Longford's Killashee face Fighting Cocks for a place in the Leinster Club Junior Final

While Killashee are on the brink of reaching a Leinster Club football final for the second time in their proud history they can take absolutely nothing for granted against Fighting Cocks in the Junior Championship last four clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park this Saturday, throw-in 1.30pm. 

Showing fierce resistance to cause a big upset against the strongly fancied Meath outfit Clann na nGael after extra-time (2-19 to 1-20) in the previous round, the Carlow Junior ‘A’ champions are expected to be a tough nut to crack for a place in the provincial decider against Grangenovlin (Kildare) or the Europe champions Barcelona. 

The small club from Rathoe in the south of the county will show no fear against Killashee, as was the case against the Meath Junior champions in a fantastic game at the Carlow GAA Centre of Excellence in Fenagh.

Fighting Cocks scoring rate was impressive with sharp attackers Aaron Dowling (2-3), Alan Quigley (0-7) and Cillian Fagan (0-3) inflicting most of the damage in their opening fixture in the Tier 3  competition after receiving a bye in the  first round. 

Quigley kicked a couple of two-pointer frees in his total and while home advantage is a definite boost for St Brigid’s -   the absence of two of their best young players, Ronan Kavanagh and Conor Clancy, is clearly a big blow.

Regular centre-half-back Kavanagh and midfielder Clancy are injured and Killashee are depending a lot on Longford senior forward Dylan Farrell making a big impact for the last Longford team standing in Leinster.

St Brigid’s were fortunate to hold out for a single point win (1-9 to 0-11) over the Wicklow Junior ‘A’ champions Shillelagh Coolboy in the quarter-final and another close encounter is probably in prospect against Fighting Cocks.