PREVIEW: Kilmacud Crokes v Éire Óg, Carlow- AIB Leinster Senior Club Football Quarter-Final

By Conor Martin 

Kilmacud Crokes v Éire Óg (Carlow)- Saturday 4th November, Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, 7.45pm. 

Go-Ahead Dublin Senior Football 1 champions Kilmacud Crokes are back in action this weekend, as they take on Carlow champions Éire Óg in the AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Quarter-Final. 

Kilmacud were impressive once again during the Go-Ahead Dublin Championships, as they won their group and used their experience to get through tough tasks such as Ballymun Kickhams and Raheny in the quarter-final and semi-finals, respectively.

The Stillorgan men would go on to claim their third senior Dublin title in-a-row, with a comfortable win over Ballyboden St Endas, which will be remembered for Shane Walsh’s magnificent strike to send Kilmacud well on their way to victory. 

With their focus now on retaining their Leinster and All-Ireland crowns, Éire Óg are the first hurdle they must jump if they are to remain on course to be the best club football team in the province and in the country. 

Éire Óg claimed their first Carlow title since winning the 2020 Championship with a comfortable six-point win over Tinryland at the start of October.

Just like Kilmacud, they were impressive in the group stages before they recorded a well-deserved win over Mount Leinster Rangers, rattling the net three times on the way to recording a 3-13 to 2-8 quarter-final win.

In the semi-finals, they would triumph as they held their nerve to beat Rathvilly 4-3 on penalties after the two teams couldn’t be separated after extra-time.

An inspired second-half display saw the Carlow town club turn on the style to claim the Carlow Senior Football Championship. Ross Dunphy top scored with 1-4 as Darragh O’Brien (0-4, 3f) and Murtough Ware (1-0) starred to see Éire Óg home.

They have already featured in Leinster this year, beating St Joseph’s 2-18 to 3-13 in Round 1 of the AIB Leinster Senior Football Championship. Adam McCarron, who picked up six points for himself as well as goals from Josh Brady and David Dunphy, saw Éire Óg progress. 

Kilmacud will be fully aware of the threat those mentioned above pose, and the likes of Dan O’Brien, Theo Clancy and Aidan Jones can’t afford to let their attention slip while patrolling the half and full-back lines. 

However, in attack, Walsh will be a constant threat to their Carlow opposition, as will the likes of Paul Mannion and Shane Cunningham.

After receiving a bye in the first round, thanks to them being reigning champions, you can watch the start of Kilmacud Crokes' bid to retain their Leinster and All-Ireland titles on Saturday evening on RTÉ 2, with a throw-in time of 7:45pm.