Longford SFC: Who will reach the last four in the battle for the Connolly Cup?

The general opinion is that a flawed format is currently in operation, clearly reflected in the four meaningless matches that were played in the last round of the group stage with six of the quarter-finalists already confirmed.

Abbeylara, Ballymahon, Carrickededmond and Mostrim are facing into relegation play-offs with one of those clubs (almost certainly Ballymahon) dropping down into the Intermediate Championship next year. 

The only real surprise in the current campaign was the failure of Abbeylara to reach the knockout stage and that all boiled down to a bad defeat against Rathcline who made it through to the last eight on the head-to-head regulation by virtue of that result. 

That scenario was sealed before they took on Colmcille in the final round of the group stage and the manager Enda Lyons and his fellow mentors Neil O’Connor and Stephen Rooney deserve a lot of credit for the fine progress that the Lanesboro outfit have made during the past couple of years.

While Rathcline will be quietly confident of causing another upset when they take on Dromard in the quarter-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday, Sean Hagan’s well balanced side have been touted as ‘darkhorses’ for the title and are fancied to move a step closer in that direction. 

On the same bill on Sunday is the meeting of Mullinalaghta and Clonguish and while Liam Belton’s charges have been causing quite a stir with the emergence of a number of very promising young players, the vast experience of the battle hardened St Columba’s team should prove to be a vital factor in their favour.

Regarded by many as the favourites to capture the Connolly Cup this year, Killoe have the strongest squad of players and it will be a big shock if they fail to get past Longford Slashers who struggled to qualify from the group stage. 

Injuries to key players has clearly hampered the cause of the town side and a major improvement will be required if the sky-blues are to entertain hopes of a semi-final appearance..

Killoe and Slashers will start the ball rolling in the quarter-final action at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday while the second game on the programme is the clash of Granard and the reigning champions Colmcille.

St Mary’s blazed a trail through the group stage to qualify with a game to spare and while they suffered their first defeat against Clonguish in the last round,  they will be fully focused on the match that really matters.

After a poor league campaign which ended in relegation to Division 2, Colmcille are coming good at the right time and are unlikely to slip up in their quest to reach the last four.

Peter Hanley Motors SFC quarter-finals 

Saturday September 16

Killoe Emmet Og v Longford Slashers, 4pm

Prediction: Killoe

St Mary’s Granard v Colmcille, 5.45pm

 Prediction: Colmcille 

Sunday September 17

Dromard v Rathcline, 4pm

Prediction: Dromard

Mullinalaghta St Columba’s v Clonguish, 5.45pm

Prediction: Mullinalaghta  

All games at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

Semi-Finals Draw

KIlloe or Slashers v Granard or Colmcille

Dromard or Rathcline v Mullinalaghta or Clonguish

Mulleady Group Intermediate Football Championship Round 7 

Sean Connolly’s, Fr Manning Gaels and Kenagh are through to the last four in the Intermediate Football Championship and they will be joined in the semi-finals by the winners of the Cashel v St Brigid’s Killashee Round 7 game at the Clonbonny grounds in Lanesboro on Sunday next (1.45pm). 

Should this last round group fixture happen to finish in a draw then Ardagh Moydow can still reach the semi-finals on the head-to-head regulation (over Cashel) in a must win match against Kenagh at Michael Moran Park in Carrickedmond on Sunday (1.45pm). 

Cashel v St Brigid’s Killashee

Prediction: Cashel

Ardagh Moydow v Kenagh

Prediction: Ardagh Moydow

Sean Connolly’s v Young Grattans

Prediction: Connolly’s