Leinster club JFC | Plunketts prepared for Leinster test

Oliver Plunketts continue their season this Saturday when they welcome Shillelagh/Coolboy from Wicklow to the Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda, in the AIB Leinster Club Junior Football Championship first-round clash.

2025 has been a season of hard work by the Mell men from the opening day of the DKIT Sport Louth Junior Football Championship.

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The Plunketts burst from the traps with comfortable group-stage wins over O’Connells and Annaghminnon Rovers to set the tone for the duration of the championship.

Their 5-15 to 0-12 quarter-final victory over the Sean McDermotts was a real statement of intent, but their semi-final encounter against the O’Connells was a much closer affair.

Plunketts edged it by the minimum at Stabannon (1-15 to 1-14), and that narrow victory revealed the character of the side.

The crowning moment came in The Grove, Castlebellingham, when they came up against Glyde Rangers in the county final.

The first meeting ended in a stalemate, after a late Ciaran Sheridan two-point free forced a tie, but the Plunketts showed determination when they came from behind to win the replay.

Community

For manager Emmett Kelleher, the sense of pride that came with that county success extends well beyond the dressing room..

When reflecting on winning the Christy Bellew Cup, he said, “The mood has been brilliant. As good as it is for the players and the management, it's been great to see how good it has been for the general community and juveniles in the club.

“It's been absolutely massive to see the number of people out celebrating with us from the club over the last few days. So, the mood has been absolutely brilliant.

“They're two seriously tough battles. We thought we had one hand on the trophy; we felt probably on the first day. But the second day we felt it was gone, so it's just been brilliant all round and just, again, so happy for so many people in the club.”

Character

Stephen Keely’s late equalising goal forced extra time and will be remembered, as will goalkeeper Luke Haggins’ stunning two-pointer in extra time.

For Kelleher, those moments were no accident and were the product of months of hard work.

“The character shown by the boys was brilliant. Maybe it wasn't the best day for both of them. They made a couple of maybe misses, both early on in the game. But tremendous character from them.

“We kind of had that a lot in the last couple of months in big games. Coming down the stretch in the league, we've had different players who have stepped up at different times, and maybe we haven't had that in the past.

“But the boys are experienced enough as well. Stephen was very, very cool with the finish. He didn't rush it when he got the ball. He sidestepped his man and put it away.

“And Luke is just generally a cool enough character at times as well. Brilliant character shown, but it's been shown by a lot of lads over the last number of months for us.”

Leinster

With county glory secured, the Drogheda side now turns their focus toward the provincial stage, a challenge they’re ready to embrace.

“There are probably teams across the country, maybe in their own county, who might set out at the start of the season, maybe higher up now in the senior grades, that might set out to win provincial titles.

“But look, I think for the way it was for us over the last couple of years and the bit of heartache we've had in the championship, the number one goal was obviously to try and win the county championship.

“I think our lads, the feedback straight away after the game was the lads wanted to give Leinster a crack and got back training on Thursday night in the gym.

“We went back training again on Saturday on the pitch for the first time, and then we'll do a bit during the week in preparation for the game against the Wicklow champions on Saturday.

“But it is a little bit of bonus territory, I suppose, like we do want to give this a shot, I think, when we were down in 2014.

“We were beaten in the quarter-final, we probably felt like we let ourselves down a little bit, so there's a good kind of seven or eight lads still there from that. So there is that little bit of determination, and hopefully we can put our best foot forward in it.”

Opposition

Shillelagh/Coolboy are Saturday's opponents, and the Wicklow champions progressed through the Fitzgerald Kitchens Junior A Football Championship with a series of strong displays.

Their 4-16 to 1-7 county final defeat over Kilmacanogue proved what they are capable of. Kelleher and his team have done their homework.

“We've had a chance to watch a couple of videos back of games they played this year. We watched our county final back over the last few days. So we know they're a strong physical team, a very physical team, especially down the middle.

“So yeah, look, we probably know what we're going to be in for. They have a couple of nice inside forwards as well. So we're expecting this one to be a tough battle.”

Gaelic Grounds

O’Raghallaighs Integral GAA Grounds, which is just a stone’s throw from the Plunketts own ground, is the venue for the clash.

“Yes, delighted it’s in the Gaelic Grounds. I suppose it's a ground that I love. I've always loved playing in it over the years.

“When the option was given to us, it's where we wanted to play our games, straight away it was a no-brainer to play in the Gaelic Grounds.

“I’m delighted that the O’Raghallaighs have helped us out there. It's on our doorstep, it's our joining parish, so it's a two or three-minute drive from our own pitch.

“So as I said, absolutely no brainer playing at the O’Raghallaighs and hoping to get the backing of the supporters again. We've had massive support.

“I don't think a Plunketts team has ever had as big a support as it has over the last few months, between coming towards the end of the league and into the championship.

“So I think the lads feel the support in the club and the community behind them. And hoping we can get them out in the numbers again on Saturday.”

Oliver Plunketts against Shillelagh/Coolboy will take place at Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda, on Saturday, 1st November, with a throw-in at 1.30pm. The referee in charge will be Ryan Moran.