Longford footballers away to Kildare in the opening round of the Tailteann Cup

Longford will start the Tier 2 senior football championship campaign away to Kildare this Saturday at Manguard Park in Newbridge with a 6pm throw-in and the match will be televised live on GAAGO.

Next up for Paddy Christie’s charges will be a home game against neighbouring rivals Leitrim on Sunday May 19 (2.30pm) and the remaining fixture against Waterford will be played at a neutral venue on June 1/2 in what must be considered the best possible draw in the group stage of the competition.

The Kildare GAA Centre of Excellence, Hawkfield with a limited capacity (set at 1,200) for the spectators will host the opening round clash with the county ground St Conleth’s Park currently closed due to redevelopment work. 

Under the guidance of former Longford manager Glenn Ryan, the Lilywhites played their National League Division 2 games this season at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow and a very disappointing campaign with no wins ended in relegation.

While it would be fair to suggest that Kildare are in a vulnerable state the moment and were blessed to avoid a shock defeat against Wicklow in the Leinster SFC quarter-final with just a solitary point separating the sides in the finish, things did improve against Louth despite their failure to reach the provincial decider.   

A number of squandered chances cost Kildare dearly in the eventual 0-17 to 0-13 defeat and thus they have ended up in the Tier 2 Championship, much to the obvious dismay of their suffering supporters.  

Having said that, they are clearly strong contenders to win the Tailteann Cup with quality attackers Kevin Feely, Daniel Flynn and Darragh Kirwan the  key men in the quest for some silverware. 

After losing to Meath in the opening round of the Leinster Championship, Longford have warmed up for the Tailteann Cup with challenge games against Fermanagh and Tipperary. 

Returning to the county senior football squad are Aaron Farrell (Dromard) and Jack Macken (Colmcille), the latter along with his brother Enda and Tadhg McNevin (Slashers), while back in action after injury is Keelin McGann (Kenagh).

With Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline) also on the road to recovery, Longford will believe in their bid to cause a big upset but a facial injury sustained in a club game for regular full-back Oisin O'Toole (Dromard) is a cause for concern while Killoe defender Liam Hughes (injured)  is ruled out.   

This is a significant step up in class from operating in Division 4 of the National League and Kildare are highly unlikely to slip up with home advantage.    

 New York will enter the Tailteann Cup at the preliminary quarter-final stage and will be joined by the three best placed third placed teams in the group stage along with the four second placed teams.

The winners of those four games on June 8/9 will be away to the top team in each of the four groups in the quarter-finals proper on June 15/16.

Whoever makes it through to the semi-finals will be in action at Croke Park on Sunday June 23 with the Tailteann Cup final scheduled for GAA headquarters on Saturday July 13.

Group 1: Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Waterford

Group 2: Sligo, Antrim, Wexford, Tipperary

Group 3: Fermanagh, Laois, Wicklow, Carlow

Group 4: Down, Offaly, Limerick, London

Group 1 - Round 1 Fixtures

Manguard Park, Hawkfield, Newbridge: Kildare v Longford 6pm - Live on GAAGO

Ballinamore: Leitrim v Waterford, 6pm

County hurlers in must win match away to Cavan 

If the Longford senior hurlers are to keep their title hopes alive then a win is a must against unbeaten Cavan in the Lory Meagher Cup Round 4 clash at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday, throw-in 1pm.

Longford cruised to a comprehensive victory over Leitrim in the previous round but losing away to Warwickshire was a big blow and now it looks like the midlanders will have to beat both Cavan and Fermanagh (at home on  Saturday May 18) to reach the Tier 5 senior championship final at Croke Park.