Preview: Another scramble expected as Kildare IFC remains wide open this year

As was ever the case, navigating the choppy waters of the Kildare Intermediate Football Championship will be extremely difficult once again this year as the competitive nature of the competition shows no sign of abating.

With Raheens and Round Towers moving up the Senior Championship in recent years, and Allenwood and Monasterevan moving down, the championship has probably been weakened slightly however.

This year there is any one of six or seven teams who will hold realistic ambitions of making it out of the grade, but there are a couple of standout sides who you would expect to compete at the business end of proceedings.

Two Mile House underwhelmed in last year’s championship, perhaps scarred by the agonising nature of their replay defeat to Round Towers in the previous year’s final, but they have what looks like the most talented squad in the competition. The county class of Chris Healy, Mark Sherry and Peter Kelly – who is back to his very best – combined with extremely reliable performers in Aidan Casey and Nathan Sherry makes the House the strongest looking panel of players on paper.

Their opening game in this year’s championship is against a Nurney side who remain dogged and competitive, but they probably lack the firepower to outscore their opponents in round one.

The other main contenders for the title look to be St Kevin’s, who like Raheens before them will have benefited from playing in Division 1 of the league this year. Despite not winning since the opening day of the league, Kevin’s have remained competitive and have a finely balanced team with a blend of physicality and skill that should see them go far in the Intermediate Championship.

Up against them in their opening tie on Sunday is an Ellistown side that have rarely threatened to make it far in the championship recently, and they will be hoping to avoid any threat of relegation this year.

Last year’s beaten finalists, Kilcock, are a team who have plenty of potential for improvement. Their progression to the final last year was a surprise, but any team containing the likes of Eoin Powderly, Dan Courtney and Shane O’Rourke should be taken seriously at this level. They take on a Ballyteague side who retain the ability to cause an upset, and if Seamus Hanifin and Jimmy Hyland can work off each other well inside, they could cause an upset in the opening round on Friday.

Clogherinkoe are always considered a potential dark horse for the title, so much so that it is nearly expected of them to go far in this competition every year. Jack Robinson is one of the best players in the Intermediate grade, and with a fine midfield platform of Daniel Pike and Dan Grehan providing ball-winning capabilities, they should expect to reach the latter stages again this year. They meet Kill in round one at 6.30pm on a Bank Holiday Monday, a frankly ludicrous time to be playing a club championship match.

Allenwood’s drop down to intermediate level begins with a tricky meeting against Rathangan, and a winner is almost impossible to call from that game.

Sallins and Suncroft promises to be another tight affair, but the class of Fionn Dowling and Eoghan Lawless should turn that game in the latter’s favour.

The final two games of the weekend take place on Sunday-week, with Kilcullen and Straffan set to be another arm wrestle, though it should be Straffan who emerge on top when looking at their form over the course of 2018.

Monasterevan will be hoping to make it far in this year’s championship after passing up a golden opportunity to get to the final when they lost to Kilcock in 2017, and their campaign begins with an intriguing battle against Ballymore Eustace, who themselves earned promotion after winning the Junior Championship last year.

Pittman Traffic & Safety IFC round one fixtures

Friday May 5

Venue: Manguard Plus Kildare GAA COE, Ballyteague V Kilcock 20:15, Ref: David Coady

Sunday May 6

Venue: Clane, Sallins V Suncroft 15:30, Ref: Raymond Kelly

Venue: Manguard Plus Kildare GAA COE, Nurney V Two Mile House 16:30, Ref: Owen Murphy

Venue: Clane, Ellistown V St Kevin's 17:00, Ref: Fergus Devereaux

Venue: Manguard Plus Kildare GAA COE, Allenwood V Rathangan 18:00, Ref: Conor Daly

Monday May 7

Venue: Manguard Plus Kildare GAA COE, Clogherinkoe V Kill 18:30, Ref: Paddy Mc Dermott

Sunday May 13

Venue: Newbridge, Kilcullen V Straffan13:00, Ref: TBC