2026 Intermediate Football Championship

SCFC · July 28, 2026, 12:02:54 PM

Deserves its own thread.
Saw Ballylinan beat Arles last night. Gary Walsh basically the difference between the two teams. Not fit but a class act. Ballylinan picked up a couple of really bad looking injuries including Ryan Brady who was very good. Could cost them in round two.
Could be between between Ballylinan and Mountmellick but the likes of Ballyfin, Kilcavan, Annanough might put a couple of wins together too. Pretty open championship.

LaoisHeritage · July 28, 2026, 02:01:12 PM

Was going to make a thread myself. Ballyfin got through a tough enough game against portlaoise. Portlaoise could take a scalp off anyone on their day. The game between them and annanough will be interesting to see. Ballylinan looked good there yesterday. They nearly have everyone back from the 2023 winning team but if Brady's gone he will be a big loss for them. Mountmellick will give them a game though. Ballyfin and kilcavan would be even enough game as well.

oneshot · July 28, 2026, 11:06:41 PM

kilcavan could be dark horses for this a few young players coming through and a few back who weren't there last year.

Joeythelips · July 31, 2026, 10:54:13 PM

Hardly dark horses, very little between Ballyfin, Mountmellick, Ballylinan & Kilcavan. Looks like a wide open championship

Smellyball · August 08, 2026, 09:42:06 PM

Ballyfin threw away a 12 point lead and got off the hook with a goal disallowed for square ball.
Needed a free 3 minutes into stoppage time to win it.
Kilcavan were poor. Most of their scores came from Ballyfin mistakes.

The PRO · August 09, 2026, 10:56:33 PM

Was in Ballylinan Friday evening. Arles are in big trouble. Really missing leaders. Hard to replace the quality of players they've had for the past number of years.
Seeing Ballyroan Abbey so poor the following night in the senior, you'd wonder how some of those second team lads aren't in the running for a senior jersey! Danny Brennan, Mark McDonald, a young Mulhall lad and Beano Whelan all very good.

Smallballbigballs · August 09, 2026, 11:50:17 PM

Both Arles' heading into a downturn you'd suspect. A real what might have been and possible what should never happen.

redsetanta · August 11, 2026, 10:05:58 AM

All in against Portlaoise for Kilcruise. Won't be easy at all.

A lot of changes this year. New management, Munnelly and Meaney stepping away.

Not enough leadership or quality this year after last years run to the final.

Didn't see the Ballyroan result coming at all. Well beaten on the day.

redsetanta · August 21, 2026, 10:16:14 AM

Relegation battle on this evening in Stradbally. Arles need a big performance to stay up.

LaoisHeritage · August 21, 2026, 11:06:25 AM

For the 3 games I'd go.

Arles kilcruise v portlaoise. Portlaoise
Annanough v kilcavan. Kilcavan
Ballylinan v ballyroan abbey. Ballylinan.

I think in the relegation if it's tight kilcruise will pull through but Portlaoise are still fairly strong and I think will win. Kilcavan annanough could go anyway. Between them I'd just go for kilcavan. But Annanough are dark horses to win the intermediate. Ballyroan could very strong if a few more boys come back from the team that won the junior and could give Ballylinan a game. But i think Ballylinan will go through

The PRO · August 22, 2026, 12:23:10 AM

Would have gone for the same 3. Portlaoise, Annanough and Ballylinan.
But watched Annanough v Kilcavan on Clubber and very impressive from Kilcavan. Very fit and full of running and great use of the ball throughout. Took their scores well in contrast to Annanough who wasted an awful lot of ball. Must have kicked 14 or 15 wides.
Niall Lalor is a fine player at wing back. Cian Ryle decent and a midfielder Hughes excellent. Jake Darcy must have been injured because he's usually way better than that.

SCFC · August 22, 2026, 05:00:06 PM

Same as. Watched on Clubber. Great performance from Kilcavan. Fine young team (and Mick Bermingham!). They'll be there or thereabouts. I believe they've never been senior before so wouldn't it be great to see them go up?
Four teams left in the intermediate and to be honest any of them could win it.
Terrible disappointed by Annanough. Never really got going at all. Sone of their better known players never really imposed themselves on the game.

Joeythelips · August 22, 2026, 11:54:18 PM

Also watched on CLubber, great service to be fair.Kilcavan were impressive but Annanough were pretty poor I thought but Kilcavan really strangled the life out of them 2nd half and a fine 2nd goal put the seal on a fantastic win for them. Mountmellick will be a much tougher proposition in the semi final. Still it will take a good team to beat them, Ian Dunne was very impressive but as a poster said, that Niall Lalor is a player with serious potential and should be worth a call up to the country panel.