Preview: AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship round 1

Picture Courtesy Paul Barrett

By Conor Martin

Go-Ahead Intermediate Club Football Championship winners Naomh Mearnóg turn their attention to provincial glory representing Dublin in the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship 2024.

In round 1, they take a road trip to Louth to play the Louth intermediate champions, Dundalk Gaels, who claimed their fifth intermediate title after winning the final replay against Hunterstown Rovers.

On the way to county glory, the Louth champions drew with Mattock Rangers before beating Glyde Rangers, finishing second on pints difference in Group 3 to advance to the quarter-finals.

In the knockout rounds, they beat Kilkerley Emmets and Mattock Rangers to reach the final. Their second contest against the latter was once again a close affair and Kevin McKernan’s men needed extra-time to book their place in the final, emerging 1-11 to 0-13 winners.

After playing out an exciting 1-7 to 2-4 draw with Hunterstown Rovers, Dundalk Gaels would win the Seamus Flood Cup for a record-breaking fifth time, winning the replay 2-9 to 0-13. Two goals from Tom O’Connell were crucial as Dundalk took their Louth intermediate title at the second time of asking.

Captain Dylan McKeown made sure he stood up and put in a performance that made a difference in that final and will be key once more as his club begin their search of a first intermediate provincial title since 2003.

Naomh Mearnóg are Dublin Intermediate Football Championship champions for the first time since 1996.

They topped Group 1 with three wins and two draws, winning the group with a points difference of +31.

They met Trinity Gaels in the quarter-final, and overcame them with ease, winning by 11 points. In the last four, they did enough to brush past St Annes to set up a clash with Clanna Gael Fontenoy in the intermediate football final.

In the final, the men in black and amber dominated from the first whistle to the last. Karl Lynch Bissett bagged himself a brace. Sean Hawkshaw looked sharp in midfield and there were also notable performances from Shane Kavanagh and Cian Madden as they put Clanna Gael Fontenoy to the sword, ultimately winning 2-9 to 0-6.

It’s been a successful year for Naomh Mearnóg, who secured promotion to Senior 2 football this year and now attention turns to the provincial championship as they begin the hunt for a first-ever AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship title.

Throw-in is at Haggardstown, 2pm and you can buy match tickets here.