Longford GAA: Major excitement in the build up to the county finals

The flags are flying and the road signs are proudly displayed in the various parishes involved and there are different opinions as to how the main event will materialise.

The rapidly rising Clonguish have caused quite a stir in the chase for the coveted Connolly Cup this year and this talented young team will show no fear when they take on the title favourites Killoe at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday, throw-in 4pm. 

After beating Mullinalagtha and Dromard on their path to the final, Clonguish will be quietly confident of causing yet another upset as the club seek their first SFC success since 2019.

Emmet Og have a great record on the biggest occasion in Longford GAA, winning all of the five finals they have contested in the recent past - 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2020.

Killoe will be attempting to achieve a fantastic double on Sunday as their strong second string will take on Ballymore in the Junior ‘A’ championship decider in the interesting curtain-raiser, throw-in 1.45pm. 

The hurt of losing the 2021 and 2022 finals in this grade will surely drive the solely  Junior outfit Ballymore on in their quest to win the third tier competition for the first time since 1995 and a close encounter is the probable outcome.

Kenagh and Sean Connolly’s clash in the Intermediate championship final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday (throw-in 4.30pm) and this is certainly a game that could go either way in the battle for the Hennessy Cup. 

The Ballinalee club are bidding to claim the Intermediate title they last won back in 1989 and it is an even longer barren spell at this level for Kenagh whose previous triumph in the second tier championship was 40 years ago.

Inside this week’s Longford Leader is a special 16 page county finals supplement featuring the previews of the Senior, Intermediate and Junior ‘A’ championship title deciders