PREVIEWS: Kilcavan and Clough/Ballacolla in Leinster Club Championship action

Two Laois clubs will be hoping to keep their provincial campaigns alive on Saturday afternoon as Kilcavan and Clough/Ballacolla both take to the field in the Leinster Club Championships.

Kilcavan’s Leinster Intermediate Football Championship campaign gets underway at Laois Hire O’Moore Park, where the Laois champions face Wicklow champions Dunlavin in Round 1 at 2.30pm.

It is five weeks since Kilcavan made history by winning the Laois Intermediate Football Championship for the first time, securing their place in the Senior Championship for 2027 in the process.

They will now be hoping for another memorable Leinster run, having already enjoyed a taste of provincial football following their Laois Junior Championship success in 2024. Kilcavan reached the Leinster Junior semi-final on that occasion before eventually losing out to Meath champions Dunsany at Pairc Tailteann in Navan.

Dunlavin will provide another serious test on Saturday after winning the Wicklow Intermediate Championship three weeks ago. They have plenty of experience of playing at a high level, with three members of their squad having featured for Wicklow during their memorable Tailteann Cup final comeback against Down during the summer. Eoin Murtagh and Tom Moran started that final, while Cian Deering came off the bench as Wicklow produced a remarkable turnaround to claim the Tailteann Cup.

Murtagh's performances during that campaign were recognised when he was named on the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year.

Kilcavan will therefore know that they face a Dunlavin side with players who have already experienced big provincial and inter-county occasions this year. The Laois champions will have plenty of confidence of their own, though, after completing a historic championship campaign five weeks ago.

Saturday's game gives them another opportunity to test themselves against the best outside the county and to build on the progress made over the last two seasons.

Kilcavan v Dunlavin throws in at 2.30pm in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday.

Clough/Ballacolla will also be hoping to continue what has already been a remarkable first season in the Leinster Junior Camogie Championship.

The Laois champions only won their first adult championship two weeks ago, defeating St Brigid's in the county final after they had previously lost two county finals. The club itself is only 10 years old, while their adult camogie team was only established in 2020. They have wasted little time making an impact.

Clough/Ballacolla followed up their county success with an impressive Leinster quarter-final victory over Meath champions Dunsany last Saturday. The conditions were difficult, with a strong wind making life particularly challenging, and Dunsany had the benefit of playing with it in the opening half. However, Clough/Ballacolla showed tremendous character to remain in touch and only trailed by a goal at half-time, 1-4 to 0-4.

They took control after the restart, outscoring Dunsany by 2-3 to 0-2 to book their place in the Leinster semi-final. Sarah Bergin and Chloe Boyhan scored the goals, with Boyhan once again leading the way on the scoreboard with 1-3.

Their reward is another provincial clash with an Offaly side that has also enjoyed a breakthrough season. Ballinamere/Durrow are the Offaly Intermediate champions and, remarkably, only entered adult camogie for the first time this year.

That makes Saturday's meeting an intriguing one, with both clubs still in the early stages of their adult journeys but already making their mark at county and provincial level. Clough/Ballacolla have already shown that they are capable of handling the step up to Leinster football and will now look to go one step further and reach a provincial final.

Clough/Ballacolla v Ballinamere/Durrow throws in at 2pm in Ballinamere on Saturday.

It promises to be a busy afternoon for Laois club supporters, with two county champions chasing Leinster glory and Clough/Ballacolla knowing they are just one win away from a place in the provincial final.