SFC team-by-team guide

Football

Paul Fitzpatrick looks through the runners and riders for the 2025 Senior Football Championship.

Ballinagh

Manager: Ciaran O’Reilly

Captain: Cormac Timoney

ACFL finish: 8th in Division 1

2024 championship finish: SFC quarter-final

First round opponents: Gowna

Good news: With their backs to the wall when missing a few key men (notably former county players Niall McDermott and Evan Finnegan), they managed to get a couple of good results to stay up in Division 1 of the All-County League, losing one of their last six matches.

Bad news: Perennial top scorer McDermott may miss the group stage at least with a leg fracture.

Key man: Cormac Timoney – athletic, skilful, the driving force of the team now.

One to watch: Ronan Connolly. A utility man who can do a man-marking job and is also comfortable on the front foot.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Monaghan – hard to beat, usually in the last eight or thereabouts, reliable place-kickers.

Ballyhaise

Manager: Gerard O' Kane

Captain: Aodhagán Watters

ACFL finish: 2nd in Division 2, won the final

2024 championship finish: SFC quarter-final

First round opponents: Laragh

Good news: Promotion was achieved with the minimum of fuss following a surprise relegation from the top flight of the league last season and they landed the title for good measure. The continued development of Evan Crowe is also a big boost – he established himself as a first-choice midfielder at senior level for the county in 2025 and should be full of confidence. The injury situation looks fairly rosy compared to some clubs, with Eoin Clarke missing the league final but otherwise most players in fine fettle which has added depth.

Bad news: Cayman Islands-based David Brady is home - but not for long. Kevin Tierney, for so long the go-to man up front, has also not featured this year.

Key man: Gary O’Rourke. His ability to kick and find pockets of space against a press is up there with the best around and his shot-stopping is outstanding.

One to watch: Sean Óg Teevan. Just out of minor, he has impressed with the seniors, scoring 1-1 in the league final recently.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Louth. Superbly conditioned, big in physical stature, excellent place-kickers and full of confidence at present, having spent an extended spell in the doldrums. Have won over the doubters but will know they must close the gap to kick on to bigger things.

Castlerahan

Manager: Fergal Flanagan

Captain: Cormac Daly

ACFL finish: 5th in Division 1

2024 championship finish: Quarter-final

First round opponents: Crosserlough

Good news: They turned in a solid league and integrated young players such as Jamie Clarke, Senan Macken, John Linnane, Jamie O’Reilly and Luke Caldwell. The promising Jason O’Gorman is soon to return from a long-term injury.

Bad news: The opening-round draw doesn’t get much tougher and some more experienced players, including the O’Connell twins, have stepped away.

Key man: Hard to look past Stephen Cooney – he has reinvented himself in a more attacking role in recent years and his experience, along with others like Fergal Reilly and Oisin Kiernan, is key.

One to watch: Jamie Clarke – stand-out county minor midfielder last year and son of former club midfield stalwart John, tall and rangy with a great engine.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Cork. Best in the business a few years ago, building back now but haven't recaptured the magic consistently just yet. A fine side in full flow who could beat anyone on their day but still a bit off the leading contenders.

Cavan Gaels

Manager: Declan McCoy

Captain: Padraig Sexton

ACFL finish: 9th in Division 1

2024 championship finish: SFC semi-final

First round opponents: Kingscourt

Good news: No shortage of experience and a winning mentality. Plenty of SFC medallists in the side and some young guns from the Minor-winning team of 2023.

Bad news: Gearoid McKiernan’s transfer to Swanlinbar didn’t go through but he is not part of the panel and is thought unlikely to play for the Gaels again. While they beat Crosserlough in Kilnaleck in the league which shows they can still rise their game, it has to be a concern that they recorded no wins against any other side in the top eight in Division 1.

Key man: Luke Molloy was brilliant last year and will be pivotal again.

One to watch: Ben Tully - a classy young ball-player.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Dublin. The undoubted kingpins for a long time, they brought things to a new level but the underage conveyor began to stutter and some of their decorated old soldiers ran out of road. Retain the elite mentality but the aura is not what it was and others no longer quake in their boots when their name comes out of the hat.

Crosserlough

Manager: Ryan Daly

Captain: Peter Smith

ACFL finish: 3rd in Division 1, lost final

2024 championship finish: SFC winners

First round opponents: Castlerahan

Good news: Paddy Lynch is back. In his two full matches under the new rules for the county, he kicked 0-21 while still clearly a little rusty. He has the potential to rack up record scores at club level now. While they tinkered with a more defensive system last year (despite running up some huge tallies), the new rules will suit their personnel, with the likes of Emmett Boylan a big threat on two-pointers and Dara McVeety likely to thrive in the inside line.

Won Reserve Division 1 as well as a Division 2 Minor League title in recent weeks; confidence is high.

Bad news: James Smith and Conor Rehill have endured injury-hit seasons thus far; if we’re being picky, only one side (Castlerahan in 2019) has retained the Oliver Plunkett Cup in the last 15 years.

Key man: James Smith. If he’s on his game, he’s a wrecking ball.

One to watch: Matthew Costello – an important player last year, he looks like he will be an integral one from now on.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Donegal. Superbly conditioned running team who can put the fear of God in opponents when they turn the screw; will feel they wasted a few years after their breakthrough but are back at the elite end now.

Gowna

Manager: Vinny Corey

Captain: Conor Brady

ACFL finish: 2nd in Division 1, lost semi-final

2024 championship finish: Semi-final

First round opponents: Ballinagh

Good news: While the panel was already strong, they have brought through lots of new players through the league including minors Caolán Madden, Odhran Madden and Fiachra Brady as well as Cian Halton and new goalkeeper Mark Brady. Some important players have returned in time for championship;

Seanie Hartin is back after a spell in Australia and Cormac Brady, Conor Casey and Ryan McGahern will be fit to go after injuries.

After a spell in nets, Daire Madden is back to his original position in attack and is starting to really establish himself as a key operator.

Bad news: Ryan Donohoe is in America at present and injuries remain a concern generally, notably to Conor Brady, who has had a number of recurring niggles which have hampered him. Gowna played Crosserlough twice and Ramor once in the league and picked up no wins; how relevant that is is questionable, however.

Key man: This team have a lot of high-quality players around a similar level so any one of seven or eight could be named here but Tiarnan Madden is one who has been in exceptional form this season.

One to watch: Fiachra Brady is a chip off the old block, physical and athletic. Still a minor, he shone for the county U17s and at U20 club level towards the end of last year.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Galway (if Galway had won Sam lately). A team full of talent with a swashbuckling forward line and great pace but a bit of a problem with recurring injuries to important players. In recent seasons, thanks to great underage work, they emerged from the shadow of the great team of the previous generation under the management of an iconic former player. Have a strange habit of toiling against weaker opposition but can and do beat anyone on their day.

Killygarry

Manager: Damien Keaney

Captain: Martin Reilly

ACFL finish: 1st in Division 2, lost semi-final

2024 championship finish: Won SFC relegation play-off

First round opponents: Arva

Good news: Conor Smith, one of the elite club forwards, has had a relatively injury-free run and Martin Reilly is still leading the charge. They showed strong form in the league until…

Bad news: Failing to get promoted from Division 2 for the second year in succession was a major setback; Shercock are a good side in form but losing by eight points to an intermediate team in the league semi, with promotion on the line, was not good enough.

There is something of an injury crisis at present; Cian Reilly, Daragh Lovett, Ross Sheridan, Mark McDermott and Oscar Brady are all on the sidelines. Mattie McKenna and Conor Bates are in Australia and Stephen Lovett is in America for the year.

Key man: Oisin Brady is as talented a forward as there is in the county, although he still hasn’t found that consistency to propel himself to the next level, with injuries holding him back.

One to watch: The underage conveyor keeps producing; it is likely three talented 17-year-olds – Darragh and Thomas Gilsenan and Charlie Fallon – will feature. Fallon is a real handful up front.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Roscommon. An embarrassment of riches in attack, an impressive underage system and off-field innovations but still appear to lack that steeliness and are short a defender or two.

Kingscourt Stars

Manager: Colin Kelly

Captain: Barry Tully

ACFL finish: 7th in Division 1

2024 championship finish: Won SFC relegation play-off

First round opponents: Cavan Gaels

Good news: Team captain Barry Tully said it best at the championship launch: “We started off (in the league) horrendously, we had five losses out of six, it wasn’t going well, we weren’t in a good place but we did pick it up, five wins out of the last six tells you we’re in a bit better form. We’re in a good enough place.”

The form of Jordan Morris with Meath is also a major plus. The Stars scored 27 goals in the league, although eight came in one match. The return of Joe Dillon and fit-again Paddy Meade are huge boosts; they are very over-priced at 16/1.

Bad news: Barry Reilly, top scorer for most of the last 15 years, has retired; Kingscourt haven’t won the championship in 10 years and will only have a handful of SFC medallists to call on. In their last final appearance (2023), they sustained, to use the local parlance, a woeful beating at the hands of Gowna.

Key man: Padraig Faulkner. When the All-Star plays well, Cavan play well. Ditto Kingscourt.

One to watch: Caoimhín Magee. Son of Meath great Ray, full of pace and ball-playing ability.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Mayo (minus The Curse). Even in a bad year, they’re competitive. Not known for jinky inside forwards but physical, athletic and a hard team to beat when they get the bit between their teeth.

Laragh United

Manager: Martin Joe Smith

Captain: Fergal McKenna

ACFL finish: 12th in Division 1

2024 championship finish: Won SFC relegation final

First round opponents: Ballyhaise

Good news: While they were relegated from Division 1, they showed great heart in the play-off against Lavey and only the concession of what they would view as softish goals cost them.

Bad news: It has been well documented they are down a huge number of bodies due mainly to emigration but also injuries. The likes of goalkeeper Fergal O’Rourke among others are irreplaceable.

Shipped some bad defeats in the league and ended up conceding an average of 24.75 points per game, which was the poorest defensive record in all three divisions.

Key man: Paul Smith, who was on the county panel at one point, is one of the classiest forwards around and is consistent from frees and play.

One to watch: Eighteen-year old wing-back Kevin Shiels has done well. A nephew of 1997 Ulster winner Patrick Shiels, he is the oldest of four brothers playing with Laragh underage teams.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Cavan. Made great strides from around 2012 onwards and enjoyed success which saw them dining at the top table – but a series of heavy defeats and relegation battles have taken their toll and a transitional period is likely.

Mullahoran

Manager: Aidan McCabe

Captain: Colm O'Reilly

ACFL finish: 10th in Division 1, won relegation play-off

2024 championship finish: SFC relegation play-off

First round opponents: Ramor

Good news: After a sticky run of form, Mullahoran picked it up and avoided relegation.

Bad news: Quite a few talented players who should be backboning the team have emigrated, for example last year’s captain Gavin Brady (Australia), Sean McKeogh and defender Callum Mussi (Canada) among several others.

Key man: Cormac O’Reilly. Unmarkable on his day, coming off of a break-out season for the county. If he has a really good championship, Mullahoran likely will too.

One to watch: Conor Sharpe – a very exciting young player who is coming to the boil ahead of championship, kicking 1-3 against Lacken last time out.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Meath. A traditional powerhouse who have been rebuilding with a promising group of young players after a long fallow spell. There’s a deep-seated belief there, even misplaced at times, but it makes them dangerous. A mostly young and energetic side but with a sprinkling of veteran leaders.

Ramor Utd

Manager: Jude McNabb

Captain: Jack Brady

ACFL finish: 1st in Division 1, won the final

2024 championship finish: Runners-up

First round opponents: Mullahoran

Good news: The return of Sean McEvoy is an incalculable boost given that the last time he featured (2021), they won the championship and he was outstanding in attack. The only unbeaten side in the county in all three divisions, they are moving very well, with Mark Magee back from injury and adding hugely to the back-line and other players such as Cathal and Enda Maguire flying.

Bad news: Injuries have been a problem in recent years and there are a few to contend with again, among them Matthew Smith who may miss some of the group stage.

Key man: The county trio of Liam Brady, Brían O’Connell and Sean McEvoy are obviously pivotal but in the new rules in particular, Enda Maguire gets the nod for his fielding and general marshalling of the middle third.

One to watch: Jensen Tynan, a very athletic young defender with attacking prowess.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: Tyrone. A strong underage structure and veterans who keep on keeping on mean they’re never far away – strong in all areas of the pitch but will feel they should have won more titles over the years. Firmly among the elite but another outright championship success would rubber-stamp them as a great side.

Arva

Manager: Thomas Brady

Captain: Ciarán Brady

ACFL finish: 6th in Division 1

2024 championship finish: IFC champions, lost Ulster final

First round opponents: Killygarry

Good news: The bookmakers currently make Arva fifth favourites (12/1) to win the Senior Championship which represents a high-water mark in terms of the club’s standing in the county in recent decades. Their final placing in Division 1 chimes with this; they were among the best intermediate teams in the country last year and if they can replicate that level of form, it will take them a good distance.

Bad news: Finbar O’Reilly and his management stepping away was unforeseen; Arva recruited new management but they have since parted company, which is far from ideal. The loss of the outstanding Barry Donnelly, who had nailed down a place on the county team, was a blow to Cavan; for his club, it is immeasurable.

Finbar McAvinue, an important defender who was on the county panel at one point, is away travelling and Thomas Partington, a key ball-winner around the middle, is on the injured list.

Key man: Ciaran Brady remains the beating heart of this team.

One to watch: Young attacker Jack Dobson has broken into the starting team and has been quite prolific all season; he’s one for the future but in the absence of Donnelly, one for the present too.

If they were an inter-county team they would be: A hard one to call, this, as they are coming from a lower level where they achieved outstanding success. Maybe Derry – management flux is not what they would have wanted but they are a committed and dedicated group who have had a sense of mission about them and nobody will relish playing them.