PREVIEW: Who can stop Naas from taking another Kildare Senior Football Championship?

The August Bank Holiday weekend is all done and dusted, and nowadays, in this cramped GAA calendar that can mean only one thing, the start of the 2025 Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship.

Champions, Naas, are looking for their fifth Kildare senior title in a row, something that has not been achieved for 100 years, and that was by Roseberry who are accredited with winning seven titles between 1904 and 1910, not sure what rules were in use back then but there certainly were no two-pointers and that's for sure.

Naas, of course have been the dominant force, not only winning four senior titles they have also won the last three SFL titles (Leinster Leader Cups) defeating Sarsfields in this, and last year's final.

It is no rocket science to see that the boys from the county town are firm favourites to add senior title five-in-a-row in 2025, and with former Dublin great, Philly McMahon now in charge, no doubt that has given the side a freshness (not that they needed one) but a new experienced manager, new ideas and along with a new coach, James Burke, they will probably have a Leinster Club title on their radar but before they can't be thinking along those lines, the Kildare title has to be won, first.

Naas open their defence in the preliminary round against Moorefield on Thursday and will be expected to book their place in the winners' group. No doubt Frank Hanniffy will have The Moores primed up for this one but it would be a gigantic shock if there was anything other than a resounding win for the champs.

Naas defeated Celbridge in last season's decider, a game that went down to the wire, many felt it was theirs for the taking but, not for the first time, in fact for the second year in a row, Celbridge faltered close to the finishing line.

Just a single point separated Naas and Celbridge last year and just two the previous season so Michael McDermott will no doubt be hoping his luck might change at the third time of asking.

Celbridge take on Clane in the Preliminary Round, a game that could tells us a lot and whatever about the winner, the loser will certainly be looked upon as one of the strongest in the losers' group.

Celbridge just missed out on a semi-final spot in the senior league while Clane had a very up-and-down campaign but with their county players back they can be expected to push Celbridge but the boys in blue will be expected to take that one.

Celbridge defeated Sarsfields in the 2024 semi-final, just two points separated them, they (Sarsfields) enjoyed an excellent league campaign winning all but one game, that against Raheens.

In the final they started impressively, very impressively against a Naas side missing some of their county men, but slowly Naas wore them down and in the end had no less than six points to spare.

That was a major blow to Sarsfields and it will be interesting to see how they react from that set-back.

One defeat, albeit against the might of Naas, does not make them a poor side and one feels they won't be too far away come the knock-out stages again, they play Carbury in the Prelim round who finished in fifth spot in Division 2, Vinny Walsh's side should have enough to win it.

Athy, are among a group, a small group it has to be said, that could be there or thereabouts come the business end of this championship.

They got to the quarters last season, losing out to Celbridge 1-15 to 0-7, they finished mid-table in the senior league but, again, they will have their county men back and that will be a good boost for them.

They take on Eadestown in the Preliminary round and will be expected to win that. However Eadestown are a different side come the championship, they will have their hurling contingent back in the fold but this game might come a bit early for them, usually they (Eadestown) are a side that improves as the competition moves on and Athy would be expected to advance.
Raheens reached the quarter-final last term, going out to Athy (3-15 to 1-13) on a day they (Raheens) never reached their best form.

A mixed league display where they finished with 11 points, and while some of their players have been away in The States, most are expected back before the start of this championship, where they take on their parish rivals Caragh in the preliminary round.

Caragh operated in Division 3 this year, reached the final where they defeated Ellistown, both gaining promotion.
Could be a sticky one this taking everything into consideration but the fact Raheens played Division 1 football should stand to them, they get a tentative vote.

Johnstownbridge regained their Division 1 status after winning Division 2 a few weeks ago, defeating Milltown somewhat comprehensively in that final, they play Confey in their opener and should have too much for a side that struggled at times in the same division.

Allenwood take on Clogherinkoe this weekend, The Cloghs having had a terrible league campaign that saw them relegated to Division 3 and while we can expect them to improve come this weekend, Allenwood will go into this one full of confidence and get the vote

In the final game in the preliminary round, Kilcock take on Maynooth in a north Kildare derby. Kilcock did not enjoy a good league campaign, relegated to Division 3, while Maynooth with Neil Flynn back in the fold get a comfortable vote to win this.
Fasten your seat belts the 2025 senior championship is about to take off!

The Preliminary Round of the Joe Mallon SFC gets under way this Thursday, 7 August, champions Naas, take on Moorefield at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbrige.

Group draws will take place after preliminary round.

Preliminary Round Draw

Thursday August 7

Naas v Moorefield

Friday, August 8

Athy v Eadestown
Allenwood v Clogherinkoe

Saturday, August 9

Kilcock v Maynooth
Celbridge v Clane

Sunday, August 10

Caragh v Raheens
Confey v JTB;
Carbury v Sarsfields

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