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Semi-finals at all three levels this weekend, meaning six matches in Pearse Park over the course of what is expected to be a wet weekend:

Killoe v Colmcille, Sat, 5pm
Dromard v Clonguish, Sun, 5pm

Killoe had to come from behind against Slashers but were clearly the better team overall in that match whereas Colmcille had an easier time in their quarter-final and the match is likely to be close. Dromard had a comfortable win against an under-form Rathcline and meet Clonguish who were the stronger side in the second-half against Mullinalaghta but who show signs off the field of an older presumption and obnoxiousness resurfacing. (Realistically, we had lost too many players to long-term injury and Australia this year for us to have much chance in the absence of luck and favourable decisions and we certainly have had none of the latter since Tullamore.)

Paddy Power odds (https://www.paddypower.com/gaelic-games/longford-club-football?tab=outrights):

Killoe 5/2 2/1 15/8 7/4 15/8 8/11
Colmcille 11/2 9/1 8/1 7/1 11/2 7/2
Dromard 11/2 5/1 11/2 5/1 6/1 5/1 4/1
Clonguish 16/1 10/1 14/1 16/1 9/1 11/2

Boylesports (https://www.boylesports.com/sports/gaa/outrights)

Killoe 3/1 13/8 6/4 10/11
Dromard 6/1 11/2 15/2 6/1 4/1
Colmcille 3/1 6/1 5/1 4/1
Clonguish 12/1 6/1 7/1 12/1 4/1

I would still just favour Killoe overall but not on those odds.

Killoe 1-18 Longford Slashers 3-9
Granard 1-6 Colmcille 1-13

Dromard 1-15 Rathcline 0-9
Mullinalaghta 0-9 Clonguish 1-12

[should]

Quarter-finals this weekend:

Killoe v Longford Slashers, Sat, 4pm
Granard v Colmcille, Sat, 5.45pm
Dromard v Rathcline, Sun, 4pm
Mullinalaghta v Clonguish, Sun, 5.45pm

The only one of those that is easy to call is Colmcille v Granard and that is as much due to the weakness of Granard as to the strength of Colmcille. Killoe should be strong enough to beat Slashers comfortably based on group form but Slashers have always run them close over the last decade. Dromard probably should be able to edge out Rathcline but the latter seem to be coming into form and could be dangerous, as could Clonguish against Mullinalaghta.

Paddy Power odds (https://www.paddypower.com/gaelic-games/longford-club-football?tab=outrights):

Killoe 5/2 2/1 15/8 7/4 15/8
Mullinalaghta 7/4 15/8 2/1 5/2
Dromard 11/2 5/1 11/2 5/1 6/1 5/1
Colmcille 11/2 9/1 8/1 7/1 11/2
Clonguish 16/1 10/1 14/1 16/1 9/1
Granard 25/1 20/1 16/1 14/1 12/1 16/1
Longford Slashers 10/1 14/1 20/1 16/1
Rathcline 33/1 50/1 100/1 40/1 25/1

(PP are also offering Mostrim as a deus ex machina at 1000/1 for some reason if Shamrock wants to try testing the Shore inheritance.)

Boylesports (https://www.boylesports.com/sports/gaa/outrights)

Killoe 3/1 13/8 6/4
Mullinalaghta 11/8 13/8 15/8 2/1 5/2
Dromard 6/1 11/2 15/2 6/1 4/1
Colmcille 3/1 6/1 5/1
Clonguish 12/1 6/1 7/1 12/1
Granard 40/1 33/1 20/1 10/1 14/1
Longford Slashers 10/1 20/1 33/1 25/1 33/1
Rathcline 100/1 50/1 33/1

How likely is the 2 in a row ?

It would be a first for Colmcille (but then 2017 was a first for us).

Still think Killoe are favourites with Clonguish certainly a long-shot.

It would require Clonguish, Slashers, Dromard/Rathcline, and Colmcille/Granard to oblige. Not holding my breath.

Coin tossed. Mullinalaghta "win".

Quarter-finals:

Killoe v Longford Slashers
Colmcille v Granard
Dromard v Rathcline
Mullinalaghta v Clonguish

Mullinalaghta 3-16 Carrickedmond 0-10
Abbeylara 4-11 Killoe 2-16
Rathcline 2-12 Colmcille 2-15

Group 2:

Killoe 8pts +33
Mullinalaghta 7pts +22
Colmcille 7pts +6
Rathcline 4pts -1
Abbeylara 4pts -13
Carrickedmond 0pts -47

Mullinalaghta and Colmcille, despite the gap in score difference, now have to toss a coin to see who comes second in the group (the alternative having been a play off next weekend). Never change, Longford GAA.

Dromard 1-19 Ballymahon 0-5
Mostrim 1-11 Longford Slashers 1-12
Clonguish 4-14 Granard 0-7

Group 1:

Dromard 8pts +23
Granard 7pts -
Clonguish 6pts +67
Longford Slashers 5pts +19
Mostrim 4pts +9
Ballymahon 0pts -118

Commiserations to Shamrock and The Insider on being edged out at the death.

Final weekend of group games:

Group 1:

Dromard v Ballymahon, Sat, 7pm, Cashel
Mostrim v Longford Slashers, Sat, 7pm, Killoe
Clonguish v Granard, Sat, 7pm, Monaduff

Group 2:

Mullinalaghta v Carrickedmond, Sun, 3.30pm, Edgeworthstown
Abbeylara v Killoe, Sun, 3.30pm, Higginstown
Rathcline v Colmcille, Sun, 3.30pm, Newtownforbes

Paddy Power odds (https://www.paddypower.com/gaelic-games/longford-club-football?tab=outrights):

Killoe 5/2 2/1 15/8 7/4
Mullinalaghta 7/4 15/8 2/1
Colmcille 11/2 9/1 8/1 7/1 11/2
Dromard 11/2 5/1 11/2 5/1 6/1
Granard 25/1 20/1 16/1 14/1 12/1
Clonguish 16/1 10/1 14/1 16/1
Longford Slashers 10/1 14/1 20/1 16/1
Mostrim 14/1 20/1 16/1 14/1 20/1
Rathcline 33/1 50/1 100/1 40/1 25/1

Boylesports (https://www.boylesports.com/sports/gaa/outrights)

Killoe 3/1 13/8 6/4
Mullinalaghta 11/8 13/8 15/8 2/1
Colmcille 3/1 6/1 5/1
Dromard 6/1 11/2 15/2 6/1
Granard 40/1 33/1 20/1 10/1
Clonguish 12/1 6/1 7/1 12/1
Mostrim 10/1 20/1 14/1 20/1
Longford Slashers 10/1 20/1 33/1 25/1
Rathcline 100/1 50/1 33/1

Rathcline are, I think, the most likely team to pull off a victory against the odds this week, followed by Clonguish.

This will be the first time since 2004 that Abbey haven't reached the quarter-finals.

Rathcline 3-13 Carrickedmond 1-6
Killoe 1-9 Mullinalaghta 0-11
Colmcille 2-14 Abbeylara 2-6

Group 2:

Killoe 8pts +34
Mullinalaghta 5pts +7
Colmcille 5pts +3
Rathcline 4pts +2
Abbeylara 2pts -14
Carrickedmond 0pts -32

Everything bar places 2-4 settled in this group as Colmcille overcame a desperate Abbey and Killoe robbed Mullinalaghta with a goal in the third minute of stoppage time.

Granard 0-13 Mostrim 0-10
Ballymahon 0-6 Clonguish 11-19 (no, that is not a misprint)

Group 1:

Granard 7pts +19
Dromard 6pts +6
Mostrim 4pts +10
Clonguish 4pts +48
Longford Slashers 3pts +18
Ballymahon 0pts -101

Slashers gave themselves a lifeline with a goal against Dromard but need to beat Mostrim in their last match to go through. Clonguish need Slashers to lose or draw to be certain of going through despite the hockeying of Ballymahon because of the head-to-head.

Dromard 1-11 Longford Slashers 1-11

Week 4 resumes:

Group 1:

Dromard v Longford Slashers, Fri, 8pm, Monaduff
Granard v Mostrim, Sat, 7pm, Abbeylara
Ballymahon v Clonguish, Sat, 7pm, Ardagh

Do-or-die time for Slashers, while Mostrim could do with a point or points from Granard. Clonguish to polish up their score difference.

Group 2:

Rathcline v Carrickedmond, Sun, 3.30pm, Cashel
Killoe v Mullinalaghta, Sun, 5.15pm, Legga
Colmcille v Abbeylara, Sun, 7pm, Legga

Double header in the Dromard Stadium of Light with favourites Killoe looking to assert dominance at the top of the table against their hair's breath conquerors in the Leader Cup, while the battle for survival afterwards is unlikely to be pretty. Rathcline to get in a training session in the Deep South.

And the odds shift further in the direction of Killoe.

Paddy Power odds (https://www.paddypower.com/gaelic-games/longford-club-football?tab=outrights):

Killoe 5/2 2/1 15/8 7/4
Mullinalaghta 7/4 15/8 2/1
Dromard 11/2 5/1 11/2 5/1
Colmcille 11/2 9/1 8/1 7/1
Mostrim 14/1 20/1 16/1 14/1
Granard 25/1 20/1 16/1 14/1
Clonguish 16/1 10/1 14/1 16/1
Longford Slashers 10/1 14/1 20/1
Abbeylara 12/1 10/1 12/1 25/1
Rathcline 33/1 50/1 100/1 40/1

Odds no longer offered on Carrickedmond or Ballymahon.

Boylesports (https://www.boylesports.com/sports/gaa/outrights)

Killoe 3/1 13/8
Mullinalaghta 11/8 13/8 15/8
Colmcille 3/1 6/1 5/1
Dromard 6/1 11/2 15/2 6/1
Clonguish 12/1 6/1 7/1
Mostrim 10/1 20/1 14/1
Abbeylara 14/1 12/1 10/1 20/1
Granard 40/1 33/1 20/1
Longford Slashers 10/1 20/1 33/1
Rathcline 100/1 50/1
Carrickedmond 100/1
Ballymahon 100/1 200/1