Who will win the Longford Intermediate title: Ardagh Moydow or Killashee?

In a repeat of the Covid delayed 2020 final, Ardagh Moydow and St Brigid’s will clash again for Intermediate Football Championship glory and a close encounter is expected in the battle for the Gerry Hennessy Cup at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday, throw-in 4.15pm.

Pitted in the stronger of the two groups in the earlier rounds of the championship, Ardagh Moydow and Killashee have made it through to the eagerly awaited title decider and there would appear to be little separating the evenly balanced teams

 Having said that, St Brigid’s produced a commanding second half performance to beat their fellow finalists by the rather flattering  margin of six points (1-19 to 1-13) in the group stage but midfielder Conor Clancy sustained a serious shoulder injury in the closing stages of the first half and his absence is a big blow.

That put the pressure firmly on Ardagh Moydow to face a  must win match against Sean Connolly’s but they showed fierce resilience to keep their title hopes alive in knocking out the Ballinalee boys who were hoping to make amends for the bitter disappointment of losing the 2023 and 2024 finals. 

Liam Keenan’s highly charged side moved on to meet Cashel in the semi-final and while that proved to be a bit of a struggle with just a couple of points (0-11 to 0-9) to spare in a scrappy encounter, a place in the final was achieved.

The current Ardagh Moydow squad will be going all out to gain revenge for the defeat in the 2020 final and leading the charge in a potential lethal attack are the full-forward-line of Killian Farrell, Daryl Carrigy and Dylan Coady with their scoring prowess.

 Another key figure up front is the versatile Diarmuid Farrell while Emmet Donlon, Conor Carroll, Gerard Farrelly and Shane Henry are also capable of making a big impact.

 The Tier 2 championship was last won back in 2013 in the guise of Ardagh St Patrick’s whereas Killashee created history in winning the Intermediate title twice in the same year. 

That was in 2021 and after collecting the Hennessy Cup to take the 2020 title that was deferred because of the Covid pandemic, St Brigid’s were back at Pearse Park a few weeks later to beat Ballymahon to claim the Intermediate crown for the sixth time.

 It remains to be seen whether the magnificent seven will materialise but the manager Eamon Farrell ( a former Killashee player) has his squad in fine shape and the gradual influx of a number of talented young lads has made a major difference.  

Longford U-20 footballer Paddy Mollagan will be hard stopped in the full-forward-line and with county senior Dylan Farrell another dangerman in the attack, St Brigid’s have the scoring power in their quest for success.

Paddy and the captain Dylan clocked up 2-10 between them in the emphatic 3-17 to 2-11 win against Ballymahon in the semi-final but the task is going to be a lot tougher against Ardagh Moydow.

On the basis that it is hard to beat the same team twice, Killashee will probably be hard pressed to replicate the win over Ardagh Moydow in the group stage.

But St Brigid’s, unbeaten in the current championship campaign, are packed with vast experience - notably Michael Farrell, Johnny Casey, Keelan Cox, Jack Magan, James Willis, David Buckley and the Cosgrove brothers Shane and Darren.

They all know what it takes to win Intermediate titles and it should be a tremendous tussle against Ardagh Moydow to determine the destination of the Hennessy Cup.

Prediction: Ardagh Moydow