Longford champions Abbeylara take on the Louth kings Ardee

Jubilant Abbeylara joint captains Robbie Smyth and Cian lifting the Connolly Cup following the extra-time win (2-10 to 1-7) over Colmcille in the SFC Final replay Photo: Syl Healy

placeholder image — Jubilant Abbeylara joint captains Robbie Smyth and Cian lifting the Connolly Cup following the extra-time win (2-10 to 1-7) over Colmcille in the SFC Final replay Photo: Syl Healy

AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship Round 1

Backboned by county players Donal McKenny, Ciaran Keenan and Liam Jackson, the Ardee outfit are tough opposition and particularly so with home advantage in the opening round of the Leinster Club Championship.

A couple of years ago Colmcille were defeated by the same opposition at the compact Ardee venue but Abbeylara will show no fear and their manager Frankie Dolan is approaching the provincial clash in a fairly confident frame of mind with the winners at home to Rathvilly (Carlow) in the quarter-final the following weekend.

Fr Manning Gaels & Grattans also in provincial action

Intermediate champions Fr Manning Gaels are also facing a difficult task against Crettyard (Laois) in the Leinster Club Round 1 fixture at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise on Saturday (throw-in 4pm) while the Junior ‘A’ champions Young Grattans are away to Fr O’Regans, Craanford (Wexford) in the provincial series on the same day at St Patrick's Park Enniscorthy (2pm) without the injured Karl Murray.

Senior and Intermediate match reports and reaction in the special 12 page county finals supplement in this week's Leader