Familiar foes set to renew final rivalry
Old Leighlin got the better of the rivalry in last year's final but Bennekerry/Tinryland will be out for revenge on Saturday. Photo: Pat Ahern
Last year in the Carlow senior football final, Old Leighlin caused a surprise when they beat Bennekerry-Tinryland who were the reigning All-Ireland intermediate football champions. It wasn’t a major turn-up but eyebrows were still raised when Caoimhe O’Neill’s late strike lifted the title from under the noses of the county champions.
Last year’s heroine is back for more in 2026.
“Really looking forward to it now. Obviously ourselves and Bennekerry-Tinryland know each other very well. It is going to be a battle from start to finish. They are hoping to prevent us from winning the trophy for the second year in a row,” she says.
Last year the Old Leighlin ladies completed a junior and senior title while the men won the Carlow senior football title. It was weeks of celebrations for the club and there is the promise of more this year.
“Our lads are in the semi-final next weekend as well and hopefully we can keep the magic going. Last year was unreal,” says O’Neill.
This year, Carlow, with so many players from both sides, came agonisingly close to winning the All-Ireland junior title before being edged out by Antrim. While the players were disappointed it was rapidly back to the club.
“It has come around so quickly. Once the All-Ireland final was over, it was straight into club. The last six weeks have been an absolute blur. We have been going from pitch to pitch with match on match.” The Old Leighlin team overlaps with Naomh Bríd. Both are in senior county finals.
“I think there is about eighteen of us playing both camogie and football. It will be a really big two weeks for us with plenty of preparation. I am really looking forward to it now,” she says.
The quality of football and camogie in the county has risen dramatically. Because of the size of the county, dual status is a given at club level. That means it is week on every weekend.
“We want to be playing to those standards. Next year, hopefully, we will be able to push on with the county. It helps when you are playing senior club when you are going in to play with the county. We can definitely push on with the county and it is really good for Carlow,” says O’Neill.
Even though they know each other so well, the Naomh Bríd and Old Leighlin star says she will not recognise any of the opposition before the game on Saturday.
“It is as if you have never met the girls before when you play against them. You want that win for your club and yourself. That is the biggest picture you are looking at.”
Chris Townsend, the Bennekerry-Tinryland manager, hardly knew what hit his side last year when the All-Ireland champions were beaten in the county final by Old Leighlin. Now they are back looking to win back the title.
“County finals are always special whenever you get there. Obviously we were very disappointed last year. On the day we were beaten by a better team but we have another go this year,” he says.
This year, his side beat Old Leighlin in their opening game of the group stages which comprised of five games.
“It was the first game out for us. Their second. We won it but that was a long time ago at the start of August. Old Leighlin have kicked on since then and hopefully we have as well,” says a cautious Townsend.
Having progressed in the All-Ireland series two seasons ago, the manager doesn’t want it all to end like it did last year. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Old Leighlin won a provincial title some years ago. Leinster, for the winners, is now a rite of passage.
“It is going to be end of the road for one of these teams if they are not successful. There is a lot at stake. We can only do what we can do. Old Leighlin are the same. These games have always been nip and tuck, close affairs and I think this is possibly the tenth final in a row between the two teams. It has always been a good battle,” agrees the Bennekerry Tinryland manager.
Junior Football Championship Final Ballon v O’Hanrahans SETU Carlow Main Campus, Saturday, 4.00pm The junior football final featuring Ballon and O’Hanrahans sees two sides come together who have enjoyed 100% records in the competition.
In Group A, O’Hanrahans topped the group with victories over St Annes, St Brigids and St Annes. In the semi-final they accounted for an experienced Bennekerry-Tinryland side.
Players to watch out for are Molly Maher, goalkeeper, Lillie O’Sullivan who is having an excellent season and further out the field, Brianna Williamson, Gwen Greasley and Sarah Donoghue are all showing leadership characteristics.
The club also has several young players coming through and will certainly contribute well on the day.
For Ballon, Clare Kealy is captain of the team. Emma Cummins, Izzy O’ Byrne, Joan Maher, Becky Kelly, Anna Cullen, Lucy Kinsella, Eimear Bolger and Lauren Byrne are all playing particularly well.
They played Eire Og, Fighting Cocks and Bennekerry/Tinryland in the group stages winning all games matches before they accounted for St. Brigids in the semi-final.
Both sides are ambitious with a close and exciting game on the cards.
