Can Longford Slashers cause a major upset against Kilmacud Crokes?

After reaching the massive high of winning the All-Ireland Intermediate title in 2022, the super Longford Slashers ladies football squad are on the brink of greatness and the excitement is mounting in the build up to the big match on Sunday.

Despite the significant blow of losing Grace Kenny and Grace O’Donnell to long term injuries, the 8-in-a-row premier champions have earned the proud distinction of becoming the first team from the county to qualify for the LGFA Leinster Club Senior Championship final.

Standing in their way at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise (throw-in 2pm) are the might of the Dublin giants Kilmacud Crokes who are bidding to capture the provincial title for the fifth year in succession.

Showing a fierce desire to overcome a fancied Clontarf outfit in the county final on a 0-16 to 0-10 scoreline to complete a fantastic five-in-a-row, Kilmacud are firmly focused on claiming another Leinster Championship triumph.

Laced with quality throughout the star-studded team, led by a number of top players from other counties, the massive Stillorgan club will be extremely hard beaten in their quest for another crack at capturing the coveted All-Ireland crown.

Reeling from a shock defeat (1-12 to 1-10) against Antrim outfit St Ergnats Moneyglass in last year’s semi-final, Kilmacud are clearly very determined to make amends in the current club championship campaign.

Missing a few players last season, including Dublin star Lauren Magee who was out of action with a long term injury, the Crokes are now apparently back to full strength with the influx of a few promising young players an added bonus.

The Dublin champions cruised through to yet another Leinster final appearance, starting with a comprehensive 2-18 to 0-4 win over Old Leighlin (Carlow) and who then hammered St Patrick’s (Louth) 4-18 to 0-5 in the semi-final.

​Cork inter-county star Niamh Cotter inflicted most of the damage in clocking up a total of 2-5 and Kilmacud carry a serious threat in a very strong attack with Galway forward Ailbhe Davoren also a very prominent figure up front.

When you add the dangerous Dubin trio of Michelle Davoren, Eabha Rutledge and Amy Conroy into the lethal forward division, a tough task lies ahead for the Slashers defence.

​While Kilmacud showed no mercy in the easy 5-13 to 1-8 win over Tinahely (Wicklow) in the 2025 Leinster final, the title holders were hard pressed to beat Slashers in the first round clash at Burke Park in Stillorgan last year.

Five points (3-8 to 1-9) separated the sides in the finish as the Longford champions (without Kara Shannon) were left to rue a missed opportunity of springing a major shock.

Kate Shannon failed to convert a penalty in the closing stages of the first half but it was a very encouraging display when you take into account the result of the semi-final showdown between the teams in 2024.

Slashers crashed to a very heavy 5-15 to 1-6 defeat at Michael Fay Park and also contested the 2023 semi-final at the same venue when losing out to the Offaly champions Naomh Ciaran (Ferbane) on a 1-20 to 3-6 scoreline.

Steady progress is gradually being made at the top level in Leinster and while Slashers struggled to overcome Clonguish in the 2026 county final, subsequent emphatic wins against Ballinamere Durrow (Offaly) by 2-13 to 3-1 and the 12-in-a-row Wicklow champions Tinahely (5-12 to 0-11) clinched a place in the provincial decider.

The outstanding Clodagh Lohan caused havoc in registering the magnificent total of 2-9 (all from play) against Tinahely and there is plenty of scoring power in the slick Slashers attack.

Jessica Barry and the Shannon sisters Kara and Kate are also capable of making a big impact, along with the lethal Lohan, while a lot will depend on the battle for midfield supremacy.

The third Shannon sibling Grace will link up with the towering captain Aoife O’Brien and if they could gain the upper hand then a historic success might well be achieved on Sunday.

Grace, in particular, will take a lot of stopping if she can click into top gear while the resolute Slashers half-back-line comprising Aisling Cosgrove, Orla Nevin and Caoimhe Lohan are other key players.

Nevin is a truly inspirational driving force and with a solid full-back in Eimear O’Brien the entire Slashers team are going well under the guidance of the manager Sean Meenaghan and trainer Gerry Nugent.

Slashers will be in a fairly confident frame of mind but whether they are good enough to stop the Kilmacud dominance in Leinster remains to be seen with the eventual winners advancing to meet the reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkerrin Clonberne (Galway).