PREVIEW: Kildare champs Grange hoping for nothing Messi in Barca challenge

Camp Nou, Sagrada Familia, Paella and now a Leinster Junior Championship Semi-Final are all a part of Barcelona at the moment.

The Barcelona Gaels are the largest Irish diaspora club of their kind in mainland Europe, and last year made history as the first team from Iberia to compete in the Leinster Club JFC when they faced Kilkenny’s Conahy Shamrocks at Nowlan Park.

Fast forward to 2025 and the Barca boys are coming to Manguard Park, Hawkfield to take on Kildare Junior champs Grangenolvin in a Leinster Semi-Final. The sides will meet at 2:30pm on Saturday, November 29.

Among the Barcelona contingent are two Kildare men with Kilcock's Cameron Nairn and Johnstownbridge's Josh O'Donoghue, who top-scored in their last game, both having starring roles in Barcelona's Leinster campaign so far.

Barcelona won their Leinster Quarter-Final away to Ballinagore as the Spanish side braved terrible conditions in Westmeath with the match also being moved to the 3G pitch in St Lomans Mullingar.

After leading 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, the Spaniards emerged as 1-10 to 0-10 victors to shock the home side, but did have to hold off a mighty Ballinagore comeback as they fought claw their way into this game from 1-8 to 0-3 down with 15 minutes to go following a disastrous second half showing to that point.

Ballinagore poured on the pressure late but were denied goals by heroic blocks from Barcelona corner-back Ciaran Cusack and superb saves by ‘keeper Jack Carey.

In reports after the game, the stunned Westmeath media praised the winning side for having their homework done and reducing Ballinagore’s star forward, who had scored 0-10 in the Westmeath decider, Tommy McDaniel to just 0-3 from play.

Despite the wider local desire for TikiTaka football, this is a Barcelona team made up of Irish faces and therefore Irish sensibilities and they are not shy about taking to the skies to find a route to goal. That fact was exemplified in their Leinster Quarter-Final win when full-forward Darragh Curran dropped deep before sending a high, searching ball into the forward line that caused havoc. The ball was kept alive by Barcelona captain John O’Keefe and Jack Toner collected possession before driving a superb left-footed finish low into the net.

The Spaniards encounter a Grange side who put together an impressive showing last time out to beat Wexford champions Cloughbawn. The Kildare JFC winners have had the privilege of having all three of their Leinster games so far set at a Kildare venue, although if an away trip was possible for their next opponent it may not have been half bad.

Grange face a diligent and highly-motivated Barca team who are hoping to make history for their own and indeed all continental GAA clubs when they face the Kildare men. However, Grange are a direct attacking force and should have the fire power necessary to cause the visitors plenty of problems. Fionn and Conall Bergin were once again central to their superiority last time out and will no doubt be crucial to their success again. The latter’s strength in midfield has been vital all year for Grange and they looked a much better team when he entered at half-time of their Leinster opener against St Brigid's Croghan.

Despite a seven-point win and progression once again, Grange manager David Conway had plenty to say on the shortcomings of his side’s performance against Cloughbawn. Conway highlighted their concession of goal chances and added “I felt the game toed and froed a bit too much and as a result they got a few frees that brought them back into it.”

It is clear from his post-match interviews that Conway is keeping on top of his high-flying Junior champs and with good reason as Grange are now staring at a superb opportunity for a Leinster Final.

Grangenolvin face Barcelona Gaels at 2:30pm in Manguard Park, Hawkfield on Saturday, November 29 with a provincial final spot at stake.

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