Naas remain firm favourites as SFC quarter-finals beckon

If the layers are anything to go on three-in-row seeking Naas remain as the hot favourites to fulfil that elusive treble of Kildare senior football championships as the quarter-finals are down for decision this Saturday and Sunday.

Despite being held to a draw in their final group game by Athy, Joe Murphy's side are quoted at 4/7 to make it three senior championship titles in a row.

The depth of the Naas panel will certainly be tested in the coming weeks with both Darragh Kirwan and Tom Browne on the injured list and unlikely to play any part this weekend, at least when they take on Moorefield on Sunday.

Athy are now quoted as second favourites at 4/1 while Celbridge are quoted at 5/1 to regain the title they last won back in 2008 after a replay with Sarsfields. Celbridge were last in the final back in 2017 when losing out to Moorefield.

Athy won their seventh title back in 2020 having lost finals in 2015 and again in 2018.

Sarsfields, originally quoted as second favourties are now given a quote of 5/1 joint third favourites.

The Newbridge side were fortunate to make it to the pre-quarter final only advancing when the Naas and Athy game surprisingly ended in a draw two weeks ago; that draw enabled the Newbridge side to qualify and they duly booked their quarter-final place with an easy win over Eadestown last weekend.

A major worry for Sarsfields however is the injury picked by their star player, and county man, Ben McCormack who ended up in hospital on Sunday evening having picked up what looked like a serious injury after colliding with one of his team mates .

However it us understood that the flying forward was released from hospital later on Sunday having been diagnosed with nothing broken, just bruising.

It does, however, leave him very doubtful for this weekend's quarter-final clash with Celbridge. Manager Pat Flanagan told the Leinster Leader that at this stage “the main thing is for the health of Ben; everything after that is secondary.”

The other prices for the quarter-finals sees Clane quoted at 12/1, Johnstownbridge 22/1, Moorefield 35/1 while Raheens are the rank outsiders at this stage at 50/1.

Quarter-finals are down for decision on Saturday and Sunday, all in Manguard Park.