Impossible to look beyond champs Naas ahead of Senior Championship opener

Having won the last three senior football championships, Naas, are now the firm favourites to become the most successful club team in the modern area.

Last year the boys from the county town equelled Sarsfields three-in-a-row feat back in the early '50s and while a host of teams have won back-to-back titles it was not until 2023 that Naas got to equal the Newbridge side's feat.

Of course if you want to delve back to the start of the century Roseberry, who have nine titles to their credit, in fact won seven-in-a-row (1904 to 1910); while Clane are the most successful side in the county having won no less than 25 senior titles, their first, ironically the first senior title in the county was in 1888 when they defeated Naas on a score line of Clane 0-4 Naas 0-0.

So who said packed defences were a modern day phenomenal. Then again maybe it had nothing to do with packed defences and more to do with poor forward play. No matter.

If the layers are anything to go on well this season's senior title is all but done and dusted before a ball is even kicked in anger.

Roaring hot favourites, Joe Murphy's side are 4/6 to bring up the four with Celbridge 5/1, Sarsfields 6/1 and the rest 9/1 all the way out to Kilcock and Carbury who are both quoted at 150/1.

Sarsfields v Moorefield
So this weekend we have the Preliminary Round of the Joe Mallon Motors SFC beginning on Fridy evening at Manguard Park when Sarsfields and town rivals, Moorefield, go head-to-head to see who progress to Group 1 (winners' group) and Group 2 (losers' group).

What an attractive game to get this year's competition up and running and no doubt if this one doesn't attract a big attendance then one has to wonder what will.

Sarsfields were last in the final in 2021 when they lost out to Naas by two points. They (Sarsfields) reached the final of the Leinster Leader Cup (SFL Divisin 1) decider b this year but were well beaten by holders Naas.

In fact after enjoying an excellend league campaign, Sarsfields, lost to Friday's opponents, Moorefield, in the last game of the league and while they (Sarsfields) were already assured of a semi-final place, nevertheless losing out to The Moores was not part of the plan and then losing to Naas in the final certainly had Vinny Walsh and his management team scratch-
ing their collective heads.

Moorefield, under one of their favourite sons, Frank Hanniffy this year, had a mixed league, some could say somewhat unlucky, losing a couple of games by a point but they certainly finished well.

Both of these teams will have a fair view names somewhat unfamiliar to many, young players getting their chance at this level for the first time; add in the local derby rivalry and this is one that while Sarsfields will go in as firm favourites, never-
theless their opponents will be more than hopeful of causing an early upset.

Prediction: Sarsfields, but only just.

Allenwood v Kilcock
Having enjoyed a brilliant season in 2023 Allenwood return to the senior championship and will fancy their chances of marking their return with a win over Kilcock.

The Blues, intermediate and Leinster champions just 12 months ago, have certainly brought that form into this season, having won all 11 games (one walkover) in Division 2 and then going on to clinch the title defeating St Laurence's in the final.

They have a fine blend of youth and experience and their front line of Johnny Doyle, Joey Cunningham and Eoin Bagnall will test many a defence.

Kilcock just missed out on a final spot even if they did finish some eight points behind Allenwood in the league table.

Prediction: Going on league form, hard not to see Allenwood continue on their winning ways.

Maynooth v Athy
This has the makings of being a top class game with no shortage of county players involved; both will be expect-
ing to enjoy a decent championship.

Maynooth did not make it to the last eight last season, although they did defeat Athy in Group B, Round 2, while Athy made it to the semi-final losing to Celbridge 2-16 to 0-17.

In the SFL Athy were in the last four, losing out after extra time to Sarsfields, while Maynooth finished mid-table.

Prediction: Athy.

St Laurence's v Clogherinkoe

The Larries retained their senior status when defeating Ballyteague in the Relegation play-off in 2023 while Clogherinkoe defeated this weekend opponents in the preliminary round 12 months ago.

The Cloghs did make it to the preliminary quarter-
final before losing out to Moorefield.

In this season's league The Larries made it to the final (on the last round of results) before going under to Allenwood, but they did put up a good fight that day.

Clogherinkoe finished mid-table in Division 2.

Prediction: The Cloghs will give it their all in the preliminary but St Laurence's get the nod.

Clane v Eadestown

Eadestown have a habit of keeping their best performances for the championship but they will have their work cut out in the preliminary round when they take on Clane, a team who made the top four in Division 1 this term while Eadestown finished mid-table in Division 2.

Clane made it to the semi-final of last season's SFC, going under to Naas by just two points and no doubt Tom Cribbin will be hoping for a similar run this time around.

Eadestown made it to the preliminary quarter-final 12 months ago before being well beaten by Sarsfields.

Prediction: Clane.

Confey v Carbury
Two of the so-called outsiders meet on Saturday, a game not too easy to pre-
dict. Carbury have 11 titles to their name, the last back in 1985 when they defeated Raheens in the final.

Confey, on the other hand yet to put their name on the senior trophy.

Both of these sides operated in SFL Division 2, Confey finishing in fifth with Carbury a few places behind them. Carbury lost two finals in a row 2011 and 2012 but have since not really threatened, although they certainly did bring off a few surprises along the line.

Prediction: A tough one but we'll give Carbury the nod, but not with any real confidence.

Naas v Johnstownbridge
As mentioned Naas are the hot favs to go all the way for the fourth season in a row and it is difficult to see them being overly stressed in the preliminary round when they face up to Johnstownbridge.

As already stated Naas won the Leader Cup (back-to-backs) defeating Sarsfields while last term they defeated Moorefield in the semi-final, somewhat comfortably, before defeating Celbridge in the final.

Johnstownbridge had a very poor league, being relegated to Division 2 but they did make it to the last four of the championship last year, going under to Clane 4-9 to 3-3.

Prediction: Naas.

Celbridge v Raheens
The final game in the preliminary round of the 2024 Joe Mallon Motors SFC sees Celbridge, second favourites to take the title, take on the boys from Caragh.

Neither excelled in the SFL Division 1, Celbridge were very inconsistent, some good performances but also some poor ones.
Raheens finished a few places above them and were still in with a chance of making it to the semi-finals the last day of games.
Last season Raheens made it to the last eight, before going out to Athy by four points in a low scoring encounter.

Celbridge enjoyed a fine championship 12 months ago defeating Sarsfields in the quarter-finals by three points before getting the better of Athy in a cracking semi-final before giving way to Naas in the decider.

Prediction: Celbridge.