GROUP D: All to play for with Two Mile House and Rathangan in wide open group
Two Mile House, Ellistown, Rathangan and Castledermot make up Group D of the 2026 National Electrical Wholesalers Intermediate Football Championship
Both Castledermot and Two Mile House finished second in their respective Kildare Intermediate Championship groups in 2025. The former moved on to face eventual finalists St Laurence’s who bounced back superbly from a shock final group stage round defeat to Kilcullen to progress.
The House ended up in a preliminary quarter-final with Round Towers and upset the odds with Didider Cordonnier hitting six of their 13 points on route to victory. Cordonnier and his ability to slot frees from outside the arc and set-pieces in general is an enormous weapon to have in their arsenal, he hit another 13 as they cruised past Rathangan and into the final four. This group, like Group C, is a wide open collection of teams with all looking to get an early win on the board in what could be two enlightening Round 1 encounters.
Castledermot exited the 2025 IFC at the hands of eventual finalists St Laurence’s following an enthralling quarter-final, Larries edged past Castledermot 1-20 to 2-14 after extra time. After relegation from Division 2 in 2026, they continue to be an unknowable force headed in 2026 with the capability to both disappoint and delight.
Ellistown held their own in 2025 with a preliminary round win ensuring their safety and an eight-point beating of Straffan getting them to a prelim quarter-final, where they fell to Suncroft. They did however take a Round 1 hammering in 2025 to Round 1 opponents again in 2026, Rathangan. There is little to suggest the result will be different this time around with the games that follow being the key fixtures for Ellistown.
Rathangan arrive again as contenders with the moniker of ‘dark horse’ no longer apt for their pursuit of Senior Championship status. They will be raring to put things right this year after somewhat of a regression in 2025 after they were dumped out by Two mile House at the quarter-final stage.
Freakish 13-point goalkeeping contributions aside, Rathangan only managed 1-10 in that game and will be looking to put down an early marker against Ellistown before they meet the side that sent them packing last year.