Kildare SFC Prelim time but hard to look beyond Naas and Sarsfields

It's senior club football championship time this weekend with the preliminary rounds down for decision in senior and intermediate with games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The JFC continues beginning on Wednesday.

Most games will be played at Manguard Park, due to the redevelopment of St Conleth's, but not all, with venues such as Celbridge, Round Towers, Clane, Raheens, Athy and Kilcullen also hosting fixtures.

Naas are the current holders, and the recent Leinster Leader (Division 1 SFL) champions will be hoping to make it three senior titles in a row.

Winning three in a row is one hell of an ask of any club. The last one to do that was 71 years ago when Sarsfields completed the treble in 1952, having won it '50 and '51.
Prior to that Naas completed the treble in 1922, 1923 and 1924.

Going further back Clane did it 2001, 2002 and 2003 while Roseberry completed a remarkable seven timer back from 1904 to 1910.

So no matter what way one looks at it winning three senior titles in a row is a remarkable achievement whether it was back at the start of the century, mid-way through it or when ever.

Clane lead the order of merit table for most senior titles with no less than 17; Sarsfields are just one adrift on 16; Carbury on 11 with Naas, Round Towers, Moorefield and Naas on 10 followed by Roseberry on 9.

So what of 2023?
You can dress it up any way you want to but in reality there are, at most, three, in a (big) push four clubs who are in with a realistic chance of lifting the Dermot Bourke Cup come the end of this season's senior.

Whether that will be Naas making it their second three-in-a-row or one of the others we will have to wait and see but have no doubt Naas will be heading into this championship with their confidence sky high, their belief not in question and their ability beyond approach.

Second favourites and probably the one side that is in with a real genuine chance of upsetting them is undoubtedly Sarsfields.
New manager Pat Flanagan has seen his side contest three finals to date this season and while no silverware was raised the 'big one' as ever will bring the best out of Sarsfields as it invariably does.

The SFL league final just two weeks ago looked to be going with ease to Naas but Sarsfields came storming back into contention in the second half, when with a man advantage, hit six points in a row to cut the lead back to a single point before Naas kicked on again winning by two.

Both managers could take positives from that final as reported in the Leinster Leader last week with Joe Murphy (Naas) and the aforementioned Pat Flanagan really looking forward to the championship following very positive league campaigns.
No shortage of talent on either side; both have a fine mix of young and experienced players with Naas probably edging it slightly but there are some excellent young players in Sarsfields who may not be as well know as some of the Naas lads but nevertheless have no shortage of potential.

Apart from those two who are the other real genuine contenders?
Celbridge, as usual, even if they did suffer a hammering in the League semi-final but are a better side than that result suggests.

Athy will give it their all and with the likes of Kevin Feely not back fully fit will be expecting to make a mark.
Last season's finalists Clane will be hoping to cause a few upsets again as they did last term.

Moorefield made it to the League semi-final before going under to Sarsfields but they have a lot of young players who will be playing senior championship for the first time and it will be big ask for Ger Brennan's side this time around.

Of the rest?
Johnstownbridge, Raheens, and Maynooth among them but the more one looks at it the more one comes to the conclusion after three, maybe four, it is difficult to see any other club coming out of the pack.

Naas are quoted at 4/6; Sarsfields 3/1 and it is 13/2 Celbridge; Clane 12s, Moorefield and Athy 14s and 33/1 and better the rest.

INTERMEDIATE FC
As per usual The Auld Triangle Pub Athy IFC is as difficult as ever to try and decipher with a number of clubs in real chances of taking the title.

Ballyteague and Castledermot contested the 2022 final with The Larks recording a memorable victory.
As usual the beaten finalists from the previous year will be expected to make a bold bid to make amends 12 months on, and this season will certainly be no different this time around.

One team that caught the eye in 2022 was Sallins and the fact they have gained promotion to Division 1 for next season certainly indicates that Pat 'Stretch' Winders side are in good fettle and while they gave way to Maynooth in that Division 2 final they lost by just three points and will certainly be looking forward to this championship
Leixlip and Castledermot operated in Division 1 this season and that is always a positive when looking at intermediate.

Allenwood will beat more teams that will beat them while one expect Kilcock and Round Towers to also have a big say in proceedings.

Milltown have enjoyed a fine league, albeit in Division 4, but when they get the bit between their teeth they can be difficult to defeat.

When this week's preliminary round is completed we will have a better indication of who is or isn't firing but keep a particular eye on Sallins, Leixlip, Castledermot and possibly Rathangan but as usual there are a host of clubs more than capable of coming through.

The Tom Cross JFC continues this week with five games down for decision.