Longford SFC: Killoe and Dromard may make it into the county final?

With Mullinalaghta no longer in the hunt for the Connolly Cup this season after suffering a shock defeat against Clonguish in the previous round, all of the four clubs remaining will believe in their ability to emerge victorious.

Predicting who will reach the final on Sunday October 15 is a difficult task and a couple of close encounters are in prospect at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

First into action are Killoe and Colmcille on Saturday evening (5pm) and while Emmet Og scored a comfortable win when the teams clashed in the opening round of the group stage, the reigning champions are gradually getting back to full strength. 

Mickey Harkin is getting the best out of Colmcille after guiding the club to championship glory last year and they will be quietly confident of reaching the decider again. 

Former Longford manager Luke Dempsey is now in charge of Killoe and he is working with a fine blend of youth and experience that will be hard stopped in the quest to regain the senior title that was last captured in 2020.

The second semi-final on Sunday evening (5pm) is the meeting of Clonguish and Dromard and this is a very intriguing contest that could go either way. 

The clubs were fierce rivals in the past and when Clonguish last captured the Connolly Cup back in 2009 they defeated Dromard in the final replay by a solitary point.

It could be every bit as close in the current era and Dromard (who last won the title in 2007) have a definite edge in experience after losing out narrowly against Mullinalaghta in the 2022 semi-final. 

The long serving Francis McGee is the present captain but he is only too well aware about the serious threat that will be posed by the promising young Clonguish team with the pace and power of Jack Duggan a key factor.

When the sides clashed in the group stage in August, Duggan was missing as Dromard won by the minimum of margins, 0-17 to 1-13.  

The Intermediate and Junior ‘A’ championship semi-finals are also down for decision on a packed programme at Pearse Park this weekend and Kenagh will be going all out to gain revenge for their unlucky defeat against Fr Manning Gaels in a repeat of the dramatic last four clash in 2022.

Injury is expected to rule out Conor Keenan who will be a big loss for the Drumlish/Ballinamuck side on Sunday (3pm) while Keelin McGann is very much the dangerman for the South Longford side and a potential matchwinner. 

Even without the driving force of Dessie Reynolds (travelling abroad), the group stage table toppers Sean Connolly’s are strongly fancied on Saturday (3pm) to overcome St Brigid’s Killashee who have performed extremely well to get this far with so many players missing. 

Ballymore are the firm favourites to beat Abbeylara in the first of the Junior ‘A’ Championship semi-finals on Saturday (1pm) and are expected to be joined in the title decider by the strong Killoe second string who should get the better of Legan Sarsfields on Sunday (1pm).

Peter Hanley Motors SFC Semi-Finals

Killoe Emmet Og v Colmcille

Prediction: Killoe

Clonguish v Dromard

Prediction: Dromard

Mulleady Group IFC Semi-Finals

Sean Connolly’s v St Brigid’s Killashee

Prediction: Connolly’s

Fr Manning Gaels v Kenagh

Prediction: Gaels

JFC Semi-Finals

Abbeylara v Ballymore

Prediction: Ballymore

Killoe Emmet Og v Legan Sarsfields

Prediction: Killoe