Junior A football championship race is wide open

Although much of the focus this weekend will be on the many subplots in both the senior and intermediate championships, there are no shortage of stories brewing within an intriguing King and Moffatt Junior A Football Championship.

St. Barry’s success in 2024 was a bolt from the blue. The Tarmonbarry-based side finished third in their group before defeating Strokestown B, Boyle B, Ballinameen and Clann B on their way to a sensational county title triumph.

Their run offers hope to a plethora of teams who will believe they can defy their perceived underdogs status to be lifting silverware in King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park later in the year.

St. Croan’s and St. Aidan’s will be at the forefront when it comes to the favourites tag for this year’s campaign. The former let victory slip through their grasp in the opening round of last year’s intermediate championship against Creggs. In truth, they never truly recovered as they were victims of a brilliant St. Michael’s comeback in the relegation final.

Promotion is no guarantee for St. Croan’s, but they will be favourites to top a group containing St. Ronan’s, St. Joseph’s and Boyle B.

Meanwhile, St. Aidan’s know that extending their stay beyond two years in the Junior A championship will make promotion back to the intermediate ranks all the tougher. Their quarter-final with Clann B last year contained all the ingredients for an upset, and yet it was still a shock to see them fall in their first knockout game.

They have tough group with a rematch of last year’s quarter-final on the cards, while Tansey Cup champions Strokestown and a Western Gaels side, that reached the quarter-finals in 2024, ensures that this is the most competitive group on paper.

Emmet Durney’s side have reached the last two county finals, so Clann will be determined to make it third time lucky and ensure they are represented in the top two tiers of Roscommon club football in 2026. The experience of Cathal Shine was to the fore in their recent Division Four League final success, and the former Roscommon player will be a crucial cog if Clann are to avenge last year’s painful county final defeat.

Meanwhile, Ballinameen possess the right age profile to take a crack at championship honours. The experienced Dessie Carlos will be aiming to lead them on their way, but the likes of David Wynne and Ronan Garvin will be aiming to help Ballinameen avenge their one-point semi-final defeat to eventual champions St. Barry’s.

Roscommon Gaels B reached last year’s county semi-final even when their first team were progressing to the county senior final. Meanwhile, it will be intriguing to see how St. Brigid’s C fare after claiming the Junior B title last year.

St. Ronan’s haven’t been able to replicate their run to the county final in 2022 but are still a dangerous side on their day, while St. Joseph’s have hope of reaching the knockout stages following a decent Tansey Cup campaign.

No doubt, St. Croan’s will hold the favourites tag but there are plenty of teams who will fancy knocking them off their perch.