Clonad bid for Leinster Club final place as Portarlington–Killeshin showdown headlines U-20 action

Saturday’s GAA action sees just two fixtures down for decision, with Laois Intermediate hurling champions Clonad continuing their AIB Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship journey as they take on Kildare’s Senior 'B' winners Clane in Manguard Park Hawkfield.

Closer to home, Portarlington and Killeshin will clash in McCann Park in the last four of this year’s Laois Shopping Centre U-20 Football Championship, where a place in the final and a meeting with reigning champions Stradbally Parish Gaels awaits the winner.

AIB Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final 

Clonad (Laois) vs Clane (Kildare) in Manguard Park Hawkfield at 1.30pm

Clonad’s first provincial campaign in decades rolls into Hawkfield on Saturday as the Laois Intermediate champions face Clane for a place in the Leinster Junior Hurling Final.

Clonad arrive into the semi-final battle-hardened after a dramatic quarter-final win over Dublin Junior 'A' champions Kevins Hurling Club. The five-week gap from their Laois final triumph over Mountrath showed at times, but when the game entered the final 10 minutes, the Laois men summoned character and composure when it mattered most.

Leading 0-12 to 0-9 at half-time, they suddenly found themselves trailing 0-13 to 0-15 entering the closing stretch. But inspired moments turned the tide, Barry Cormack stepped up on frees and nailed two pressure-laden placed balls, while James Farrell, immense all afternoon, produced a crucial save to deny sub Dan O’Brien.

With five minutes to go, John Onions struck a superb point from distance, and moments later Dan O’Sullivan was fouled as he burst through on goal, with Onions converting the resulting free. Even a late Kevins' effort intended for the net drifted over rather than under the bar. After 67 tense minutes, Clonad finally heard the whistle that sealed a 0-19 to 0-16 win and a place in the last four.

Their opponents, Clane were crowned Kildare Senior ‘B’ champions after edging Leixlip 1-18 to 1-17 in a gripping county final. They backed that up with an impressive provincial showing, hitting 2-24 in their quarter-final win away to Naomh Moninne of Louth.

Bookmakers have installed Clane as clear favourites, and on paper, the reasoning is obvious. They are effectively the 9th-ranked team in Kildare, while Clonad sit 19th in Laois' hurling ladder for 2025.

The winners will progress to the Leinster Junior final on Sunday, December 7, where Barrow Rangers (Kilkenny) or Davidstown-Courtnacuddy (Wexford) await.

Laois Shopping Centre U-20 Football Championship Semi-Final 

Portarlington vs Killeshin in McCann Park, Portarlington at 2pm

Portarlington return to U20 action on Saturday afternoon, 13 days after topping Group A through an intense, condensed schedule that forced them to play all three group games within six days.

Thanks to the success of their senior footballers, now in the semi-finals of the AIB Leinster Senior Club Championship, Port’s U20 campaign had to be fast-tracked.

Despite the hectic timetable, Portarlington were flawless in the group stage, beating Portlaoise, Na Fianna Og, and St Joseph’s to secure a home semi-final. 

Killeshin emerged second from Group B behind reigning champions Stradbally Parish Gaels, with wins over Ballylinan and Mountmellick Parish Gaels. Their only defeat came in that final group game against the title-holders.

The winners will face Stradbally Parish Gaels in the U-20 Football final.

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