PREVIEW: Contenders colliding and drop deciders in final Kildare SFC group stage round

We are down to Round 3 in the group stages of the Joe Mallon Kildare Senior Football Championship this weekend, a vital weekend when all will be decided, whether it is booking a place in the quarter-finals, the pre quarter-finals, remaining as is with season over, or, being placed into a relegation final.

In many respects little has changed with the top fancied sides, that is, champions Naas, along with Sarsfields, Celbridge and Athy, all showing their credentials, some more than others but all still there with big chances.

In Group A and B, the side that comes out on top, along with the second side go straight to the quarters, the winner naturally taking the top position.

The third side in Group A and B go to a pre-quarter final while the side that finished fourth, the season is over.

In Group C and D, the sides that finish top in each group go straight through to quarter-final, the sides that finish second head to a pre-quarter-final, the side that finishes third their season is over while the bottom two teams in Group C and D will play one another, the loser will be demoted to intermediate for the 2026 season.

SFC Group A
Made up of Johnstownbridge, Celbridge, Athy and Clogherinkoe in that order with the top two on three points, Athy on two and Clogherinkoe zero.

In the final games Clogherinkoe play Celbridge while Johnstownbridge take on Athy.

Hard to see Clogherinkoe getting anything from Celbridge, while The Bridge will go into the Athy clash believing they can get something, especially after their big win over Clogherinkoe while Athy were way below par against Celbridge but can still progress.

Prediction: Celbridge to win and top the group; Athy to take second providing they can regain their best form with Johnstownbridge taking the third spot and a pre-quarter-final place.

Group B
Sarsfields, Naas, Maynooth and Raheens, in that order after two games.

Again, the top two will go straight to the quarters, who will top the group depends who wins their Round 3 clash between

Sarsfields and Naas. Both are playing exceptionally well, Naas defeated The Sash in the league final and will be expecting to do the same here.

Maynooth, one would have expected to have too much for Raheens, both got hidings in Round 2, Maynooth against Sarsfields, Raheens against Naas.

One would expect both to improve in this one, but while confidence will be down for the two of them Maynooth may just have enough to survive.

Prediction: Naas to top the group from Sarsfields; Maynooth to go to the pre-quarter-final.

Group C
Clane, Moorefield, Kilcock and Allenwood, in that order after two group games and like the other groups final placings will come down to Round 3 in this as well.

Clane take on Moorefield to decide who goes straight to the quarter-final, with the loser heading to the pre-quarters.
Very difficult one to call this, Clane can be very erratic from game to game while Moorefield can mix the good with the not-so-good in any given game.

Moorefield's championship credentials might get them over the line but it will be a close one.

The second game in this one, Kilcock v Allenwood, both have been really disappointing in their games todate. Kilcock have been relegated to Division 3 of the league while Allenwood are down to Division 2.

Could go either way but a slight preference is for Kilcock to survive with Allenwood heading to a relegation final.
Prediction: Moorefield to top group; Clane to pre quarter-final; Allenwood to relegation final.

Group D
Caragh, Eadestown, Carbury and Confey are in that order after their two games in this group.
Everything to play for here with Eadestown playing Confey and Caragh facing up to Carbury.

Confey would have been one of the favourites to be in contention for relegation before a ball was kicked and todate they have failed to gain a point, but having said that they have been competitive in both their games.
Caragh have enjoyed a great championship and should have enough to get through this one.

Eadestown and Carbury could be a real humdinger. Eadestown had a great win over Carbury last time out while Carbury were very disappointing losing out to Eadestown.

One of the most difficult to decide; Eoin Conneff is playing great stuff for Eadestown as seen against Carbury, while on the other side Eoin Cully, despite scoring just two points against Eadestown, is one of the most exciting forwards around.
Big game with the winner going through to the pre-quarter final, the loser probably bringing their season to an end.

Prediction: Caragh to advance to the quarters while Carbury edging Eadestown to keep their season alive; Eadestown to relegation final.

Knock-out

Preliminary quarter-final
PQ1: 3rd Group A v 2nd Group D;
PQ2: 3rd group B v 2nd Group C.

Quarter-finals
QF 1: 1st Group A v winner of Quarter-final 2;
QF 2: 1st Group B v Winner of 1;
QF 3: 1st Group C v 2nd Group B;
QF 4: 1st Group D v 2nd Group A.

Semi-finals
Winner QF 1 v Winner of QF 3;
winner QF 2 v Winner of QF 4.

Relegation Final:
Team 4 Group C v Team 4 Group D.

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