Intermediate Final 4W

Sneaking in the long grass, behind managerial news, future fixtures and Selector naming.


we have a major final to play! and What a final is going to be!





WHO: Clan na Gael and O'Connell's
WHAT: Cullen Auto Parts Louth intermediate final
WHERE: Haggardstown
WHEN: 3.30pm Sunday


These two sides typify how tough intermediate football is to get out of.

Sure, the Clans and O'Connell's have anbundance of skillful and super footballers but that is sometimes not enough.

The grade ultimately tests all your capabilities as a team in all aspects.

As it take supreme mental strength to get over the line and if you lack in this area you will learn the hardway. As the Clans found out in the final last year and the O'Connells in the semi final stage this past 3 seasons and famously NaPiarsaigh who, just could not get there.


Usually, the team with the greatest unity is victorious. (jez, sounds like Sparta or the hunger games!)

This Sunday will be no different.

Lets cast our minds back to last years intermediate semi between the two same teams. Where the Castlebellingham men imploded in the second half. That defeat was hard for the O'Connell's to take, but it has made them a better team this season and favorites for Sunday.

Army man Wayne McKeever has come in and they have got to the Sheelan cup final and lost out narrowly to the Blue's after extra time. Recently reached the Division 1 league final. Highlighting the rich vein of form they are in coming into the weekends final with.

The Clans on the otherhand made hard work of fellow Dundalk side O'Mahony's in the other semi, defeating them after a replay. However this has worked to their advantage as their expectations now have been lowered even further.

Come Sunday though, form will go out the window and it will be down to the players and both teams are packed with game changing forwards. Niall Conlon, Billy Smith, Mark Newell, Robert Quigley, Mark Stansfield, Mark McGeown, Drew Duffy and Cian Doyle to name a few and have been mentioned alot during the week so we all know there talents and what they have to offer.

Where the game will hinge and like most games, will be defense. Like Donegal and the Pats last week, defense is usually the deciding factor in who wins in modern day GAA more times than not.

And like the final's sneaky build up, I give the defensive advantage surprisingly to the Clans who have defenders who defend firstly where as the O'Connells seem to have an over spill of forwards playing back there.

So this piles even more pressure on the O'Connell's already heavy shoulders come Sunday, as it is not a for gone conclusion for them. 

Acting as the ultimate test for them, that it is not going to be easy and that they will need to be united to do it.

As it is only themselves that has ever really beaten them. But this year is different, mentally getting over the semi final proved that.

Things to Expect: New Manager Aidan O'Rourke and possible whole management team in the crowd. Two forgotten men but highly important players operating on the forty for both sides, Paul Gore and Paul McKeever (managers brother) to have a major impact on how well either forward line operate. Big German, Jens Lehmann in goals for the Clans,

and finally the Seamus Flood in Castlebellingham Sunday night.

P.S. Phew! got through that whole preview without mentioning the minor fiasco!