Fighting Cocks set for Leinster Semi-Final this weekend

If one were looking for omens about this Leinster junior football championship clash between St Brigid’s Killashee and The Fighting Cocks, then the odds would surely be in favour of the Longford side.

The club is based roughly half-way between Longford Town and Lanesborough on the eastern shores of Lough Ree. They have played two games already in the province beating Barrowhouse of Laois by 2-15 to 2-6 with Dylan Farrell accounting for 2-10 of the winner’s total.

In the quarter-final they accounted for Shillelagh Coolboy by a single point (1-9 to 0-11). Again Farrell’s contribution was decisive and his goal on 49 minutes proved to be the match winner.

They played both these games at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park. As Carlow ladies football and Carlow underage football teams have found out in recent years, the ground on match days such as these the attendance will be small and parochial while the atmosphere will hardly be electric. There is a barren feel about the place. It is the long 90 mile journey which saps part of the energy of the away sides which can be a factor.

St Brigids have not won a senior championship but have been successful at junior and intermediate level with a half-dozen Longford titles at each grade.

Apart from Dylan Farrell, Ronan Kavanagh, Paddy Mollaghan and Jack Magan are their best known players but Kavanagh has missed out in one game in Leinster because of injury.

The Fighting Cocks have to be in a good place now. That win against the Meath side, Clann na nGael was massive and the manner in which it was earned was so impressive. They played without fear and won with a level of panache which doesn’t often happen when Carlow teams take on Royal opposition.

Aaron Dowling has been a revelation this year and has taken over from his father, Mattie, as a free-scoring forward. Alan Quigley produced the goods with those two-pointers in the previous round. Liam Sheppard at midfield continues to impress. The trio in the half back line of Billy Molloy, William Kelly and Billy Nolan will need to be at their best.

The Cocks now travel with more than hope in their minds. The secret is to balance that expectation with a performance. It would be hard to see them lose if they play as well as they did in their opening round game in Leinster. Their opposition have played twice which will stand to them. Signs on there won’t be much in it.

It will be all on the day.