Who are Leixlip's Leinster opponents this weekend? A quick-look at Turin

It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for the Kildare Intermediate Hurling champions, Leixlip were awarded the title on Thursday, October 29 after Naas conceded the final, citing that they could not fulfil the fixture.

Despite the disappointment of being denied their county final outing, The Lip now look ahead to meeting Turin in the first round of the AIB Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship.

Their opponents are of course not the Italian city and home of Juventus FC but rather the 2026 Westmeath Intermediate champs and the sides meet on Saturday, November 7 for a 1:30pm throw-in at Killucan GAA in The Lake County.

Turin won the 2026 Westmeath IHC title on October 18, defeating Raharney by 0–19 to 1–9 in the final to scenes of jubilant celebration in TEG Cusack Park.

Their recent triumph was the club’s first Intermediate hurling crown and first trophy win of any kind for their senior outfit since 1985 when they lifted a JHC title. The red and white faithful were understandably overjoyed as the 2026 panel took them to places not seen since Patrick Hillery was Uachtarán na hÉireann.

Turin themselves were founded just a year after (1923) the Irish Free State officially came into being following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

Key men

The players at the tops of the pitch who have been firing for the Westmeath men are Conor Heffernan, Padraig Tormey and Sean Leech, all of whom have had fine seasons in front of the posts as their club completed their long-held quest for silverware. The standout among them is Conor Heffernan who, according to statistics gathered by The Loaf of Bread GAA podcast, scored a staggering 5-70 in the Westmetah IHC, 14 points more than his nearest rival.

Jack Geoghegan and Ciaran Kiernan have received praise for their midfield output and they will match up with Leixlip eight and nine Cathal Derivan and Eoghan Harrington.

County champions

Turin were also tasked with facing a bigger club’s second side in their county final and suffered defeat to their future final opponents in round five of this year’s Westmeath championship, despite aforementioned star forward Conor Heffernan managing 1-12 on the day. There were no concessions on Westmeath IHC final day as Turin finished an impressive seven-points the better.

According to the Westmeath Examiner, John Gorman's Turin side did overcome Raharney in 2025 by 2-14 to 0-15, but the Raharney side of ‘26 was pegged as a stronger one evidenced by their impressive semi-final victory over Cullion. Turin, for their part, had a fine victory over Clonkill’s second team in their semi-final, and their second-half display which gave them plenty of encouragement headed into the decider.

Turin emerged as champions and they now welcome an eager for action Leixlip on Saturday, November 7.