Photos courtesy of Sean Brilly Allianz Football League Roinn 2 South | Round 2 Cill Dara v An Clar Venue: St Conleth’s Park Reiteoir: Fergal Kelly (An Longfort) • Throw in: 2pm Allianz Hurking League Roinn 2B | Round 3 Cill Dara v Doire Venue: Manguard Plus Hawkfield Reiteoir: Kevin Jordan (Tiobraid Árann) • Throw in: 4pm 23.05.2021 C’MON KILDARE! Proud sponsor of Kildare GAA, LGFA and Camogie CHAIRMAn’s ADDRESS Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur romhaibh go léir go dtí Droichead Nua inniu agus tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh sár-thaitneamh as an dá chluiche. On behalf of Kildare GAA I want to welcome you all to Newbridge today for two Allianz National League fixtures. The Allianz Football League Division 2 South game between Kildare and Clare throws-in at 2pm in St. Conleth’s Park while the Hurlers take on Derry in Manguard Plus Hawkfield. Thanks also to our grounds men for having I want to extend a warm welcome to our pitch in excellent condition for today’s both the Clare and Derry teams along with game. I also want to express my thanks to their management and officials on their visit Club Kildare who continue to raise funds today. I expect that we will all be treated to for Kildare GAA. two very enjoyable, exciting and competitive I wish to thank our main sponsor Brady games. Family and all our sponsors for their I wish both Managers Jack O’Connor and continued support, we are extremely David Herity, their selectors along with all grateful, and we wish you continued our players and backroom teams all the best success. and we look forward to a successful day. Finally, I want to thank all our loyal To ensure the running of our organisation supporters and I hope you all enjoy and our games is of the highest standard today’s game. it requires a lot of work behind the scenes. On that note I want to thank my fellow Yours in sport officers, our stewards, and all who continue Mick Gorman to volunteer their services to Kildare GAA. Cathaoirleach Today’s Football Officials: Today’s Hurling Officials: • Referee: Fergal Kelly • Referee: Kevin Jordon (Longfort) (Tiobraid Árann) • Standby: Seamus Mulhare • Standby: David Hughes (Laois) (Ceatharlach) • Linesman: Seamus Farrelly • Linesman: Padraig Dunne (Áth Cliath) (Laois) • Sideline: David O Connor • Sideline: Michael O Sullivan (Áth Cliath) (Cill Chainnigh) ALLIANZ LEAGUES 3 CILL DARA v AN CLÁR / DOIRE Safeguarding Your Business Business Security Services Security Guards, Front of House & Concierge Staff Alarm & CCTV monitoring Key holding & alarm response W7F Ladytown Business Park, Newhall, Naas, Co. Kildare 0818 313 300 | 045 408 300 [email protected] DUBLIN • BELFAST • WATERFORD • CORK Kildare fully aware of Clare threat this time around BY TOMMY CALLAGHAN, Sports Editor, Leinster Leader Clare are the visitors to St Conleth’s Park Conway came on a second half substitute on Sunday, for Round 2 of the Allianz as did Neil Flynn. FL Division 2 South and following last Clare also look to be a much changed season’s set-back in Ennis when The side, something similar to Kildare, just six Banner came out on top by a single point, played against Laois last week that played The Lilies will certainly be all out to turn in that win over Kildare in 2020. the tables on this occasion. So it’s all to play for on Sunday. That game, back in February 2020, ultimately cost Kildare promotion and Last week The Lilies opened slowly but this weekend’s clash is once again a vital gradually got themselves into the game, game in the revamped division now in led by a point (somewhat fortuitously it groups, Cork and Laois making up the four has to be said) but really upped their game in this Division 2 South section. in the second half. Both Kildare and have opened with Two second goals from Kevin Flynn and impressive victories last weekend, Kildare Jimmy Hyland sealed victory. over Cork while Clare had a comfortable Clare, on the other hand seemed to be win in Ennis over a disappointing Laois in control throughout their clash with side. Laois and will come to Newbridge with no From the Kildare side that lined out last shortage of confidence. February against Clare, a mere six players These teams met the previous season started last Sunday, a firm indication that (2019) in the League in Newbridge, Kildare Jack O’Connor is now firmly putting his, coming out on top 1-16 to 1-10, the goal and his management team’s stamp on proceedings. Some of the most experienced players “All to play for in a have left the Kildare camp from back then vital game for both including Peter Kelly, Keith Cribbin, Ben counties and with just McCormack, Mattie Byrne and Johnny Byrne, while also missing from last three games in the weekend through injury and suspension group, there is little were Shea Ryan, Niall Kelly and Paddy Brophy while the experienced Fergal room for manoeuvre.” ALLIANZ LEAGUES 6 CILL DARA v AN CLÁR / DOIRE coming from Kevin Feely with Neil Flynn A strong midfield pairing of Cathal in sparkling form hitting five points while O’Connor and Darren O’Neill saw the Clare Jimmy Hyland knocked over three from front men get plenty of supply as Clare play. went on to win 1-16 to 0-12. Eoin Clear, at no 11 was the Clare top All to play for in a vital game for both scorer last Sunday, hitting over no less counties and with just three games in the than ten points, including four frees, one group, there is little room for manoeuvre. 45 and a sideline while Daniel Walsh One thing for sure though is that following made a big impression on his debut at this last season’s set-back in Ennis, Kildare will level, finding the Laois net in the opening line out on their home patch on Sunday half as The Banner led by six at half time fully aware of the task ahead and fully and were never really under any real aware a win could set them up for a semi pressure after that. final spot. ALLIANZ HURLNGLEAGUES LEAGUE 7 CILLCILL DARA DARA v AvN DÚN CLÁR NA / NDOIREGALL Quickfire Questions with Kildare Senior Footballer NEIL FLYNN Age: 25 Club: Maynooth Senior Inter County League Debut: Westmeath - 2016. Senior Inter County Championship Debut: Wexford - 2016. Pre-Match Day Routine: Porridge or overnight oats for breakfast, back to bed for a snooze if it’s a late game. The bag is packed from the night before. Pre match meal of chicken and pasta and listen to match day playlist on Spotify on the journey to the pitch. Pre match rituals: Just listening to the Best Dressed: Conor Hartley. match day playlist and I like to run out second from the dressing room. Worst Dressed: David Hyland - boot cut jeans. Toughest opponent: Eoin Doyle - never lets up. Player do you admire from another sport: Joe Canning - his skill level and his placed Team you most like to beat: Meath. balls. Proudest Day: “Newbridge or Nowhere” - Manager from another sport do you on the pitch after the game seeing what it admire: Brendan Rogers - brings the best meant to the fans and my family. out of his players. Toughest or most disappointing day: Missing the Leinster final in 2017. Biggest influence on your career: My Mam & Dad & my school teachers Mr Creevey and Mr Winders. Joker in the panel: Shea Ryan. ALLIANZ LEAGUES 8 CILL DARA v AN CLÁR / DOIRE INTRODUCING THE NEW E-TECH RANGE FROM RENAULT To celebrate Renault being the Official Car Partner of the GAA, we have an exclusive offer for all GAA Club members. find out more at www.renault.ie/gaa Ireland’s No. 1 Electric Vehicle Manufacturer.* joe mallon motors, sallins road, naas, co. kildare tel (045) 897 675 www.joemallonmotors.ie joe mallon motors portlaoise, abbeyleix road, portlaoise, co. laois tel 057 8665800 www.joemallonmotors.ie model shown zoe gt line z.e.50 r135 rrp €32,250 (model shown includes optional equipment available at extra cost). rrps incorporate maximum available seai grant of €5,000 for private customers. *this is based on car and lcv registrations january-december 2020. Ag Féachaint Siar – Cill Dara Hurling in the 1960s – “Hurling Champions of All Ireland Again” After a long famine and a series of droughts, Kildare hurling reached new heights in the 1960s - a decade which brought three All-Ireland titles to the county. Junior successes in 1962 and 1966 prefaced an Intermediate title in 1969. During the previous three decades, players from army club teams often outnumbered native club players on county teams but by the ’60s the balance was changing rapidly. The 1962 team included five Army personnel, and they were vital to that success. The ’66 team lined out in the All-Ireland final in Glebe 1966 All-Ireland Medal Farm, Warwickshire, with only one man average age of the ‘66 team was twenty- from a military club. And in 1969, there one and a half. With several new players was no representative of an Army team. lining out, Tommy Carew top scored with Apart from having only one Army four goals against Meath in the first round representative, there was a huge change of the Leinster championship. Quinn, at in the composition of the ’66 team 35, netted two goals in the Leinster final compared to the ’62 lineout: only four against 1965 winners, Wicklow, at Croke players remained to savour a second Park.