There will be a new name on the Conlon Cup in the Carlow senior football championship this year as Rathvilly bowed out at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday evening.
The reigning champions were on the wrong end of a 0-14 to 0-9 result to see Old Leighlin book their place in the final after Palatine brushed Eire Og aside on Saturday. It will be Palatine’s first return to the senior football championship final since 2012.
Having trailed by three points at the break against Eire Og on Saturday, Palatine turned their semi-final clash on its head with two goals from Jamie Kenny and John Reid, Pal holding off everything Eire Og had to offer in the closing stages of a top drawer semi-final fixture to run out 3-9 to 2-9 winners.
“Any day you beat Eire Og in the championship – it wouldn’t be a regular occurrance for Palatine, so its very sweet, we’re very happy. We wouldn’t be happy with the first half performance, we didn’t really turn up. But to be fair to the lads, they dug in, and they gave a good performance in the second half”, said Palatine manager Mick Lillis.
Brendan Hennessy spoke to Lillis following the game, which you can hear below.
This year’s final is scheduled for Sunday 11 October at Netwatch Cullen Park.
