By Michael Devlin

Should the young hurlers of Longford crown their 2019 Bank Of Ireland Celtic Challenge campaign with sliverware on Saturday, it would spark immense pride in Carol Murray.

Not just as a team manager and dedicated volunteer of hurling in the county, but also as a mother.

Murray has three sons on the Longford U17 squad that take on Leitrim in the opening final of Saturday’s feast of hurling competition at Tullamore, the Corn Tom Hogan.

Twins John and Stephen are in their last year at U17 level, having played in several Celtic Challenge campaigns so far. Youngest boy Adam, aged 15, has been displaying leadership qualities beyond his years, and he is top scorer for his team in the competition.

“This is Adam’s first year and he’s done really well. He is the ‘wee’ brother, but he’s actually six foot two and bigger than the twins!” said Murray. “Stephen has been injured for the last while, but we’re hoping we can give him a run-out on Saturday.”

Longford are coming off the back of a semi-final win over Fermanagh that progress them to the final at Bord na Móna O'Connor Park. Trailing at half time by 1-6 to 1-9, they fought back bravely in the second half to win by a goal.

Plying their trade in Celtic Challenge Group F, Longford finished fifth of the six teams. After enduring heavy losses to the much more competent sides Wicklow Gold and Kildare Cadets, they performed well in their other games against more suited opponents, drawing with Louth and Cavan and just losing to Monaghan by six.

“The first few games we were fairly up against it, against Kildare Cadets and Wicklow Golds. They were in a whole other league ahead of our boys,” says Murray. “But they did their best and stood up to it, and that’s all we can ask. It’s all about experience and learning. Our squad is a very young squad still, so a lot of the boys will be around for next year. It’s a big learning experience for them.

The essence of the Celtic Challenge competition, now in its fourth iteration, is to develop players by providing them with a meaningful programme of games. After the eight group stages, a seeding system determines which of the six divisional competitions each team proceeds to, depending on the strength of their performances in the group, and also the status of their county team at current senior level.

Saturday’s final will be Longford’s eighth game in the competition, and Murray says the abundance of games have accelerated the levels of focus and drive in the squad.

“The more games the boys played together, the more they come on and improve, and the more they are stepping it up. They are getting hungry now, and they want the result. They want to do well and push on."

Murray is the hurling chairperson at Longford Slashers, who along with Wolfe Tones are the only two hurling clubs in Longford. Alongside her putting in good work with the Celtic Challenge team is Séamus Hughes, the county’s Hurling Games Promotion Officer, and her fellow Slashers’ clubmate Niall Ward. Robbie Stakelum, Alan Wade and John Nelson are also involved with the squad.

She believes the procession of competitions from Féile na nGael at U14 grade, the Táin Óg hurling leagues, and then the Celtic Challenge, are essential for developing the game in counties like Longford.

“This competition for the likes of Longford is huge. It’s a huge step up for the boys, and over the last few years the boys from both clubs have really stepped up. Our club won at the Feile this year for the second year in a row, and its competitions like these over the last few years that have really brought on the two clubs that are playing together as a county squad, and brought them to where they are today. They really are starting to build and are really starting to go places now.”

“It’ll make people sit up and take note of the talent that we have growing in the county. We wouldn’t be seen as a predominant area for hurling, it’s a very football dominated county. You’d have to fight to get your hurling games, and the majority of your hurling games would be out of town, very few games happen in Longford.

“A lot of these boys play football, so it’s very hard to get them out for hurling when you’re up against a football match. But now, the further they’ve got with the Celtic Challenge, the more they’ve been getting focused and knuckle down.”

Croke Park on Saturday past was witness to great scenes as Leitrim hurlers recorded a magnificent extra-time success over Lancashire in the Lory Meagher Cup decider, a maiden All-Ireland title for the Connacht men. Sligo then completed one of the stories of the GAA so far this summer with a thrilling victory over Armagh in the Nicky Rackard Cup final, 12 months on from winning the Meagher.

Both counties will attest to the influence of the Celtic Challenge in those triumphs. Indeed, seven players graduated to the Leitrim senior inter-county ranks after taking part in the competition. Carol Murray hopes that one day it is her boys - John, Stephen and Adam – and their Longford team-mates who are climbing up the steps of the Hogan Stand and hoisting an All-Ireland trophy aloft.

“We would hopefully, going forward, with the work being put into these boys. They are eager and happy, they’ll try their best. It’s fantastic to see the talent coming up, and you can see it getting stronger every year.”