Kildare Senior Football Championship 2000-2025 results analysis 

A study conducted by the Kildare Nationalist into the results of Kildare Senior Football Championship shows that Sarsfields have played more, and won more, games in the Championship throughout that 26 year period.

They are one of just five clubs who have been every presents in the Championship this century – along with their Newbridge rivals Moorefield, Athy, Carbury and Clane.

Their longevity in the Championship is one of the reason that Carbury and Clane are tied for the most defeats in that period, with 53 losses.

However, despite those stats, Moorefield would the quickest to tell their neighbours that the most important statistic during this era is the number of titles won, and Moorefield lead the way there with nine. Sarsfields won six titles, Naas had their four-in-a-row and current holders Athy won their third title of this era last year. Then, there has been one success each for Round Towers, Allenwood, St Laurence’s and Celbridge.

Let us delve a little further into the results.

At the summit stand Sarsfields, the undisputed kings of the modern era. Across 26 seasons, the Newbridge club have played an incredible 140 championship matches, winning 98 of them. Their remarkable 70 per cent win rate is the highest among all clubs with significant championship experience, underlining a period of sustained excellence that few can match. While many clubs have enjoyed successful eras, Sarsfields have turned consistency into an art form, losing just 35 games and drawing seven throughout their championship journey.

Not far behind are Celbridge, whose rise over the past two decades has transformed the Hazelhatch Road club into one of the county's powerhouse clubs. In 114 games spread over 24 seasons, Celbridge have won 78 times, giving them a win percentage of 68%. Their ability to remain competitive year after year has made them one of the most respected sides in Kildare football, although they would be the first to admit that they should have converted those wins into more Championship titles.

Alongside Sarsfields and Celbridge sit Moorefield, another giant of the championship. Their record of 94 wins from 139 matches is evidence of extraordinary consistency. While their win percentage of just under 68% narrowly places them behind the other two heavyweights, their total victories are second only to Sarsfields. With just 33 defeats and a relatively high number of drawn encounters, Moorefield's record reflects a side that rarely gives away anything easily.

The next tier belongs to Athy, whose championship history deserves enormous respect. Winning 76 of their 120 games, Athy boast a strong success rate of 63.33 per cent. Their record places them firmly among the county's elite and highlights a club that has consistently challenged for honours over the decades and they will be out to keep the Dermot Bourke Cup around Etex Geraldine Park for another 12 months.

Naas complete the group of clubs with winning records comfortably above 50%. The county town side have won 57 of 99 championship but that is heavily weighted to the recent past. 32 of those wins have come since 2021and that win ratio has propelled them into the elite company near the top of this table.

Among the clubs with shorter championship histories, Johnstownbridge deserve special mention. Across 17 seasons they have played 66 contests, winning 34, losing 30 and drawing just twice. While their win percentage sits at 52%, the figures show a club that has more often than not emerged on the right side of tight battles and they have consistently reached the last of the Championship.

Beyond the championship heavyweights lies a fascinating middle ground. St Laurence’s have perhaps mastered survival and competitiveness more than any other club. Their 108 games over 25 seasons have resulted in 49 wins, 46 losses and 13 draws. No club has drawn more games, and their figures suggest a side capable of matching almost anyone on their day, as they did regularly during the noughties. They were an ever-present during this era until their relegation in 2024 and they are currently building a young team at Intermediate that they hope will help them compete at the top table sometime in the not-too-distant future.

Carbury and Clane, both long-serving championship participants, have remarkably similar records. Carbury have won 41 of their 98 matches, while Clane have 44 victories from 106 outings. Both clubs have experienced highs and lows but have remained fixtures in the championship landscape for over a quarter of a century.

Round Towers, Leixlip, Allenwood and Kilcock form another group of clubs whose histories have been characterised by determination. None of them possess winning records, but all have accumulated enough victories to leave lasting marks on championship history. Allenwood's nine draws and Kilcock's six underline how often fine margins separated success and disappointment.

For clubs such as Confey, Ellistown, Maynooth and Eadestown, the championship experience has often been one of perseverance. Their records may show more defeats than victories, but longevity itself is an achievement in a competition that continuously evolves and becomes more competitive.

The statistics also reveal some intriguing stories among clubs with fewer appearances. Caragh have contested only ten championship games but have still won four of them, giving the club a respectable 40% success rate. Rathangan, despite just seven matches, have also managed two victories and a draw, proving they could compete when opportunities arose.

Then there are those clubs whose championship journeys have been especially challenging. St Kevins, Ballymore, Kilcullen and Suncroft all struggled to gain momentum against more established opponents. Yet every appearance represented a chance to compete on the county's biggest stage and contribute to the rich tapestry of championship football.

At the bottom of the table sit clubs whose records tell only a small part of their story. Monasterevan have one win from 12 matches, while Rheban secured a draw but never recorded a championship victory in four attempts. Two Mile House and Ballyteague each endured difficult single-season campaigns, losing all four of their championship fixtures.

Those are the matches that are in the past now with many great battles consigned to history where they live on forever. For the clubs starting out in the second quarter of this century, a new opportunity awaits - to create their own stories, forge their own rivalries, and add fresh chapters to an ever-evolving tradition.