slotted just inside the post for 1-1. Killeshin pushed on from there but it remained level at the break. The tempo was upped in the second half as both teams made light of a difficult breeze. Thomas Doyle and Anthony Jordan both had efforts saved for Celtic before the hour, but when the chance came to Killeshin they tucked it away. Adam Steed's cross evaded everyone except Mamaliga at the back post who made no mistake to make it 2-1 in the visitors favour. There's plenty of fight in this Celtic side and they were level 20 minutes from time, Jack Foley cooly picking his spot after been played in by MJ Doran and it looked like Celtic would get a very valuable point but with 5 minutes left Killeshin and Mamaliga struck again. Joyce Tsumbu beat his marker down the right before crossing for Steed, his effort was saved but the rebound fell to Mamaliga to net the winner and break Celtic hearts and reward a solid team performance from the visitors. Best for Ballymurphy included Thomas Doyle, Kevin Foley and Jack Foley.

Vale Wanderers 1

Ballymurphy 3

Ballymurphy showed a masterclass performance in the Superbowl on Saturday afternoon. They fell behind in the tenth minute when Vale Wanderers took an early lead through a long range strike from Aedan Byrne but weren't long claiming one back through Jack Cummins who turned the back line inside out and was brought down in the box, he then took the penalty and scored to the bottom left. Ballymurphy were well on top from here with Luke Kavanagh and Luke Fenlon in the middle dominating the play. Luke Joyce had a ball played in from the right wing by Luke Kavanagh and he took it well and placed it beyond the keeper into the top left corner from close range to give the visitors a deserved lead after 38 minutes. Ballymurphy had the wind at their backs in the second half and looked in real control while Vale only had a couple of chances but solid defending from Thomas Joyce, Michael Joyce and David Coleman kept them at bay. Jack Cummins had 2 chances within 3 minutes and hit the target but the keeper saved both times. Eoin Coleman headed a corner ball off the line and then it broke to Adam Farrell who passed to Luke Joyce who struck on the half volley with precision to beat the keeper in the last 10 minutes as Ballymurphy ran out comfortable winners. Best for Ballymurphy were Jack Cummins, Luke Joyce and Luke Kavanagh

Crettyard United 2

Ballymurphy Celtic 0

In one of the few games to survive the weather at the weekend Crettyard took full points to close the gap on New Oak to just 3 points as this season's title race begins to hot up. Crettyard began with the string wind on their backs and dominated for long periods but were struggling in front of goal. Gearoid Cuddihy cracked a free kick off the post midway through the half and the usually lethal Lee Salter saw a couple of efforts go the wrong side of the post. United finally opened the scoring just after the half hour, Celtic failed to deal with a free kick into the penalty area and Salter pounced on the loose ball to slot it beyond Kyle Foley in the Ballymurphy goal. At the other end Anto Jordan and Jack Foley were a handful for the United defence but couldn't get clear sight of goal. The second half saw wind assisted Celtic with more possession but chances came and went for Dara Tobin and Declan Brennan. In these tight games you have to take you chances went they come along or you get punished and that's exactly what Crettyard did. The introduction of Ryan Byrne brought new energy to the Crettyard attack and the chances started coming again. Kyle Foley denied Salter after he was released on goal by Danny Doyle on 75 minutes but 5 minutes later the young 'keeper was powerless to stop Doyle doubling the lead after good work from Salter and Byrne. As always with Celtic they battled to the end but it's rare for United to drop points from such a strong position. It's now 7 straight wins in the Premier Division for United since losing to Celtic back in November while Celtic haven't managed a 3 pointer since that game. Best for Crettyard on the day were Craig Comerford, Lee Salter and Danny Doyle while Ballymurphy were best served by Paul Kirwan, Killian Harvey and Mikey Sullivan.

Ballymurphy 0

Killeshin 2

League champions Killeshin travelled all the way to Ballymurphy as they started their campaign to win the double. Ballymurphy were determined to cause a shock, but it wasn’t to be as the league winners set up a thrilling semi-final against league runners up Hanover. Both teams started well in a cold day in Ballymurphy. The pitch conditions could not let both teams play along the ground. It was Killeshin who scored first with an over-the-top ball by Dylan Williamson to Michael Dooley who finished well in the 25th minute. Killeshin kept up the pressure and found another goal when Ryan Harrington made a great run down the wing and played it back to Dylan Williamson who fired home a volley into the top right-hand corner. The game finished 2-0 to Killeshin with a great fight by Ballymurphy in the second half. Best players from Killeshin were Darragh Byrne, Killian Barry and Dylan Williamson.

Ballymurphy Celtic 2

Dolmen Celtic 2

John Nangle's goal 5 minutes from time rescued a point for Dolmen in this relegation battle on Sunday morning. The visitors had first use of the strong breeze and went close through both Danny Thompson and Ben Doorley early on. The opening goal arrived for Dolmen midway through the half, Jamie Doorley heading home Thompson's corner for 1-0. Ballymurphy were back in the game 10 minutes before half time when Mick O'Neill was fouled in the area and Kevin Foley slotted the spot kick to tie things up at the break. With the wind on their backs it was Ballymurphy's turn to apply the pressure in the second half. Jack Foley and Thomas Doyle were proving a handful and Foley fired just wide on the hour. Shortly afterwards it was Jack Foley again causing problems as he hit the crossbar. Eventually Foley got his reward when Jason Cogley picked him out to slot the hosts ahead with 15 left on the clock. Dolmen were never going to give this one up though and with 5 minutes left it was substitute Nagle who popped up unmarked at the back post to tap home the equaliser and give the teams a point a piece in the battle to avoid the drop. Best for Ballymurphy were Dara Tobin, Kevin Foley and Jack Foley. Dolmen had solid showings from Patrick O'Brien, Boni Milangyo and Danny Thompson.

There was a very even start to the first half for both teams with the best chance going to Nurney when Darragh Fitzgerald hit the post on 7 minutes. Both teams created chances, but Ballymurphy got the opener on 22 minutes with a goal from Luke Joyce who continued his great scoring form. The rest of the half was entertaining but couldn't produce any more goals.

Ballymurphy started the 2nd half better than Nurney and caused Nurney problems early on.

Nurney weathered the storm and got a well-deserved equaliser when Oisín Maloney shot home on 82 minutes from play. It was looking like a draw was going to be the result until Ballymurphy scored a great goal on 88 minutes when Luke Joyce hit a curling shot into the right side of the Nurney net from just outside the box. Nurney tried to even things up in the last few minutes but couldn't get a result. Nurney's best players were Oisín Maloney, Aidan Nolan, and Ben Smyth. best for Ballymurphy were Finn Lyons, Tiernan Byrne, and David Coleman