Conahy welcome Barcelona to Kilkenny for historic football clash

Europe’s biggest GAA club, Barcelona Gaels, are set to make history when they face Conahy Shamrocks in the Leinster junior football championship in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday (throw-in 12 noon), becoming the first-ever Iberian team to compete in the prestigious provincial competition.

With no European club having won in Leinster to date, the Gaels are determined to break new ground and represent the strength of Gaelic Games outside of Ireland.

This milestone comes after a hard-fought journey through the European Championship defeating Madrid Harps, Amsterdam GAC and Berlin en route to their first European Championship.

The Gaels beat Amsterdam GAC in the semi-final, a team that had never lost in European 15-a-side competition, to secure their spot in Leinster having fallen short in the previous two finals to the Dutch side.

Already this season, the club also completed a clean sweep of Iberian titles in Salou in May winning the senior and intermediate championships for both men’s and Ladies football.

Conahy will be looking to put a disappointing hurling season behind them after they were relegated to the junior grade on the back of losing out to Carrickshock a couple of weeks ago.

The county football success for the Jenkinstown side arrived before the hurling even kicked off after they beat Glenmore in the final in Thomastown last May.

Conahy scored three goals on the way to winning that game after only having a point to spare in the previous three championship wins over St Patrick’s, league winners Rower-Inistioge and Barrow Rangers.

Kilkenny’s success rate in the Leinster Junior Club Championship has been poor but with home advantage, Conahy will be hopeful of a winning start.