LONG SHOTS
Corofin (Gal)
Gweedore (Don) Carrick-on-shannon, 1.30pm (TG4)
v VETERAN defender Kieran Fitzgerald admits he was bowled over by the emotion of his first AIB All-ireland club final appearance. That was in 2015, 14 years after he’d helped Galway to All-ireland glory at Croke Park and earned an All-star.
The 38-year-old collected another club title last year and is on the verge now of returning to the biggest day in club football.
Fitzgerald, who made his club debut the year after Corofin’s first All-ireland win in 1998, said he thought he was destined to miss out on experiencing the occasion.
He said: “I had come to a stage in my life, I was 34 or 35 in 2015, and I thought I’d never get to play in an SHANE MULLIGAN believes it would be a fairytale if the smallest club in Longford reached the biggest stage in club football next month.
The tiny St Columbas club slipped down to the junior ranks in the 1970s and Mulligan himself played with them in the All-ireland club final.
“We’d been knocking on the door a good while. St Gall’s had beaten us after extra-time, Kilmacud had beaten us, we had a few battles with St Brigid’s.
“I was basically resigned to the fact that I was going to miss out on playing in one. Then it happened and there’s just huge emotion on the day.
“I remember running out intermediate grade.
They’re three-in-a-row county senior champions now and just an hour away from making it to the AIB All-ireland club final at Croke Park.
Centre-back Mulligan (left) said: “Like any GAA supporter or player, you see All-ireland final day and it looks so incredible. at Croke Park in 2015, and I would regard myself as experienced and composed, but it’s hard to explain, you just get this huge emotion from running out. “There’s a magic to playing with your club there and you see people in the stands that you wouldn’t see at inter-county games, elderly neighbours. It’s a real family day, hugely
Dr Crokes (Ker) Mullinalaghta (Lng) Thurles, 3.30pm (Live TG4)
v IF it was possible to press pause and cash in their chips right now, Longford football fans may very well do it. The county team is top of Division 3 in the Allianz League, eyeing a return to Division 2 after six years, and their leading club, Mullinalaghta is about to participate in the All-ireland senior semi-finals.
Longford football is on a high yet veteran Mullinalaghta defender Shane Mulligan (right) is determined to keep the good Any day in Croke Park with the colour and the noise and the sense of occasion that’s around Dublin is huge too. You’d love to experience that with the club. But that’s something that’s on the periphery. But of course it’s something you always dreamed of. Please God, maybe it can come true.” emotional. I was really proud to be part of that 2015 team.
“With that experience behind me, last year then was a bit different.”
Fitzgerald was an instant hit with Galway (left) and was on the bench in 2000 when they took Kerry to an All-ireland final replay.
He lined out at cornerback the following season when they beat favourites Meath in the decider, crowning the season with