LACKEN CELTIC  

Management:          

Mick O’Rourke (manager),

Championship programme:

League stage round one:

Lacken Celtic v Kingscourt Stars, August 1

Team news:

Lacken have had to absorb a few blows ahead of the start of this season. Cavan footballer James Galligan is away for the year while Damien McKiernan is taking a year out. Niall McKiernan does return from a long-term injury though. Manager Mick O’Rourke has appointed joint-captains in the form of David Wilson and Killian Galligan and they will be hoping to make up for the disappointing end to last year’s group stages. A win over Cootehill and a draw with Kingscourt, who they meet again in two weeks, meant that a single point in their last two games would have secured a quarter-final spot – but they lost to Gowna and, agonisingly, to Ramor United by a point. Conceded seven goals in their four group games last year and, worryingly, they conceded the same amount in last week’s Division One clash with Gowna. Maybe the break can explain the oddness of the result (they only lost by three points) and it gives them something to focus on heading into the game with the Stars.