Team-by-team guide to the Intermediate Championship

Preview:

Paul Fitzpatrick goes through the 14 teams who will take their chance in the Intermediate Football Championship.

BAILIEBOROUGH SHAMROCKS

Manager: Bryan Bates

Captain: Aidan Reilly

ACFL finish: 3rd in Division 2, lost semi-final

2024 championship final: IFC quarter-final

First round opponents: Killinkere

Good news: Consistency in league form – the Shamrocks were promoted from Division 3 last year and finished third in Division 2 this year, with only Knockbride scoring more in the division. They also gave Ballyhaise a decent test in the semi-final.

The return of Philip Clarke, who missed most of last year due to work commitments, is also most welcome; Conor Gilsenan has also come back, having played club football in Meath for a few seasons.

Bad news: Rory Farrell had a shoulder injury again which meant he missed a number of matches – they need him fit. Rhys Clarke is also absent having moved to Australia.

Key man: Luke Gilsenan has being scoring very freely this league and the new rules suit him. If he fires on all cylinders, not many can deal with him at this level.

One to watch: Conor Monaghan, not 19 till November, is full of skill and guts and is being spoken about as a potential county player by the Shamrocks diehards if he can continue working hard.

BALLYMACHUGH

Manager: Stephen Baxter

Captain: Mark Kiernan

ACFL finish: 8th in Division 2

2024 championship finish: Relegation final

First round opponents: Denn

Good news: Ballymachugh have improved greatly on their margin of defeats. They shipped some bad beatings last year but while they lost six matches, three of them were by a point, one by two points and one by three, with the five-point loss to Drumgoon the heaviest reversal.

Bad news: Ben Tierney is away for the summer which leaves big boots to fill in the full-back line as he is an accomplished defender.

Key man: Liam Buchanan remains the go-to man for his fielding and runs through the centre as well as his penchant for scoring goals.

One to watch: Peter Devine and Shane Tynan are two of the stand-out young forwards in the grade but younger again is Shane’s brother Conor, who is an exciting talent.

BUTLERSBRIDGE

Manager: Keelan Melaniff

Captain: Diarmuid McCorry

ACFL finish: 6th in Division 2

2024 championship finish: IFC final

First round opponents: Drumgoon

Good news: The ’Bridge were in the IFC final in 2020, won it in 2021, were relegated back to it in 2022, missed out on making the quarters in 2023 on score difference and made the final last year, losing to a very strong Arva. In short, while there has been flux in the team, they’ve been around the block and have amassed considerable experience.

Meath native Keelan Melaniff has an impressive track record as a coach and manager and has integrated young graduates from their excellent underage system.

Bad news: They would have been fancied to make the semi-finals of the league but losing three of the last four games ruined that. The Bridge simply conceded too much – only bottom side Redhills leaked more in Division 2 – with injuries and emigration altering the make-up of the side since last year, a common story around the county. Although taking the second last round of the ACFL as an example, 12 who saw game time in last year’s Intermediate final did feature.

Key man: Fionntán O’Reilly was called up to the Cavan senior squad by Mickey Graham three years ago after exceptional form for the county U20s. He’s had a lot of injuries since but when he’s fit and firing, he can really do damage.

One to watch: Teenager Joe Dugdale caught the eye last year - he has size, power and fielding ability and can play ball.

CUCHULAINNS

Manager: Niall Lynch

Captain: Philip Smyth

ACFL finish: 4th Division 1, lost semi-final

2024 championship finish: IFC semi-final

First round opponents: Lavey

Good news: An excellent league campaign saw Cuchulainns, under experienced clubman Niall Lynch (who guided Kingscourt and Mullahoran to Senior Championships), finish in the top four. There is a sense of a young side coming of age and wins over Crosserlough, Castlerahan and Cavan Gaels were particularly noteworthy.

The experience of the likes of Evan Doughty, Bryan Magee and Adrian Taite – who won an Intermediate medal as far back as 2005 and is still doing the business around the middle – is augmented by a wave of young players.

Their talent is definitely not in question.

Bad news: Strangely, they were the lowest-scoring side in the top 11 in Division 1. They probably should have won the Intermediate Championship by now, with a Mayo-like succession of hard luck stories turning it into something of an odyssey, which only heightens the pressure.

Key man: Niall Carolan. For our money, just about Cavan’s best player in 2025. He is the real deal.

One to watch: Niall Magee. Tall, great hands, scoring ability – the county U20 player ticks a lot of boxes but his strongest asset is blistering acceleration. A stand-out championship could see him called into the county panel – but there’s a lot of football to be played before then.

COOTEHILL CELTIC

Manager: Hugh Durrigan

Captain: Sean O'Connor

ACFL finish: 7th in Division 2

2024 championship finish: IFC quarter-final

First round opponents: Drumlane

Good news: Dermie Connolly and Caoimhín Carney are both home after long-term travelling. Two 2014 IFC-winning players who have the necessary winning-experience to bring to a primarily young squad. Form picked up in the second half of the league and they are unbeaten in their last five matches.

Bad news: The Celts have a small enough squad which proved troublesome during the league campaign and could cause more issues in a compact championship schedule. Inconsistency is still an issue – league form was DWLLWLLWWDWW.

Key man: Shane Sexton - the Celts’ go-to forward for a number of years, there are not many in the county that can equal his goals-per-game ratio in league or championship. Cootehill scored 27 goals in the league, drawing a blank just once in 13 matches, and Sexton was a big part of that.

One to watch: Shane McCabe - the former county minor speedster scored 3-5 from play in the recent Division 2 minor league final narrow loss vs Crosserlough.

CORNAFEAN

Manager: Martin Cahill

Captain: Jason Miney

ACFL finish: 9th in Division 2

2024 championship finish: IFC quarter-final

First round opponents: Knockbride

Good news: Sean McFaul, the young goalkeeper, has delivered an impressive debut season for the Reds, proving reliable in league matches. His ability to kick accurately from the ground has been a key asset, frequently contributing to scores with long-range free kicks, often securing two points.

Bad news: Despite winning the opening four games in Division 2 Cornafean managed just two wins from the eight fixtures that followed, often throwing away leads. This is something that will need to be reversed.

Key man: Dean Kilkenny is the Reds’ key forward, despite injuries hampering parts of his league campaign. His speed and precision make him vital to the team's attack. If he has recovered from a recent injury he will be vital to Cornafean’s cause.

One to watch: In his fifth season with Cornafean at senior level, Peter Doyle has delivered impressive performances but struggles with consistency. When on form, a fully firing Doyle could pose a significant challenge to any defence.

DRUMGOON EIRE ÓG

Manager: Gerard McGeough

Captain: Dean Carroll

ACFL finish: 13th in Division 2, lost relegation play-off

2024 championship finish: Won relegation play-off

First round opponents: Butlersbridge

Good news: The return of Darragh Lynch for the recent relegation play-off against Drumlane after a long term injury (nine months); he played like he was never out of football. Much will rest on him staying fit for championship.

Bad news: Relegation to Division 3. Seven of last year’s starting team are gone this year due to retirement and travelling so it was always going to be a struggle to stay up as the player pool was already tight – and so it proved with 10 losses from 14 matches.

Key man: Matthew McDermott. He’s still only 18 but already hugely important in defence. Teak tough in the tackle and can score from distance.

One to watch: Ben Brennan has worked hard and he is growing in confidence every game; he now has the power and pace to hurt defences.

DRUMLANE

Manager: Martin Dunne

Captain: Ryan Connolly

ACFL finish: 12th in Division 2, won relegation play-off

2024 championship finish: 10th

First round opponents: Cootehill

Good news: A lot of long-term injured and players who had been away from home have returned in recent weeks, among them Michael Owens, Josh Marsden, James McCahill and Darragh Dolan. Most notable is Donal Monahan, a tower of strength at full-back prior to emigrating.

Bad news: Goalkeeper Harry Clarke will be in America for the group stages. League form was patchy at best with just four wins from the first 11 rounds.

Key man: Ryan Connolly. His creativity and place-kicking has always been integral to Drumlane and his value has risen even more with the new rules, as he showed when scoring 0-12 last time out in the play-off against Drumgoon.

One to watch: Caolán McAnenna. Just 18, he can play anywhere from wing-back up. He played nearly every league game due to injuries/absences and grew. Those who know reckon he is built and plays exactly like Darragh Dolan at that age – and Dolan has been one of the club’s best in recent years.

KILLINKERE

Manager: Ciaran O'Malley

Captain: Liam McCabe

ACFL finish: 10th in Division 2

2024 championship finish: Group stage

First round opponents: Bailieborough Shamrocks

Good news: Strong squad depth is developing, with plenty of selection headaches coming into championship. Ciaran O’Malley is a very good manager who has shown an ability to get the best out of players.

Bad news: Form waned towards the end of the league with a number of players missing through injury or abroad for the summer. Amazingly, didn’t keep a single clean sheet in the league.

Key man: Alex Sweeney - an ever-present throughout the league and developing into a top player, robust and can play ball and drive forward from defence.

One to watch: Former county underage player Cian McGovern was a major scoring threat in the first half of the league before an unfortunate injury.

KNOCKBRIDE

Manager: Ollie Fay

Captain: Mark Magee

ACFL finish: 5th in Division 2

2024 championship finish: JFC winners

First round opponents:Cornafean

Good news: Knockbride were well conditioned last year and the word is they have upped that again this season, with scorching pace in the side and little or no injuries at present.

Defender Philip Nulty is away but is expected home for the second group match. A further positive is an attack which is functioning very well; Knockbride were the highest scoring team in the division

Bad news: Last year, the excellent Philip Rogers, based overseas, flew home for the latter stages of the championship but there is no talk of that this time – not yet, anyway. Consistency wasn’t really there in the league, with five losses and eight wins.

Key man: Liam Fay has taken his game to another level this year and is going very well but Lorcan Reilly, just back from America, proved himself the key man last year, providing leadership and reliability, particularly from placed balls.

One to watch: Luke Reilly – talented young attacker who is breaking into a fairly stacked forward line, his work-rate is impressive and he’s very good on his day.

LACKEN CELTIC

Manager: Cathal Murphy

Captain: Shane Moynagh

ACFL finish: 13th in Division 1, lost relegation play-off

2024 championship finish: Won IFC relegation play-off

First round opponents: Shercock

Good news: It’s thin on the ground. The squad has been depleted for a few years now and found the going tough in Division 1. Paul Leddy returned to the side earlier in the year and there are some promising youngsters breaking through.

The club are renowned for their battling spirit and physicality and will be expected to rise it for the championship; with a decent draw they could escape the group and after that, who knows.

Bad news: Having stunned Ballyhaise in a play-off last year, relegation to Division 2 arrived this term, ending an unbroken 18-year run in the top flight. Conceded 28 goals in 11 league matches (they didn’t field against Gowna) although they did score a respectable 17.

Key man: James Galligan. Workhorse of the team at centre-back or midfield, battles well in defence and carries the ball with purpose going forward. An old-school player who is tough as they come.

One to watch: Cian Galligan. Just back from injury, he got the winning score in the recent Minor League final for Southern Gaels, very skilful and a useful free-taker.

LAVEY

Manager: Gary Donohoe

Captain: James McBreen

ACFL finish: 11th in Division 1, won relegation play-off

2024 championship finish: Relegated from SFC

First round opponents: Cuchulainns

Good news: Injuries have cleared up to some extent, with key men like Chris Conroy and Danny Cusack fit. Lavey have been a real championship team for a long time now and will be buoyed by a hard-fought local derby win over Laragh United in a relegation play-off.

Gary Donohoe has done a fine job with several clubs and county sides and will get a tune out of the New Inns men, with wins over Kingscourt and Cavan Gaels in the league catching the eye.

Recent intermediate winners like Arva, Ballyhaise and Castlerahan all had played Division 1 league football, which bodes well.

Bad news: The first-round draw is difficult with Cuchulainns flying high in the league, although there was only a point between them when they met a few weeks ago. A number of talented young players including the Maguires are overseas.

Key man: Gerry Smith. The county star is on a different level athletically to most others in the Intermediate Championship and brings a wealth of experience.

One to watch: Young defender Finn Buckley.

SHERCOCK

Manager: Patrick Kelly

Captain: Damien McIntyre

ACFL finish: 4th (promoted to Division 1)

2024 championship finish: IFC quarter-final

First round opponents: Lacken

Good news: A return to Division 1 for the first time in 40 years was a fantastic achievement and well deserved. The win over Killygarry in the league semi-final really caught the eye; Shercock are physically powerful and play to their strengths and that was very much evident on the day.

The arrival of a talented wave of young players has bolstered what was a wafer-thin squad, with the likes of Roman Hrushchak and Lee Browne impressing.

“The last two years we have been in two relegation finals, it just goes to show how quickly things can change when you get an influx of players – it’s known we have been operating on small numbers. The club is on a high from that semi-final win,” was captain Damien McIntyre’s analysis at the championship launch, which summed it up.

Bad news: There isn’t really much; if we’re being picky, there are still a few players who could do a good job out of the country.

Key man: Killian Clarke is the talisman – his fielding ability, versatility, place-kicking and general athleticism are unmatched in the squad, or many squads in the competition.

One to watch: Fintan McIntyre has really stepped up this year.

DENN

Manager: Brian Donohoe

Captain: Sean Donohoe

ACFL finish: 1st in Division 3, won semi-final

2024 championship finish: IFC semifinal

First round opponents: Ballymachugh

Good news: For a long time, Denn have had a reputation as a championship team and it has been a deserved one. They tend not to be overly bothered with the league and rise it for the championship.

In that regard, they won’t have been too bothered about playing Division 3 football this year and their form was good anyway, winning 10 matches in a row before a one-point reversal on June 27 against Munterconnaught with top spot already secured.

They subsequently hit 5-22 in the league semi-final against Swanlinbar and with promotion secured, they come into the championship in good shape. Having made the quarters, final and semi in the last three years, they are a seasoned side and well able to mix it at this level.

Bad news: Former county U20 captain Caoláin McCabe has struggled with injuries and the word on the bush wire is that he may not be fit for the early rounds of the championship at least. Oisin Kiernan, a county starter in 2024, has been in the States and his availability depends on who you speak to.

Key man: While Cavell Keogan has been scoring heavily, Thomas Edward Donohoe remains the most important player.

One to watch: Oisin Smith has been in good form in attack recently and has shown an eye for goal.

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