Longford Slashers supremo Sean Meenaghan hoping for another success

Longford Slashers are one game away from being crowned Leinster Club Senior Football Champions as they take on the title holders Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin in Sunday’s provincial final at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise (2pm).

At the helm of the eight-in-a-row county champions is Slashers clubman Sean Meenaghan who will be leading a Longford team into Leinster Club Final action at O’Moore Park for the second time in five years, having previously managed Ballymore to the Covid delayed 2020 Leinster Junior Club title at the same venue in 2021.

Speaking to the Leader, Meenaghan acknowledged that there is great excitement in the club ahead of the big occasion, but that their main goal at the start of the year was just to retain their county title.

“Yes, there is a lot of excitement and anticipation within the club ahead of the game, and a lot of people at the start of the year were saying that a Leinster Final appearance was always our goal this year, but we can’t believe that we have reached the provincial final, as we were just looking at winning another Longford title.

“However, once we achieved that goal, the ball just kept rolling after that and now we are in the Leinster final against a Kilmacud Crokes team who are definitely the best team in Leinster over the last four years.

“There is a great buzz around the club and especially among the younger girls who look up to our senior players.

Although the girls were well beaten by Kilmacud in 2024, they gave them a stern test last year and we will give it a good rattle again on Sunday.”

Slashers have won two matches on the road in this campaign in the Leinster Championship and Sean reflected back on those victories, especially their opening game away to the Offaly Champions Ballinamere-Durrow where they had to show a lot of character and resilience to come back from three points down in the early stages of the second half.

“That day in Durrow, we actually played very well in the first half against the wind. It was the weekend of the storm, a very strong wind was against us and we were up by six points to a goal.

“But then they hit us with a couple of goals and five or six minutes into the second half we found ourselves trailing by three points, but the girls responded brilliantly and just kicked on with a tremendous display to win the match in the end.

“Since we got out of Longford, we have been improving as the show goes on throughout our Leinster campaign, and I have just been telling the girls since winning Longford to just enjoy their football. They seem to be playing their best football now, and hopefully it will be another win on the road on Sunday.”

The venue is where Meenaghan guided the Ballymore Ladies to a Leinster Junior Football Championship success with victory over Wexford’s Kilmore five years ago as they won the Covid delayed 2020 provincial crown, and he is hoping that it will prove to be a lucky venue again on Sunday.

“It would be great to repeat that brilliant victory with Ballymore at O’Moore Park with another Leinster Final success at the same venue on Sunday. It was a similar type of run back then as it has been this year with wins on the road also.

“With Ballymore we actually beat Ballinamere-Durrow away in the quarter-final before recording an even better win away to the Dublin champions in the semi-final and then won the title at O’Moore Park, so yes, I am hoping that it’s a good omen for Sunday.

“I would also like to mention my management team of Gerry Nugent, Ronan Kenny, and Kyanna Lee who have been brilliant for me and we all gel well together.

“Training is quick, good and fluid and it’s just a smooth transition from one coach to another and the girls have bought into everything as well which makes life easier.

“Kyanna was part of the team that won the All-Ireland Intermediate title at Croke Park back in 2022 and she only stopped playing last year or the year before with a few injuries.

“The minute I was asked to take over the team, Kyanna was on my team management list. She was actually with the Barry’s in Tarmonbarry last year and they got to a Connacht Final, so I knew she had great experience behind her and she has been a great addition.

“We have had great support at our Leinster games so far and hopefully the Longford supporters will come down to Portlaoise to cheer us on in Sunday’s big game.”