Longford MFC: Killoe stand in the way as Clonguish minors going for 4-in-a-row glory

Clonguish have enjoyed a tremendous success rate in the underage competitions in recent years and the young boys in green are now on the brink of completing a fantastic four-in-a-row of Minor Football Championship titles.

Providing the opposition in the U-18 ‘A’ final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday next (throw-in 1pm) will be Killoe Og who were impressive in a most emphatic 3-12 to 1-6 win over Granard in the semi-final.

Ryan Keogh, Davin Donnelly, Jack Fitzpatrick, Shane Donohoe, Conor Doherty, Enda Quinn, Paul Eivers and Daniel Lee are players for the future and while the current Killoe minors will be hoping to spring a shock the formbook clearly suggests another triumph for Clonguish Og.

When the clubs clashed in the group stage, the Harte Cup holders cruised to a comprehensive 2-16 to 1-8 victory and while a closer encounter is probably in prospect in the championship decider the odds are stacked against the underdogs Killoe Og.

Clonguish are backboned by no less than five players that started in the famous win for Longford against Dublin in the Leinster Minor Football Final this year - notably James Hagan, Josh Marsh, Cormac Flynn (Kilmore), Alan Mimnagh and captain courageous Mark Cooney.

And when you add senior regulars Jamie Dorr and the other Cormac Flynn to that list along with other talented players in Daniel Carey and Kevin Baskett, it will be a major upset if the all conquering Clonguish minors fail to come out on top.

Prediction: Clonguish Og

Who will reach the Intermediate Football Championship Final? 

The Minor ‘A’ football final is the first of three games on a packed programme at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday with both of the Mulleady Group Intermediate Football Championship semi-finals also down for decision.

While last year’s Junior ‘A’ title winners Ballymore have performed really well to reach the last four, they are now facing a tough task against Fr Manning Gaels (throw-in 3pm).

The Drumlish/Ballinamuck outfit have a tendency to be inconsistent but should have enough scoring power to survive this tricky test and set up a probable final showdown against Sean Connolly’s.

The Ballinalee boys are strongly fancied for Hennessy Cup glory this year in their fierce desire to make amends for the bitter disappointment of defeat against Kenagh in last year’s final and are highly unlikely to slip up against St Brigid’s Killashee in the second semi (throw-in 4.45pm).

Connolly’s are backboned by a number of county players and are the firm favourites to get past St Brigid’s who have suffered a dip in form in losing their last two games in the group stage against Cashel and Ballymahon along with a draw against Ardagh Moydow,

So it looks like a Fr Manning Gaels v Sean Connolly’s Intermediate final but Ballymore are a darkhorse and will be quietly confident, particularly if the influential Bernard McElvaney is fit to feature on his recovery from injury. 

Longford LGFA County Finals

It is a big occasion for Longford ladies football this weekend with the Droplink Senior, Intermediate and Junior ‘A’ Championship finals down for decision at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday.

Ballymore and Mullinalaghta will start the ball rolling in the Junior game with a 11am throw-in in the morning, followed by the clash of Carrickedmond and Killoe in the Intermediate decider (1pm).   

Slashers are seeking a record breaking six-in-a-row of senior titles when they take on Clonguish in a repeat of the previous two county finals.