Larries, Eadestown And Sarsfields favourites for senior title
St Laurence's are out to defend their Kildare LGFA Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship title title year Photo: Aisling Hyland
The Joe Mallon Motors Kildare LGFA Senior and Intermediate football championships for 2026 begin this (Tuesday) evening along with the Naas Racecourse Junior Championships with plenty of mouth-watering contests down for decision.
St Laurence’s are defending champions having defeated six in a row championship chasing Eadestown in the Final on a blustery evening last October. The game was a repeat of the 2024 decider which Eadestown won comfortably but St Laurence’s always claimed that they didn’t do themselves justice in 2024 and set out to make amends in 2025 which they achieved in a tense battle with the Sky Blues.
St Laurence’s have been included in Group A along with Kilcullen, Maynooth and 2026 League winners, Sarsfields. 2025 beaten finalists, Eadestown have been included in Group B along with Kill, Suncroft and Balyna.
St Laurence’s open their account with a home match against an up-and-coming Kilcullen team who went out to Eadestown at the semi final stage last year. Larries with have outstanding young goalkeeper, Chloe Wright leading from the back again but they will be strong throughout with the Wheelers, Emma, Gillian and Ciara, the Mileys Niamh and Jean, the Marrons, Ava and Elaine as well as the experienced Marie Kealy to boost their chances. Kilcullen joined the senior ranks after winning the Intermediate championship in 2022. They also won Division 1 in the League that same year. They have a number of the players from the great minor teams of 2018 to 2023.
Nanci Murphy and Molly Aspell were outstanding performers for Kildare in 2026 and will form the backbone of this young Kilcullen team. If St Laurence’s play to their potential then they should have enough to see them through at home, however anything short of that potential then Kilcullen are capable of taking advantage and use their experience from reaching the semi-final last year.
In the other game in Group A Maynooth will host League winners, Sarsfields. The Sash reached the semi final last year losing at that stage 1-11 to 0-11 to eventual champions, St Laurence’s. They have had a good 2026 winning their first Division 1 League with a 3-13 to 3-6 win over Eadestown in May. Former All Star, Róisín Byrne, is still a huge threat for Sarsfields but they can also call on county players Siofra Galvin and Aisling Irhue to give them an advantage. The Sash last won the senior title in 2015 but they will be one of the favourites in 2026 and should start with a win away to Maynooth who won the Intermediate title in 2020 and Division 1 of the League three years later. County players Aoife Murnane and Meabh McDonagh will make Maynooth competitive but Sarsfields should prevail.
In Group B last year’s beaten finalists, Eadestown travel to Kill for their championship opener. Although they lost out last year, the Sky Blues haven’t gone away, you know, and reached this year’s Division 1 League Final. They completed a five in a row of senior titles in 2024 and will be among the favourites again in 2026. Former county captain, Grace Clifford and former county player, Grainne Kenneally will provide the leadership but there are other outstanding players there too in Ruth Sargent, Aine Mernagh, Jessica Harney and Abaigh Cahill. Kill will be led by the outstanding Kildare captain, Laoise Lenehan but they may lack experience at this level for this game at least. In the other game in the Group Suncroft, who won the intermediate in 2023 will have Elaine Dowling and Ruth Dillon to help them as they host Balyna who have county player, Megan Cooney in their team. Home advantage should suit Suncroft.
Leixlip, who will include Corla Nallen and Mia Doherty, will host newly promoted Na Fianna in Group A of the Intermediate Championship with home advantage taken to swing it Leixlip’s way while in the other game in that Group, Kilcock will host Naas. Sarah O’Sullivan will provide the strength for Kilcock but the exciting Alannah Prizeman and Lisa Shaw will give Naas the advantage. In Group B a very experienced Cappagh side led by Aoife Rattigan, Aoife and Aine Mulligan should have too much for Confey who just lost out to Naas in the Division 2 League Final this year.
Naas Racecourse Kildare LGFA Junior “A” Championship In the Junior “A” Championship Group A Clane will host Two Mile House while Sallins will host Athy with home advantage telling in both contests. In Group B Milltown travel to Celbridge and should come away with the win but home advantage should swing it for Moorefield as they host Rathangan.
St Laurence’s V Kilcullen, 8pm, Referee: Caroline Sexton
Maynooth V Sarsfields, 8pm Referee: Paul Fahey
Suncroft V Balyna 7.30pm, Referee: Barry Moore
Kill V Eadestown 7.30pm, Referee: Owen Murphy
Kilcock V Naas 8pm, Referee: Finbarr Shanahan
Leixlip V Na Fianna 7.45pm, Referee: Paul Brogan
Raheens V Carbury 7.30pm, Referee: Anthony Herbert
Cappagh V Confey 7.30pm Referee: Donnacha Dowling
Sallins V Athy Clane V Two Mile House
Celbridge V Milltown 8pm, Referee: Craig Hughes
Moorefield V Rathangan 8pm, Referee: Darren Malone
