PREVIEW: Lots at stake in final Kildare IFC group stage round

The final group stage round of the National Electrical Wholesalers Kildare Intermediate Football Championship is upon us and there are some mouth-watering fixtures on the docket and most positions are still down for decision.

Some housekeeping before the breakdown is that the top three teams from Group A and B will reach the knockouts, with the top two into the quarter-final stages alongside the first place teams from Group C and D. The third placed teams in A and B will meet second place in C and D in the Preliminary Quarter-Finals.

If two teams finish level on points, position is dictated by head to head. If three teams are level on points, position is dictated by their points differential but only between the three teams concerned. The respective games with the ‘fourth’ team will not be counted.

Bottom place finishers in group C and D face off in the relegation final.

Group A

Rathangan vs Straffan

Milltown vs Ellistown

Group A is the most straightforward of the bunch. After impressing, Rathangan, Milltown, and Ellistown all qualified for the knockouts and who finishes where is the only issue down for decision. Although Straffan put it up to Milltown when they met, they are likely to come up short against Rathangan, which means that Milltown and Ellistown will have a straight shootout for a top two place.

A draw puts Milltown second in that scenario, but they should have enough to beat the Junior champions who have had a stellar first year back in the IFC. That being said, Ellistown have shown a great capacity to score and Milltown will concede a decent amount en-route to putting up their own inevitably strong total. The opening minutes will dictate the watchability of these two games, but a bright start from either underdog could wobble the top two and it is always fun watching a good team try to figure things out and wrestle back control.

Group B

Sallins vs Round Towers

Ballyteague vs Castledermot

The Championship favourites, Sallins, have already qualified for the Quarter-Final stage but Round Towers (who they play in the final round), Ballyteague, and Castledermot are most certainly not. 

Group B has several potential outcomes with things being black and white for Castledermot who must win to try and progress from this group. If both Sallins and Casteldermot come out on top, it will be a three-way showdown on points difference between the non-qualified for the two remaining spots. In that scenario, Castledermot would have to beat Ballyteague by six to surpass their relevant points difference and by 14 points if they hope to leap Towers.

After putting on their first truly impressive performance against Castledermot, Towers may feel they can upset Sallins who are being tipped to the point of excess. If Towers and Ballyteague were to win, that pair and Sallins would be the three teams to progress with points difference dictating, although Ballyteague sit well behind the other two after 2-21 to 0-7 defeat to Sallins but would progress third. 

If Towers and Castledermot come out on top, the Kidlare Town men will progress alongside Sallins while Castledermot happily head for the Prelims.

Sallins and Towers is a litmus test for both and for very different reasons. Sallins have so much quality all over the field and they are being hailed beyond their achievements at the minute. They are stiff, resolute tests to come for them in one of the hardest Championships, especially as a team being discussed so glowingly. There is a red target on that green and white jersey.

For Towers, free hits would be overestimating things but they ignite their season with a win here. They can re-instil belief after some damaging defeats and poor showings in 2025 as one of the favoured teams. They have been written off prematurely and a win or even a ‘pushed them all the way’ defeat could get their tails up for the rest of this Championships.

Ballyteague and Castledermot are the two ‘lesser’ sides in this group but they have both shown real quality at points in this Championship season and it is a straight dogfight between the two for progression. This should be a fascinating match-up of styles and worth seeing as both navigate not necessarily being considered the weaker side in this fixture. Ballyteague took the game Towers and it paid off big time, they should target similar here with Castledermot winless in the groups. A draw suits The Larks better but I think consideration of that fact could be a slippery slope headed towards the end of their 2025.

Group C

St Laurence’s vs Kilcullen

St Kevin’s vs Two Mile House

Another group with plenty in flux is Group C. St Laurence’s are almost certain to progress but not guaranteed it. St Kevin’s have the simple MO of needing a win to try and avoid a relegation final. 

If Kevin’s (facing Two Mile House) and Larries (facing Kilcullen) were to achieve their respective wins, then the bottom three teams would arrive at a three-way point shown to dictate the rest of the table and who is heading on and who is heading the dread drop decider. In that scenario, Two Mile House still look strong with an +11 points differential needing to be overturned compared to Kilcullen (-7) and St Kevin’s (-4) in their final game. Everything is still on the table for second through fourth.

With Kilcullen facing the team with two wins from two, Two Mile House have a real chance of reaching the knockouts if they can beat a winless St Kevin’s, who will be buoyed by a desire to avoid the deathly decider. Two Mile House and Kevin’s will be the game to watch here because of the jeopardy for all concerned and uncertainty in what version of either side will show up.

The Rags and Larries will likely only go one way but Kilcullen were superb against Kevin’s for stretches of that game and if they start with a bit more gusto they might cause some more hassle than they are expected to. Kilcullen fans watching the other game will have a quandary on their hands, a win for local rivals Two Mile House assures their safety but sends them out. A St Kevin’s win creates a three-way points showdown to potentially progress, but also one that could easily send them into a relegation final based on points difference after their heavy defeat to The House. 

Larries can only exit if Two Mile House and Kilcullen register considerable wins on the final day and force a points showdown at the top.

Group D

Leixlip vs Nurney

Suncroft vs Monasterevin

Lexilip face the same unlikely potential exit from Group D as Larries do above, but this Championship might screech to a halt if Nurney manage to turn over the table-toppers.

The game to monitor is Suncroft vs Monasterevan. If The Croft win, they progress in second and Monasterevan join the team propping up Group C for a place in the Junior Championship.

Monastervean beating Suncroft is where this group gets interesting. Nurney have the worst points differential set against the other two teams with -3 to their name after a four-point loss to The Croft and a one-point win over Monasterevan (who have -1). Suncroft sit +4 with their win over Nurney. It will all come down to the scoreline if the bottom place team causes an upset with neither of the second and third placers out of the woods just yet.

Leixlip and Nurney looks set to complete a 100% group stage record for the former with the other Group D clash being the box-office draw. If there is anything other than a commanding Suncroft lead, that game will be nervy beyond belief with so many moving parts. If nothing else, drama will be plentiful.

READ NEXT: Fixtures for Kildare Intermediate Football Championship group stage final round announced