Eadestown on the hunt for sixth successive Kildare title
Eadestown are the ones to catch again this year Photo: Sean Brilly
The Kildare LGFA Championships begin this Tuesday night and the six-million-dollar question is who will stop Eadestown claiming their sixth title in a row when the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship Final takes place in October?
The defending County Champions and Leinster Finalists of 2024 are included in a Group A along with Maynooth, Suncroft and last year’s beaten finalists, St Laurence’s. The Larry’s will host the Sky Blues in the opening round fixture while Maynooth will host Suncroft.
Championship winners in 2016, St Laurence’s, may have been heavily defeated in last year’s final but they are on an upward curve having beaten Eadestown in last year’s League Final and just lost out to Kilcullen in this year’s decider. They will be backboned by the three Wheeler sisters, Gillian, Ciara and Emma as well as intercounty championship debutant, Mia Ryan. Maebh Collins is a very strong and reliable goalkeeper while Marie Kiely and Megan Alcock can get the scores up front. There is no word yet as to whether the outstanding Brianne Leahy-Heydon will make an appearance in this year’s championship.
Former Kildare captain, Grace Clifford, who became a mother recently, has declared herself available for the championship and could make her return to action for Eadestown as early as this Tuesday’s fixture against St Laurence’s. As well as Clifford, the Sky Blues, of course, are brimming with experience throughout the team with the likes of Ruth Sargeant, Siobhan O’Sullivan and Gráinne Kenneally very much to the fore. Add in the likes of Aine Mernagh and Abaigh Cahill and you have a formidable outfit.
Suncroft will be led once again by county star, Ellen Dowling, who has returned to full fitness. They were promoted to the senior championship two years ago and won the Division 2 of the League last year. For their part Maynooth will be led by Aoife Murnane but they will be without dual player Roisin Forde who is out injured. Maynooth were promoted to the senior ranks in 2020 and they won the Division 1 title two years ago.
Group B includes last year’s Intermediate Champions, Kill and the 2025 Division 1 League Champions, Kilcullen. Also in Group B are Sarsfields, beaten finalists in 2023, and Confey. County captain, Laoise Lenehan, will backbone the Kill team but another county player, Kaitlyn Miley, will also be one to watch. The north Kildare side are on a bit of a winning momentum since winning the Minor C Championships in 2022 and 2023. They were also Division 4 winners in the League in 2023 and Division 3 last year. Kill face Confey in the opening fixture. The Cope Bridge side were last Champions in 2019 when they beat neighbours, Leixlip and they were also champions in 2009, 2012 and 2017.
The other opening fixture in Group B sees Sarsfields host Division 1 League Champions, Kilcullen, in somewhat of a local Derby.
Sarsfields were Championship runners up in 2022 and 2023 and they last won the Kieran Burke Cup in 2015. When you think of Sarsfields you think of Róisín Byrne and no doubt the county All Star will be very prominent for the Sash in their 2025 campaign although she is sure to have great support from another county star, Ciara Price. Sash were Division 2 League runners up in 2024.
2025 Division 1 League winners, Kilcullen, are sure to have a right crack at this year’s senior championship. They include Molly Aspell, who had an outstanding year with Kildare, but Jayne Peacocke and the Tyrell sisters, Amy and Leah will also be ones to watch.
Eadestown, St Laurence’s, Kill and Kilcullen to advance to semi-finals.
Just like in the men’s game the Joe Mallon Motors Kildare LGFA Intermediate Championship in a very difficult one to win. Group A includes, Leixlip and Clane as well as north west neighbours, Carbury and Balyna while other neighbours Cappagh and Kilcock are included in Group B along with Naas and Raheens.
Leixlip are down from the senior championship, a competition they won in 2011 and 2014. Mia Doherty was probably Kildare’s Player of the Year this year and she will drive her side on as they face a Carbury side led by Claire Sullivan. Carbury joined the intermediate ranks after beating Milltown in the Junior A Final in 2023. Clane have been in the Intermediate ranks since 2014 and they host Balyna in Round 1 this Tuesday. Balyna lost out by a point to Suncroft in the 2023 decider and they also won the Division 2 League title that year.
Group B includes Cappagh, Kilcock, Naas and Raheens. Cappagh will host Naas in Round 1 while Kilcock will host Raheens. Kilcock, who were relegated from the Intermediate grade in 2023, make a quick return after winning the Kildare Junior A title last years and the Leinster Junior title. Raheens will have outstanding Kildare player, Laura Dunlea and her county colleague, Leah McGovern, to help them advance. They won the Junior A title in and Division 5 League in 2022 and the Division 4 title last year.
Aoife Rattigan will be the lead player for Cappagh but she will have support from another county player, Alex Reynolds while first round opponents, Naas, will have Kildare sharp shooter, Alannah Prizeman and Lisa Shaw to bolster their chances. It is not known if outstanding defender, Lauren Burke, who was injured in the Intermediate All Ireland Final in 2023, will be available for this year’s club championship.
Leixlip, Carbury, Raheens and Cappagh to advance to semi-finals.
In the Naas Racecourse Junior A Championship, Athy, without Neasa Dooley, who is in Australia, will host Moorefield and Celbridge will host Rathangan in Group A this Tuesday while Ciara Moran’s Na Fianna will host Sallins, who now have Mary Hulgraine back in goals, and Milltown, backed by Laura Murtagh and Lara Curran, will host Lara Gilbert’s Kildangan Nurney.
Athy, Moorefield, Milltown and Sallins to advance to semi-finals.
Joe Mallon Motors LGFA Senior Championship
Group A: Maynooth V Suncroft; St Laurence’s V Eadestown
Group B: Sarsfields V Kilcullen, Kill V Confey
Joe Mallon Motors LGFA Intermediate Championship
Group A: Leixlip V Carbury, Clane V Balyna
Group B: Cappagh V Naas, Kilcock V Raheens
Naas Racecourse LGFA Junior A Championship
Group A: Athy V Moorefield, Celbridge V Rathangan
Group B: Na Fianna V Sallins, Milltown V Kildangan/Nurney
Naas Racecourse LGFA Junior B Championship Round Towers V Rathcoffey, Ballymore Eustace V Castlemitchell, Two Mile House V Rheban
Naas Racecourse LGFA Junior C Championship Group A: Castledermot V Ellistown, St Kevin’s V Athgarvan Group B: Newtown Gaels V Ballykelly, Grangenolvin V Monasterevan
Naas Racecourse LGFA Reserve A Championship
Group A: Sallins 2 V Naas 2, Kilcullen 2 V St Laurence’s 2
Group B: Sarsfields 2 V Maynooth 2, Eadestown 2 V Celbridge 2
Naas Racecourse LGFA Reserve B Championship
Group A: Na Fianna 2 V Rathangan 2, Clane 2 V Raheens 2
Group B: Round Towers 2 V Leixlip 2, Carbury 2 V Kilcock 2
