PREVIEW: Portarlington begin Leinster campaign against Carlow champions

Five weeks after lifting their sixth Jack Delaney Cup in seven years, Portarlington will begin their 2026 Leinster Club Senior Football Championship campaign in Carlow on Sunday afternoon.

The Laois champions hammered Courtwood in the final on Sunday, October 11, and have had to bide their time to enter the Leinster Club Senior Football Championship after receiving a bye into the quarter-final.

Sunday’s opponents, Carlow SFC champions Rathvilly, also received a bye, with three Round 1 games played on Sunday, November 1. Rathvilly contested their county final a week after Portarlington won theirs, defeating Old Leighlin 0-14 to 1-8 in Netwatch Cullen Park.

This is familiar territory for Portarlington, with this their fifth provincial campaign. They didn’t get to play in the Leinster Club Championship in 2020, as it was cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.

In their previous four campaigns, Portarlington have reached the last four on three occasions. They reached back-to-back semi-finals in 2021 and 2022, losing to Kilmacud Crokes on both occasions. Their 2024 Leinster Club Senior Football Championship campaign ended at the first hurdle, as Wicklow champions Tinahely travelled to Portlaoise and left with a famous win.

Their other semi-final appearance came in 2025, when they lost to Kildare champions Athy. They will hope to take another step towards a first provincial title. Before that, Port had accounted for Old Leighlin in Carlow in Round 1 before travelling to Drogheda and beating Naomh Máirtín.

Portarlington v Rathvilly takes place at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, on Sunday, November 15, at 2.30pm.