Killoe Emmet Og step into the Leinster senior championship for the first time since 2019, when they face St. Loman’s on Sunday.
Killoe claimed their 14th Longford SFC crown when beating Conguish by one point, three weeks ago. Killoe’s previous county title came in the 2020 covid championship.
There was no provincial championship in 2020 and the Longford final was contested in August 2021! Killoe have to go back to 2015 for their last Leinster championship win. A 19-point hiding of Wexford side St. James.
However, this is a different challenge for Killoe, the most consistent side in Longford in the 2023 championship.
For one, Luke Dempsey is the former manager of St. Lomans. Leading them to defeat in the 2017 Leinster final. A game that slipped from their grasp.
“I was five years there, and they really are a professional outfit” explained Killoe boss Luke Dempsey. “A lot of inter-county players, even from different counties”.
“They look back at 2017 as a missed opportunity, six-points up against Moorefield in the Leinster final and they just didn’t see the game out. Since, then they’ve been vying to get back to that position”.
“Therefore, they are very tough opponents” added Dempsey. “They have come through Westmeath relatively easy enough this year, their 12th county final in the last few years. They’re very experienced”.
Killoe were the best side in the Longford championship. Daniel Mimnagh, Mark Hughes, Mickey Quinn, Denis McGoldrick and Robbie Moffett all key to their success.
St Loman's full of inter-county players
However, St. Lomans arrive with a host of inter-county players in tow. Their 2023 Westmeath success, their third since the turn of the decade. The stand-out players being John Heslin, Ronan O’Toole and Shane Dempsey.
Dempsey was sent-off in the first round win over Wexford’s Shemaliers at TEG Cusack Park.
However, at a hearing in Leinster council this week, Dempsey had the colour downgraded to a black card, meaning the official applied the incorrect penalty on the day. Clearing the way for Dempsey to face Killoe.
“They have some star players and then you throw-in seasoned players Peter Foy, Kelvin Reilly who captained the team when I was there”.
“They really have aspirations of going a lot further then the quarter-final stage” explained Dempsey.
Killoe Emmet Og v St. Lomans
Glennon Brothers Pearse Park,
Sunday November 5th, Throw-in: 2pm
