After twenty-two games of competitive action, the scene is now set for the 2023 Leinster LGFA Minor Championship Finals and what a trio of finals we have in store tomorrow evening!

In the A Final, reigning champions Kildare will take on last year’s Minor B Champions Longford in Kinnegad from 7.30pm. It can be viewed live on our Facebook page here: https://bit.ly/3Il8HRt

In the B Final, Bray Emmets is the venue as last year’s Minor C Champions, Wicklow, go head to head with Dublin also at 7.30pm. It can be viewed live on our Facebook page here: https://bit.ly/3MwO3jT

In the C Final, Carbury GAA are the hosts as Westmeath and Offaly battle it out for provincial honours also at 7.30pm. It can be viewed on our Youtube channel here: https://bit.ly/3MaPcfJ

PREVIEWS

Kildare v Longford, Kinnegad GAA, 7.30pm, Marion Hayden (Carlow), tickets here.

As reigning champions, Kildare will certainly go into tomorrow evening’s provincial Final with a favourites tag and justifiably so. Darren Kendrick’s team remain unbeaten in the 2023 competition recording wins against Meath, Dublin and finalists Longford. Scoring 9-43 in three games, Kildare have conceded 5-17 and they will look to keep the danger posed by the Longford attack at bay for as long as possible tomorrow. Longford are worthy opponents with a memorable 0-10 to 0-8 opening round victory against Dublin boosting Pat Tiernan’s squad. While they were defeated by Kildare in the second round, Longford defeated Meath in the third and final round by 2-11 to 1-11 to seal their final spot. With many lessons learned, the scene is now set for a thrilling final.

KILDARE: S Knightly; J Duggan, E Glancy (C), H Lyons; J Brannigan, L Dunlea, H Murphy; S McGovern, M Doyle; E Birchall, E Kendrick, A Murnane; L McGovern, A Whelan, N Farrelly.

LONGFORD: A Cooney; E Farrell, A Brady, R Fallon; E Duggan, K McEntire, F Talabi; S Gallagher, E O’Reilly; M Glennon, A Hayden, S Macken; G Cullen, T Tiernan, K Shannon (C).

Dublin v Wicklow, Bray Emmets GAA, 7.30pm, Hugh Coughlan (Laois), tickets here.

Last year’s Minor B Finalists, Dublin, are back in the B final for the second year in a row. Narrow losses to Longford and Meath and a further loss to Kildare in Round Three saw them bound for the B semi-finals. However, last time out they found their form and recorded a convincing 5-11 to 1-13 victory over Laois in the semi-final to ensure their place in Wednesday’s decider. Manager Fintan O’Curry will be urging his squad to do all they can to ensure they come away from Bray Emmets with the Leinster title and a place in the All Ireland series. However, they face a Wicklow Minor team who are very much on the rise. With the majority of the panel victorious in last year’s Leinster Minor C Championship, Dominic Leech’s charges went all the way to the All Ireland Minor C Final last year only to lose by a single solitary point. The hunger has driven them to some excellent form this year and a 4-05 to 1-12 victory over Meath in the semi-final has boosted hopes in the Garden County of a second successive provincial title. A brilliant battle is in store!

DUBLIN: K Martin; S Loughlin (C), A Nyhan, I Costello; C Fox, L Murphy, H McGinnis; H Bolger, S Birnie; E Kearney, D Egan, K O’Toole; N Hannon, K Murphy, A McCloskey.

WICKLOW: A Carlyon; E O’Dwyer, O Ní Ghallchobhair, C Wafer; G Murphy, E Kinnear, I Ledesma; ER O’Toole (C), L Shannon; LJ Shannon, A King, C Nagle; S Flood, S Fisher, A Cullen.

Offaly v Westmeath, Carbury GAA, 7.30pm, Michael Tarpey (Laois), tickets here.

Last year’s Minor C finalists, Westmeath, are back in another provincial decider. They were defeated last season by Wicklow in the C Final and will be hoping history does not repeat itself tomorrow evening. Scoring 2-30 in the Championship so far, Westmeath are sure to bring plenty of firepower and with a resolute defence they will prove a challenge to their opponents. Offaly however have serious firepower of their own, hitting an incredible 13-63 in four games. A thrilling 3-15 to 3-12 victory over Wexford in the semi-final is proof that there is incredible resilience in this Offaly squad. Coming back from four points down in the dying moments of the game to seal a three point win is testament to the belief and talent within the Faithful. A brilliant C Final is in store tomorrow evening!

OFFALY: S Rosney; T Tyrrell, A Maher, S Hoey; H Doolan, A Butler; A Murphy O’Connor, S Doyle (C), F McDermott; E Cuskelly, T Bracken, I Lyons.

WESTMEATH: A Donlan; E Corcoran, C O’Donoghue (C), R Monaghan; L McCartan, K McDonnell, A Di Tullio; C Gaffney, C Kilmurray; S Kearney, C McCormack, P Ruane; K Whyte, S Gorman, L Quinn.

Photo Credit: Sportsfile