BY ANDREW MORRISON
THE Legacy Wealth Management Premier League returns this weekend, September 20-21, with a packed opening set of fixtures.
This year sees the return of Mossley Ladies who were crowned champions of Senior One last time out. Meanwhile, Queen’s University will be hoping to be the first team to retain the title since Lurgan in 2019.
The campaign gets underway with newly promoted Mossley travelling to Ardmore Recreational Centre to take on Armagh tonight (Friday).
The home side finished bottom of the table in the 2023/24 season, surviving the drop following a Promotion/Relegation playoff victory against Coleraine.
They now face a Mossley side looking to continue their momentum of last season which saw them edge past Coleraine to the Senior One title.
With the game marking the return of Davy Menaul’s side to the division, they will be out to ensure they can make it a winning start.
Also taking place on Friday night, Lisnagarvey host Ballymoney at Comber Road.
Despite just one place separating the two sides last year, it was Garvey who finished 12 points ahead of their opening days opponents.
The hosts will be looking to get off to a winning start with Queen’s University, Portadown and Belfast Harlequins to play in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Ballymoney have newly promoted Mossley and two of last campaign’s bottom three in their opening five games.
Queen’s University begin their title defence away to Omagh who themselves are looking to improve upon a difficult campaign last year.
Simon Bell’s side go into this season without last year’s top goal scorer Alyssa Jebb who has departed for Belfast Harlequins.
Instead, they will be turning to Jenna McCarlie and Ireland international Zoe Wilson to make up the difference and add to their combined 22 goals last campaign if they are to defend their title.
Saturday’s opponents come into the new season now under the stewardship of Mark Cuddy with the young coach hoping his side can do better than the ninth-place finish they achieved last year.
Elsewhere, Lurgan take on Portadown in an early clash of the leading contenders with both sides having finished in the top four places last season.
The two teams were separated by two points with Lurgan claiming the final EYHL2 spot for this campaign.
It was Portadown who were the surprise package of the 2023/24 season, finishing third following promotion and have since added sisters Serena Campuzano and Bethany Barr to their ranks.
As for Lurgan, they lost the joint fewest games in the division last year alongside the eventual champions, but too many draws cost them a place in the top three.
Furthermore, they will be looking to build upon their solid defensive performances which saw them concede just 16 goals in 18 games.
At Havelock Park, Banbridge take on a new look Belfast Harlequins who are now led by last season’s Duke Cup winner Alyssa Jebb.
The forward netted 19 goals last year as part of the Queen’s University title-winning squad and will now be hoping to replicate that feat with her new side.
