AIB Leinster LGFA Club Championships Set for Opening Weekend

By Aisling Clery

After the thrill of county championships, the AIB Leinster LGFA Championships are set to take centre stage this weekend. On Saturday, the Intermediate and Junior Championships get underway, alongside one key quarter final in the Senior Championship, a repeat of the 2023 Senior decider between Kilmacud Crokes and Naomh Ciaran.

Then on Sunday, there are three Senior Club Championship quarter finals down for decision with Longford Slashers facing Westmeath’s St. Lomans, Wicklow’s Tinahely battling Laois champions St. Conleths and Meath’s Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels going head to head with five time Kildare Senior champions, Eadestown.

Throw in is set for 2pm unless otherwise stated. Tickets are still on sale and available here.

Saturday, 19^th October

AIB Senior Club Championship Quarter Finals

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) v Naomh Ciarán (Offaly) in Páirc de Búrca, Dublin, 3pm. Ref: Barry Redmond.

Reigning Leinster Senior Club Champions, Kilmacud Crokes, will get the defence of their Leinster crown underway on Saturday afternoon against Offaly champions, Naomh Ciarán, in what is a repeat of the 2023 Senior decider. On that occasion, goals from Ailbhe Davoren, Niamh Cotter, Julia Buckley and Emma Kane resulted in a 4-18 to 1-10 win against Naomh Ciarán. After doing the treble in Dublin, Kilmacud Crokes will be eager to launch the journey to a third successive Leinster crown. However, they will need to overcome a Naomh Ciarán side that are bursting with talent. In Captain Amy Gavin Mangan and Róisin Ennis, they have a midfield partnership with plenty of experience which could pose problems for the Crokes defence. The Dublin champions were pushed all the way in the Dublin County final by St. Sylvesters and Naomh Ciarán will be hoping to be as close to the side in purple and gold as the final few minutes approach.

Kilmacud Crokes: D Gower; N Carr, E Sweeney (C), P Greene; A Kane, M Lamb, K Murray; G Kós, L Magee; N Cotter, A Davoren, M Jennings; A Conroy, M Davoren, É Rutledge.

Naomh Ciarán: Á Maher; E Nally, A Grehan, Ellagh Darcy; N Buckley, E Maher, T Daly; R Ennis, A Gavin Mangan (C); Emily Darcy, L Keena, A Kelly; E Flynn, S Fitzgerald, L Kelly.

AIB Intermediate Club Championship Preliminary Round

Kill (Kildare) v Carrickedmond (Longford) in Conneff Park, Clane, Kildare, 1pm. Ref: Ray McBride.

Kill defeated Balyna in the Kildare Intermediate Final by 2-12 to 3-06 and will be hoping they can go far in the provincial competition. In Laoise Lenehan, they have a captain who is reliable and determined in defence, while upfront, Niamh Farrelly showed well for the Lilies in this year’s Inter-county Championships. They face a Carrickedmond side who defeated Killoe in the Longford Intermediate Final in a tight encounter, 1-09 to 0-7, with Grace Esler getting the all important goal in the opening half. They will be hoping Esler repeats the feat this Saturday.

Kill: A Mangan; J Cahill, L Cahill, L Roche; A Roche, L Lenehan (C), M Molloy; C Kennedy, K Miley; T Temple, M Pardy, M Nash; A Coburn, N Farrelly, N Kelly.

Carrickedmond: S Egan; E Dempsey, A Ryan, S McCormack; C McCormack, C Mulligan, A Higgins; C McNamara, K Crawford; L Shannon, E Shannon (C), M Mulvey; L McGuire, G Esler, U Mulligan.

Bennekerry Tinryland (Carlow) v Carnew Emmetts (Wicklow) in Tinryland GFC, 1.45pm. Ref: Paul Meaney

Bennekerry Tinryland retained their Carlow Senior title with a 0-12 to 1-06 win against Old Leighlin. Ruth Bermingham turned in a player of the match performance from wing back, while TG4 Team of the Junior Championship, Clíodhna Ní Shé converted 0-4 over the contest. However, the contribution of 0-3 from substitute Lauren Dwyer was crucial. The Carlow champions face Wicklow champions Carnew Emmetts.  An Tóchar were the opposition in the county final for Carnew Emmetts and they were convincingly defeated on a 2-08 to 0-3 scoreline. They will be eager to get off to the same strong start on Saturday.

Bennekerry Tinryland: S Cotter (C); C Mahon, L Corcoran, L Mullins; R Bermingham, N Mohan, M Cranny; L Lowry, E Ware; A Webb, A Ní Shé, M O’Neill; O Woods, S Nolan, S Hayden.

Carnew Emmetts: A Kenny; H Hughes, A Dagg, M Deegan; Y Dagge, C Wafer, A Wafer; T Doran, K Wafer; S Kenny, M Collins, C Towey; A Dragusin, E Kennedy, L Kemple (C).

St Joseph’s (Laois) v O’Dwyers (Dublin) in St Joseph’s GAA, Laois. Ref: Marion Hayden

Laois champions, St. Josephs, have home advantage against Dublin’s O’Dwyers in the final preliminary round set for Saturday. St Joseph’s won the Laois Intermediate title for the very first time when they defeated Graiguecullen by 3-07 to 1-11. Two Aoife Kealy goals and one from Abby O’Brien were key as were several key saves from netminder Ava Shanahan to ensure the win. They face Dublin champions, O’Dwyers, who are not strangers to the Leinster Championship having won the Leinster Junior Club title in 2022. O’Dwyers came from behind to secure the Dublin IFC title against Parnells, winning on a 1-08 to 0-10 scoreline. Shannon Richardson hit 1-05 and O’Dwyers will be hoping she is in good form this Saturday.

St. Josephs: A Shanahan; S Kelly, S Farrelly, S Maguire; R Hooney, L Butler (C), R Fleming; A Moore, L Hooney; A Smith, E O’Flaherty, N Crosby; A O’Brien, E Lacey, A Kealy.

O’Dwyers: N Kirby; E Dowling, E Byrne, H O’Rourke; K McCabe, A Kelly, A Breathnach; I McLean, E Healy; A Curran (C), R Weakliam, C Johnston; E Kearney, N Weakliam, S Richardson.

AIB Junior Club Championship Preliminary Round

Edenderry (Offaly) v Éire Óg Greystones (Wicklow) in Gaelic Park, Edenderry. Ref: Eoghan O’Neill

Edenderry became Junior A Champions in Offaly as they defeated Naomh Molaoise in a replay while Éire Óg became champions when they defeated Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney by 3-12 to 3-08. Both sides will fancy their chances of booking a place in the quarter finals.

Edenderry: A Flood; M Kilrane, A Sexton, C Nolan; E Kelly, L Murphy, É Ryan; A Pender, E Fanning; E Maher, B Reilly, C Forde; G Foran, R Byrne (C), M Cummins.

Éire Óg Greystones: R Purcell; E O’Malley, S Darcy, M Maguire; K Lawless, Lauren O’Leary, L Hayden; T Sterritt, M Healy; Lucy O’Leary, C Davis, L Cunningham; S King, E Andrews, H Sheehy.

Muckalee (Kilkenny) v Ballymore (Longford), St. Martins GAA Muckalee, 3.30pm. Ref: Brian Foley.

Leinster Junior finalists in 2022, Muckalee are back to compete once again this year. Having defeated John Lockes in the county final last weekend, Muckalee will be eager to build on that win and perhaps to get back into the provincial final. Ballymore defeated Mullinalaghta in the Longford Junior final two weeks ago and will be confident of booking a place in next weekend’s quarter finals.

Muckalee: N McDowell; S Kenrick, E Coonan, A Ring; R Roche, C Hanlon, K Comerford (C); L Greene, L Murphy; H Moore, E Lawlor, K Purcell; S Ruane, S Corcoran, K Nolan.

Ballymore: A Browne; C Heaney, E Boyle, S Heaney; R Cassidy, S Dawson (C), E Kearney; G McEvoy, A Kelly; M Boyle, M Martin, C Murphy; A Dawson, A Reilly, Z Drake.

St Brides (Louth) v Kilcock (Kildare) in Páirc an Chuinnigh, Millpark, Knockbridge, Co. Louth. Ref: Paul McCaughey

St Brides were one point winners over Hunterstown Rovers in their Championship decider in Louth, winning 1-13 to 1-12. On Saturday, they will face Kildare’s Junior Champions Kilcock. Kilcock reached the Leinster Junior Club Final back in 2019 where they lost out to Navan O’Mahonys in a tight final. Kilcock will be looking to go one step further this time and secure some provincial silverware.

St Brides: Ú Pearson; H McCourt, C Hoey, D Callan; N Bailey, O McKenna, R Hilliard (C); R Hanna, R Rice; O McGeeney, K McEneaney, E Rutledge; B McArdle, S Fagan, E McArdle.

Kilcock: E Kelly; M Finan, A McGrath, A Morrow; R Cribban, E Maguire, T McGonagle; S Byrne, S O’Sullivan (C); E Robinson, A O’Connor, S Lavin; E Powderly, G White, S Nolan.

St Paul’s (Laois) v Rathvilly (Carlow) in Emo GAA Grounds. Ref: Ian Culbert.

St Pauls defeated Shanahoe in the Laois Junior final on a 2-07 to 1-09 scoreline. Anna Keegan hit the winner for the eventual champions. They face Carlow champions Rathvilly in Emo GAA who defeated Kildavin Clonegal in their county final. Catherine Dempsey earned the player of the match accolade and Rathvilly will be hoping for another fine performance from the midfielder on Saturday.

St. Pauls: A Swift; K Lawlor, K Hogan, A Hanlon; A Langford, L O’Halloran, H Langford; MK Moore, I O’Toole; R Balfe, S Costello (C), A Maher; C Brogan, S O’Rourke, N Conroy.

Rathvilly: D Balfe; C Byrne, O Hanlon, S Curran (C); C Deering, M Farrell, C McGuirk; S Tallon, C Dempsey; A O’Donoghue, F Murphy, G Murphy; E Molloy, G Kelly, R Whelan.

Sunday, 20^th October

AIB Senior Club Championship Quarter Finals

Longford Slashers (Longford) v St. Lomans (Westmeath) in Michael Fay Park, Longford. Ref: Henri Clifford

Longford Slashers defeated Clonguish by 1-09 to 1-06 to earn their sixth successive Longford SFC title on October 5^th. Grace Shannon hit 0-4 for the winners, while Kate Shannon hit 0-3 and Caoimhe Lohan found the net. Longford Slashers are not strangers to the Leinster Championship. They were crowned Leinster Intermediate Champions in 2022 before securing a memorable All Ireland Intermediate title later that year against Tipperary’s Mullinahone in Croke Park. Ciaran Kilmurray’s side will face St. Loman’s in Sunday’s quarter final clash. St Loman’s dethroned reigning Westmeath champions, Milltown, by 3-07 to 1-10. Vicki Carr hit two crucial goals, while Katie Kilmurray converted 0-5 for the newly crowned champions. With experience on both panels, this one will undoubtedly be a pulsating clash.

Longford Slashers: E Casey; G Reilly, E Reilly, G Kenny; O Nevin, E O’Brien, N Sheridan; A O’Brien (C), G Shannon; A Cosgrove, K Shannon, G O’Donnell; K Shannon, Clodagh Lohan, Caoimhe Lohan.

St. Loman’s: J McKenna; A Martin, M Ennis, Lara McCartan; K Dunne (C), M Scally, E Kilmurray; V Carr, C Kilmurray; L Murphy, Lucy McCartan, C Blundell, S McGrath, S Breslin, K Kilmurray.

Tinahely (Wicklow) v St Conleth’s (Laois) in Tinahely GAA Grounds, Wicklow, 1.30pm, Ref: Finbarr Shanhan

Ten time Wicklow champions, Tinahely, will launch their provincial championship hopes on Sunday as they battle with Laois winners St. Conleths. Tinahely  were 2-11 to 3-03 winners against St Patricks in the Wicklow final with Laura McGrath hitting 2-03 in the historic victory. Tinahely have good record in the Leinster Championship. Finalists in 2022, they were beaten by Westmeath opposition in the 2023 Club Championship where Milltown defeated them 1-12 to 0-10. They will be eager to progress in this year’s competition but a determined St. Conleth’s side stand in their way. Captained by Alanna Havill, St Conleths were crowned Laois SFC champions for only the second time in their history when they saw off Portlaoise by 0-12 to 1-08. Influential and experienced Laois footballer, Emma Lawlor, hit 0-8 in that final and she will be key if St. Conleths are going to defeat Tinahely this Sunday.

Tinahely: S Byrne; K Hatton, C Stokes (C), S Goetelen; E Mulhall, A Byrne, E O’Sullivan; A Maher, A Gorman; S Byrne, A Harmon, E O’Brien; C Byrne, J Kinch, L McGrath.

St. Conleths: C O’Connell; Á Haberlin, R Hunt, N Byrne; F Dempsey, S Havill, A Cummins; A Kelly, A Kirrane; C Fox, A Havill (C), M Byrne; A Byron, E Lawlor, E Galvin.

Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels (Meath) v Eadestown (Kildare), Dunshaughlin GAA, 1pm, Ref: Jonathan Murphy

Meadhbh Byrne produced a player of the match performance as Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels earned their second successive Meath SFC title in Páirc Tailteann last Sunday. The team in black and amber were 1-10 to 0-10 winners against Dunboyne. Indeed, they produced a huge display, coming from behind with Meadhbh Byrne getting the all important goal from a rebounded penalty. They will have home advantage against five in a row Kildare winners Eadestown. The Gráinne Kenneally captained side were 5-15 to 0-6 winners against St Laurences in their final. Abaigh Cahill remembered her shooting boots, hitting an impressive 3-06 in the final with Siobhan O’Sullivan and Kenneally netting the other two goals. They are sure to pose a threat upfront, but Dunshaughlin also can call on the services of former Meath captain Niamh O’Sullivan and Byrne to inflict some damage on the scoreboard. A tough challenge awaits both sides.

Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels: M O’Hare; R Kato, L Quinn, S Duffy; K McTigue, S O’Muirí, K Kealy; N Gallogly, E Moyles; C Gorman, L Murray, E Kennedy; N McEntee, N O’Sullivan, M Byrne.

Eadestown: A Jebb; M Ryan, D Tierney, A.M Logue; Á Mernagh, R Sargent, A Clifford; S O’Sullivan, L Byrne; A Hynes, G Clifford, J Harney; T Bedford, G Kenneally (C), A Cahill.