Leinster Club Championships Heating Up this Weekend
Leinster Club Championships Heating Up this Weekend
October 04, 2019
After preliminary rounds last weekend, this weekend sees the Quarter Finals of the Leinster Junior and Intermediate Club Championship and the first game of the Senior Club Championship.
Reigning Leinster Junior Club Champions Old Leighlin face a stiff test when they welcome Kildare Champions, Kilcock, to McGrath Park on Saturday. The ball throws in at 2pm in Bagenalstown and after their win last weekend against Moate, spirits will undoubtedly be high. Full of enthusiasm and energy, Kilcock will look to get their Leinster championship off to a good start in what is a busy weekend for Kildare football with County League finals also down for decision.
Also throwing in at 2pm, Louth champions St Patricks will make the journey to Dunmore where they face Kilkenny City. The Cats were 4-15 to 4-02 winners over Valleymount last weekend and they will look forward to the visit of St Patricks. The St Patrick’s team boast five All Ireland winners from September including Louth team captain Kate Flood.
The dream goes on for Longford’s Grattans as they take on Offaly’s Rhode this weekend. In a ten goal scorefest, Grattans overcame Clonaslee LGFA last weekend by 6-16 to 4-07 and they will look forward to a second outing in the Leinster championship. This game throws in at 2pm in Ardagh GAA grounds.
At 4pm, the final quarter final is a mouth watering Dublin-Meath clash. Navan O’Mahonys were 2-12 to 2-06 winners over Clongeen LGFA last weekend and they will need to be at their best if they are to seal a place in the semi-finals. The Hoops boast two All Ireland finalists with Sarah Powderly and Aoibheann Leahy key players for the Royals. They face a Man-O-War side that are hungry for victory after being crowned Dublin champions two weeks ago.
In the Intermediate Championship, last year’s Leinster finalists Naomh Ciarán face a trip to Westmeath champions Coralstown Kinnegad for a 1pm throw in. The Offaly champions were defeated by Clontarf in last year’s Leinster final and will be hoping to go one step further this year.
At 2pm, Louth champions Geraldines will welcome Wicklow’s Tinahely ladies to McGeough Park. While Tinahely were beaten in last year’s Leinster semi-finals against eventual champions Clontarf they will have plenty to offer in this engaging contest. Geraldines boast three of the Louth All Ireland champions including sharp shooter Rebecca Carr. This game is most certainly one to watch out for.
At 3:30, Ashbourne GAA is the venue for the second Meath/Dublin clash of the weekend when the home side take on Clanna Gael Fontenoy. Donaghmore Ashbourne survived a late St Paul’s rally last weekend to defeat the Laois champions by 4-12 to 4-08 to book their place in the quarter finals. They were well served by Meath Captain Máire O’Shaughnessy as well as fellow county team-mates Aoibhín Cleary, Síofra Cleary and Catríona O’Shaughnessy. Clanna Gael Fontenoy came out on top last weekend against Carbury, winning on a 3-13 to 1-07 scoreline. It sets up a fascinating quarter final clash this Saturday.
In the final quarter final meeting, Wexford’s Shelmaliers will face Longford Slashers in Hollymount GAA from 4pm. Shelmaliers have a proud history in the Leinster, having won the Leinster Senior Club Championship in 2012. 2013 was the last time a Longford team won a Leinster Club Championship when St Helen’s annexed the Junior trophy defeating Kildare’s Monasterevin in the final. Longford Slashers will not be daunted by a trip to the sunny south east and will hope to return to Longford on Saturday evening with a semi-final place secured. Definitely one not to miss!
On Sunday, attention turns to the Senior Club Championship where a preliminary round sees reigning Leinster Senior Champions Foxrock Cabinteely welcome St Mary’s Rochfortbridge to Bray Emmets GAA for a 1:30pm throw in. FoxCab have won the last four Leinster Senior Championships, the last five Dublin Championships and a third ‘Drive for Five’ this season could be in the offing.
However, they were pushed all the way in the Dublin Senior Final with Kilmacud Crokes forcing extra time. In a Sinéad Goldrick inspired performance, captain Amy Connolly hit two frees from the ground deep into extra time to secure victory. FoxCab face St Mary’s Rochfortbridge who have already upset the odds by claiming the Westmeath Senior title against Garrycastle. The eventual champions trailed by 0-07 to 2-02 at the break before a determined second half gave them a 0-14 to 2-07 win. They will look to Westmeath ballers Karen McDermott and Fiona Coyle for leadership but have match winners all over the park with Megan Brick and Ava Balfe well able to cause an upset.
*All games at 2pm unless otherwise stated.
SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER
Leinster Junior Club Championship Quarter Finals
Kilkenny City (Kilkenny) v St Patrick’s (Louth), MW Training Centre, Dunmore, C Groome
Grattans (Longford) v Rhode (Offaly), Ardagh GAA Grounds, J Corcoran
Navan O’Mahonys (Meath) v Man-O-War (Dublin), 4pm, Navan O’Mahonys, K Cunningham
Old Leighlin (Carlow) v Kilcock (Kildare), McGrath Park, Bagenalstown, F Shanahan
Leinster Intermediate Club Championship Quarter Finals
Coralstown Kinnegad (Westmeath) v Naomh Ciarán (Offaly), 1pm Coralstown Kinnegad, J Bermingham
Geraldines (Louth) v Tinahely (Wicklow), McGeough Park, 2pm, Haggardstown, L O’Sullivan
Donaghmore Ashbourne (Meath) v Clanna Gael Fontenoy (Dublin), 3:30pm, Ashbourne GAA, P Burke
Shelmalier (Wexford) v Longford Slashers (Longford), 4pm, Hollymount GAA, J Murphy
SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER
Leinster Senior Club Championship Preliminary Round
Foxrock Cabinteely (Dublin) v St Mary’s Rochfortbridge (Westmeath), 1:30pm, Bray Emmets GAA, B Redmond