Longford GAA: Clonguish and Colmcille clash in the Leader Cup final

In the countdown to the start of the senior football championship on July 18, two of the leading contenders are set to clash in the Leader Cup final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park this Saturday evening, throw-in 7pm.

While Clonguish are bidding to win the prestigious old trophy for the second year in succession, the Leader Cup was last collected by Colmcille 35 years ago and it remains to be seen whether the club on the Cavan border can end the long wait for this piece of silverware.

Having already won the Johnny Skelly Cup this season after finishing top of the Division 1 table, Clonguish are attempting to complete a significant senior football league double and will be hard beaten.

 When the clubs clashed in the county SFC quarter-final last year it was Colmcille who came out on top with a couple of points to spare (1-7 to 0-8) with Barry McKeon scoring the crucial goal.

But this talented young Clonguish squad are gradually growing in stature and another league triumph will probably be achieved in the build up to the battle for the Connolly Cup. 

Both clubs fielded understrength teams in the semi-finals last weekend with Colmcille beating Mullinalaghta by a single point while Clonguish scored a comfortable win over Abbeylara. 

The Newtownforbes outfit are bidding to capture the Leader Cup for the 12th time while Colmcille are going for a fourth triumph in this important competition.

Prediction: Clonguish