2025 Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC to start with a bang with repeat of 2024 epic final

The 2025 Connacht Gold Leitrim Senior Football Championship will start with a bang with a repeat of last year's epic two game Final as champions Mohill open the defence of the Fenagh Cup by hosting Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins while newly crowned League champions St Mary's Kiltoghert travel to face Glencar Manorhamilton.

The draw took place after an entertaining and draining ACL Division 1 Final in Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, St Mary's regaining the League title courtesy of a 2-17 to 0-21 extra-time victory over Fenagh St Caillins with the draw for the first round of the Connacht Gold Senior and Smith Monumentals Intermediate championships taking place afterwards.

Mohill's clash with Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins will take much of the attention, although Mohill's home advantage won't be that with Pairc Philly McGuinness closed for works, meaning the game is likely to take place in Cloone. It is an intriguing start to the campaign with the defending champions struggling to find form in the league thanks to a hefty injury list that may be just lifting in recent weeks.

St Mary's Kiltoghert will need every bit of rest this week to recover from their extra-time exertions as they travel to Boggaun for their clash with Glencar Manorhamilton while last year's Intermediate champions Melvin Gaels will host Leitrim Gaels in Melvin Park in their first forray back into the Senior championship.

Fenagh St Caillins will host Aughawillan in their first game of the campaign as they took have a potentially quick turnaround after the League Final.

The intriguing factor to the draw means that teams drawn at home in the first round will play away in the second, meaning that Melvin Gaels, Mohill, Fenagh St Caillins and Glencar Manorhamilton will not face each other in round 2. It also means that three of the presumptive favourites in Leitrim Gaels, Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins and St Mary's Kiltoghert, along with Aughawillan, will not face each other either in round 2.

In the Smith Monumentals IFC, newly crowned Division 2 champions and last year's defeated finalists Allen Gaels will host Gortletteragh while 2024 Junior Championship winners Bornacoola will face St Mary's second string in an intriguing clash. Carrigallen host Annaduff while St Patrick's Dromahair have a north Leitrim battle with Ballinaglera.

The final first round game sees Drumkeerin host newly crowned Division 3 League champions Kiltubrid.

The full Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC first round draw is as follows:

• Melvin Gaels v Leitrim Gaels
• Mohill v Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins
• Fenagh St Caillins v Aughawillan
• Glencar Manorhamilton v St Mary's Kiltoghert

The full Smith Monumentals IFC first round draw is as follows:

• Allen Gaels v Gortletteragh
• Bornacoola v St Mary's Kiltoghert
• Carrigallen v Annaduff
• St Patrick's Dromahair v Ballinaglera
• Drumkeerin v Kiltubrid

Dates and times for the championship games will be confirmed by the Leitrim CCC.