This week saw cup action take preference over league action for the title challengers in Mid Ulster and the Ballymena League, with the top two in both leagues going head to head.
In Mid Ulster, Dollingstown hosted title rivals Banbridge Rangers in the Marshall Cup semi-final at Planters Park, and they ran out comfortable 4-0 winners. In the other semi Crewe also eased to victory, this time with a 5-0 win over Reserve Championship side Newry City Wanderers.
In league action AFC Silverwood had a bad week as they fell to successive home defeats, losing 3-0 to Fivemiletown Utd, before Hanover put 6 past them without reply on Tuesday night. With Camlough Rovers exit from the league, AFC Silverwood have now been consigned to relegation from Intermediate A.
Crewe and Banbridge kept Dollingstown honest with 2-1 victories in midweek, both away from home as Crewe defeated Moneyslane, while Rangers defeated Windmill Star at Holm Park.
Dollingstown require three points from their remaining two games, beginning with Fivemiletown Utd at Planters Park this Saturday, while Crewe host Banbridge in another huge game.
In the BPIL leaders Bangor took on nearest challengers Glebe Rangers in the O’Gorman Cup Final at Allen Park, Antrim. It proved to be a tight affair between the pair and the game ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time. Bangor went on to win 3-0 on penalties to seal what they hope will be the first part of a double as the league gets set to wrap up over the next few weeks.
Glebe, however, are hot on the tails of Bangor having come from behind to defeat Dunloy 3-1 on Tuesday, moving within two points of the Seasiders with one game in hand.
Elsewhere this week Sofia Farmers wretched run continued as they shipped another 12 goals without reply at home to Brantwood, before slumping to a 3-0 defeat to bottom side Chimney Corner.
Ballynure played out two home 0-0 draws this week, firstly vs Dunloy and that was followed up on Saturday with the same scoreline versus Cookstown Youth. They followed this up with another blank slate, but shipped 6 goals to Desertmartin Swifts in a 6-0 defeat on Tuesday night.
Newtowne enjoyed a productive week, securing a fine 5-3 home win against Desertmartin in midweek, before seeing off outgoing Champions Coagh United 3-1. They completed an excellent set of fixtures with a 2-1 home win, this time over Cookstown Youth.
The title race is approaching the final hurdle, and this weekend Bangor host Cookstown RBL in their penultimate game, while Glebe travel to North Belfast to take on Brantwood.
In the NAFL Crumlin Star remain in the box seat despite a slight stumble this week, as they drew 2-2 at Ards Rangers, and this allowed Rathfriland to pull back within four points of the leaders as they hammered the already relegated Lisburn Rangers 10-1 at Iveagh Park. The two sides remaining four games will all be played at the same time, and Star need three wins from those four to guarantee the title stays in their grasp.
Malachians were confirmed as the second bottom side as they completed their league campaign with a heavy 0- home defeat against Albert Foundry, while their relegation rivals Drumaness Mills fell to a 7-3 defeat at Immaculata. Downpatrick continued their improved form with a 2-1 home win over Shankill United, while 1st Bangor and Crumlin United battled to a 2-2 draw at The Drome.
Neither of the top two are in league action this weekend, both sides next game comes on Tuesday night as Rathfriland travel to Drumaness Mills while Crumlin Star go to Crumlin United.
In the NI Intermediate League the battle for second spot was wrapped up as Ardstraw defeated rivals Strabane to leapfrog them in the table into second place in what was both sides final league game of the season. This result also meant that Maiden City could no longer overhaul the pair, and despite their 7-0 thumping of Trojans they will now finish the season in 4th place.
Mid Ulster Intermediate A
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Dollingstown | 22 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 65 | 20 | 45 | 53 |
| 2 | Banbridge Rangers | 23 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 54 | 27 | 27 | 52 |
| 3 | Crewe United | 22 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 55 | 29 | 26 | 47 |
| 4 | Hanover | 22 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 52 | 30 | 22 | 42 |
| 5 | Windmill Stars | 23 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 48 | 36 | 12 | 35 |
| 6 | Valley Rangers | 21 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 38 | 45 | -7 | 33 |
| 7 | Moneyslane | 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 31 |
| 8 | Fivemiletown United | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 30 | 44 | -14 | 30 |
| 9 | Tandragee Rovers | 21 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 45 | 39 | 6 | 23 |
| 10 | Richhill AFC | 24 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 38 | 53 | -15 | 20 |
| 11 | Ballymacash Rangers | 22 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 39 | 55 | -16 | 18 |
| 12 | St Marys | 23 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 31 | 61 | -30 | 18 |
| 13 | AFC Silverwood | 22 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 21 | 77 | -56 | 10 |
Tuesday 8th May 2018
AFC Silverwood 0-6 Hanover
Moneyslane 1-2 Crewe United
Valley Rangers 8-2 St Marys
Windmill Stars 1-2 Banbridge Rangers
Saturday 5th May 2018
AFC Silverwood 0-3 Fivemiletown United
Ballymacash Rangers 2-2 Tandragee Rovers
Moneyslane 1-3 Hanover
Windmill Stars 1-2 Richhill AFC
Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Bangor | 22 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 74 | 14 | 60 | 52 |
| 2 | Glebe Rangers | 21 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 65 | 28 | 37 | 50 |
| 3 | St James Swifts | 22 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 61 | 25 | 36 | 48 |
| 4 | Dunloy | 23 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 57 | 35 | 22 | 38 |
| 5 | Coagh United | 23 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 73 | 33 | 40 | 37 |
| 6 | Newtowne | 21 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 52 | 37 | 15 | 37 |
| 7 | Desertmartin | 24 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 59 | 64 | -5 | 36 |
| 8 | Cookstown Youth | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 48 | 56 | -8 | 25 |
| 9 | Ballynure OB | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 29 | 57 | -28 | 24 |
| 10 | Brantwood | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 45 | 43 | 2 | 23 |
| 11 | Cookstown RBL | 23 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 32 | 52 | -20 | 20 |
| 12 | Sofia Farm | 23 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 31 | 92 | -61 | 17 |
| 13 | Chimney Corner | 24 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 18 | 106 | -88 | 7 |
Tuesday 8th May 2018
Ballynure OB 0-6 Desertmartin
Newtowne 2-1 Cookstown Youth
Dunloy 1-3 Glebe Rangers
St James Swifts 3-1 Brantwood
Sofia Farm 0-3 Chimney Corner
Saturday 5th May 2018
Newtowne 3-1 Coagh United
Ballynure OB 0-0 Cookstown Youth
Thursday 3rd May 2018
Ballynure OB 0-0 Dunloy
Sofia Farm 0-12 Brantwood
Newtowne 5-3 Desertmartin
Northern Amateur Football League Premier Division
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Crumlin Star | 22 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 63 | 25 | 38 | 55 |
| 2 | Rathfriland Rangers | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 72 | 26 | 46 | 51 |
| 3 | East Belfast | 24 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 74 | 39 | 35 | 48 |
| 4 | Immaculata F.C. | 25 | 15 | 1 | 9 | 72 | 54 | 18 | 46 |
| 5 | Ards Rangers | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 49 | 41 | 8 | 35 |
| 6 | 1st Bangor Old Boys | 25 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 43 | 44 | -1 | 35 |
| 7 | Albert Foundry F.C. | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 50 | 52 | -2 | 35 |
| 8 | Shankill United | 24 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 49 | 49 | 0 | 31 |
| 9 | Crumlin United | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 39 | 45 | -6 | 31 |
| 10 | Drumaness Mills | 24 | 9 | 2 | 13 | 35 | 66 | -31 | 29 |
| 11 | Downpatrick F.C. | 24 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 53 | 49 | 4 | 28 |
| 12 | Derriaghy C C | 25 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 38 | 49 | -11 | 26 |
| 13 | Malachians | 26 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 42 | 98 | -56 | 21 |
| 14 | Lisburn Rangers | 25 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 38 | 80 | -42 | 11 |
Tuesday 8th May 2018
Crumlin United 1-0 Downpatrick F.C.
Drumaness Mills 2-1 Derriaghy C C
Saturday 5th May 2018
1st Bangor Old Boys 2-2 Crumlin United
Rathfriland Rangers 10-1 Lisburn Rangers
Ards Rangers 2-2 Crumlin Star
Downpatrick F.C. 2-1 Shankill United
Immaculata F.C. 7-3 Drumaness Mills
Malachians 0-9 Albert Foundry F.C.
NI Intermediate League
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Magherafelt Sky Blues | 16 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 23 | 17 | 41 |
| 2 | Ardstraw | 16 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 45 | 21 | 24 | 34 |
| 3 | Strabane Athletic | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 42 | 14 | 28 | 33 |
| 4 | Maiden City | 15 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 38 | 16 | 22 | 28 |
| 5 | Newbuildings Utd | 16 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 24 | 33 | -9 | 19 |
| 6 | Dungiven | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 35 | -11 | 18 |
| 7 | Trojans | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 28 | 44 | -16 | 15 |
| 8 | Ballymoney Utd | 14 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 41 | -27 | 6 |
| 9 | Oxford Utd Stars | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 14 | 42 | -28 | 3 |
Saturday 5th May 2018
Ardstraw 4-3 Strabane Athletic
Trojans 0-7 Maiden City
