Historic day as Ardcath go into Leinster battle
IT’S a red letter day for St Vincent’s Ardcath this coming Saturday when they taste Leinster Club action for the first time at O’Connor Park, Tullamore.
Ronan Kearns’ side take on Offaly representatives St Brigid’s Croghan in an opening-round tie of the provincial JFC at 1pm. St Brigid’s lost Sunday’s IFC final (third tier) to Ferbane on a 0-13 to 0-9 scoreline, and similar to the Ardcath side they represent their county as second teams are not allowed to take part.
St Vincent’s will be keen to make up for the recent agonising Junior final defeat to Dunboyne after extra time. They produced their best display of the campaign that day and were well on course to bring off a massive shock before Dunboyne snatched an equaliser deep into added time to take the game to extra time.
It will be a new experience for St Vincent’s who will be hoping to get a run in the campaign and continue the promise shown throughout the year so far.
Meanwhile, Senior champions Dunboyne have learned their opponents in the opening round of the Leinster campaign and they will take on Shelmaliers at Wexford Park on Sunday at 1.30.
Shelmaliers were crowned Wexford champions for the first time following a 4-14 to 1-7 replay win over Matty Forde’s Kilanerin on Saturday.
The newly-crowned champions have five county players, including Brian Malone who has also represented Leinster.
Meath sides have a very poor record at this level and Dunboyne will be hoping to at least overcome this hurdle and set up a quarter-final clash with the Dublin champions.
This Sunday’s game is likely to be Donal Lenihan’s last for Dunboyne before he goes travelling overseas.