allianz football leaguE cill dara– V – an cabhán Sunday 18 october 2020 St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge CLÁR OIFIGIÚIL/OFFICIAL PROGRAMME @kildaregaa www.kildaregaa.ie ALLIANZ NATIONAL LEAGUES 2020 2 KILDARE GAA ALLIANZ NATIONAL LEAGUES 2020 A MESSAGE from the chaIrman Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur romhaibh go continue to liaise with Croke Park and The léir go dtí Páirc Naomh Conlaith anseo i Leinster Council regarding how best to nDroichead Nua inniu agus tá súil agam minimise the spread of this virus and we go mbainfidh sibh sár-thaitneamh as an dá hope all keep safe and adhere to public chluiche health guidelines over the next few weeks. On behalf of Kildare GAA I want to I wish to thank our main sponsor welcome you all to St Conleth’s Park Brady Family and all our sponsors for today for the resumed Allianz League their continued support, we are extremely Football Division 2 game between Kildare grateful, and we wish you continued and Cavan. I want to extend a warm success. welcome to the Cavan team, management Finally, I want to thank all our loyal and officials on their visit today. I supporters and I hope you all enjoy today’s expect that we will all be treated to very game online, on TG4 or on KFM and RTE enjoyable, exciting and competitive match radio. here this afternoon. To ensure the running of our Yours in sport organisation and our games is of the highest standard it requires a lot of work Mick Gorman behind the scenes. On that note I want Cathaoirleach to thank my fellow officers, our stewards, and all who continue to volunteer their services to Kildare GAA. Thanks also to our grounds men for having our pitch in excellent condition for today’s game. I also want to express my thanks to Club Kildare who continue to raise funds for Kildare GAA. Unfortunately, as anticipated, the number of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) cases continue to increase. Kildare GAA Today’s programme was compiled by the Kildare GAA Communications committee Photos supplied by Sean Brilly. Graphic Design: pixelpress.ie 3 KILDARE GAA ALLIANZ NATIONAL LEAGUES 2020 Coronavirus Coronavirus COVID-19 Public Health COVID-19 Advice Prevent the spread of Coronavirus Stop Distance Wash shaking hands or yourself at least your hands well and hugging when saying 2 metres (6 feet) away often to avoid hello or greeting from other people, contamination other people especially those who might be unwell Cover Avoid Clean your mouth and nose touching eyes, nose, and disinfect with a tissue or sleeve or mouth with frequently touched when coughing or unwashed hands objects and surfaces sneezing and discard used tissue 4 KILDARE GAA ALLIANZ NATIONAL LEAGUES 2020 No Seanie, but lots at stake, as Kildare and Cavan resume league action TOMMY CALLAGHAN SPORTS EDITOR, LEINSTER LEADER There was a time, and not too long To say it will be strange is a bit of an ago I hasten to add, that if your county understatement, but the fact that the was still playing football in August your league is being finished is a real bonus, favourites were enjoying more than a and hopefully everything, and more decent season. importantly, everyone, players, officials, In Leinster, from a footballing point of etc, get through it safely. view, it meant you had made it to August Speaking of Cavan and it’s not too Bank Holiday weekend and with it a place long ago when one of The Breffni county in the Leinster Senior Football final and favourite sons discarded the blue and the dream of winning silverware was alive white of his native county for the all- and well. white of Kildare. Now, here we are, all but a fire cracker The great Seanie Johnston, talented away from Halloween, and the Allianz footballer, and sometimes hurler. Football League is still in operation The entire episode made headline and, wait for it, the Leinster Football news in print, radio and TV but to be Championship has not even commenced. eligible to don the white of Kildare, Who would have believed it. Johnston had first to play a club game All down, of course, to the coronavirus. in Lilywhiteland which led to him lining And so today, Sunday October 18, out in a hurling game representing Coill Round 6 of the AFL (Division 2) throws- Dubh, a game that attracted a big crowd in with Cavan visiting St Conleth’s Park, to Conneff Park, Clane, that included no in a game that throws-in at 2 pm, behind less than two TV crews. closed doors. 5 KILDARE GAA ALLIANZ NATIONAL LEAGUES 2020 Less than ten minutes into that game, Seanie was withdrawn to the safety of the dug-out, his eligibility secured. Division 2 is a very Seanie made his inter-county debut tight division with just for Kildare, under Kieran McGeeney against (and you just could not make this five points separating up) Cavan in an Allianz Football League top team, Armagh, game, coming on as a sub and scoring a from bottom side, point, a game Kildare won. The entire Johnston saga, was not a Fermanagh. success however, as despite putting in a monumental effort, the Cavan native Kildare have defeated Fermanagh was plagued with injuries, in particular a and Laois, losing out to Armagh, hamstring problem, that prevented him Roscommon and Clare. Kildare’s final from making any real impact, failing to get game, next Saturday, sees them entertain a decent injury-free run with McGeeney’s Westmeath, while Cavan have a home side. fixture, against Roscommon. In 2016, and following a change of The Lilies, due to the infamous management in Cavan, Seanie returned three county lockdown, find themselves to his native county where he once again somewhat behind in their preparation and showed his undoubted talent. along with the County Senior Football And so to Sunday, a vital game for Final, just two weeks ago, manager Jack both counties. O’Connor and his management team, Division 2 is a very tight division with have had very limited time with their just five points separating top team, panel of players, and even less with the full Armagh, from bottom side, Fermanagh. panel, but as the former successful Kerry Cavan are in a better place than their boss said, “such is life, we just have to get opponents on Sunday it has to be said, on with it.” lying in third spot with six points, while Difficult game to call and in fairness Kildare are in seventh, on four points. that can be said about the vast majority However, such is the tightness of the of Allianz Football League games being division that depending on this weekend’s played this weekend. The only sure thing results, any county, with the exception about the Kildare and Cavan game is that of bottom placed Fermanagh could find one Seanie Johnston will not be togging themselves catapulted right up the table. out. Cavan’s six points have come with wins For either Cavan or Kildare. over Fermanagh, Laois and Westmeath with loses to Clare and Armagh while Stay safe! 6 KILDARE GAA ALLIANZ NATIONAL LEAGUES 2020 Player Profile tommy moolick Age: 28 Height: 6ft 4’ Occupation: Teacher Club: Leixlip Position: Midfield GAA Honours (Club & County): U21 Championship with Leixlip U21 Leinster Championship, Division 2 League and O’Byrne Cup with Kildare What age were you when you started playing Gaelic football: 5 Best grounds you have ever played in: Croke Park Someone who has had an influence on your career: My Dad What do you most enjoy about been part of the GAA: The opportunity to Three words to describe yourself as a represent my family, club and county player: Hardworking, Motivated and Committed Best Advice someone has given you: There’s never a lost cause Favourite Sportsperson and why: Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) because How do you prepare for games: Relax he is hardworking and skilful the day before and make sure I have enough carbs and water on board and I Who is the best player you played with: pack my gear bag the night before my Johnny Doyle game. Best player you played against: Colm What advice have you for the young Cooper players in the county: Work hard and Most memorable GAA sporting make sure to always enjoy playing moment: Newbridge or Nowhere Expectations for the team for 2020: Favourite Club Player: Kyle Costello Our focus now is to obtain Division 1 Favourite County Player: Neil Flynn league status 7 KILDARE GAA ALLIANZ NATIONAL LEAGUES 2020 JOHN JOE O’REILLY who captained Cavan to 1947 All-Ireland win in New York had links with Kildare GAA and the Curragh Supporters keeping an eye on the in that decade namely Carbury, Athy, action from St Conleth’s Park today Raheens, Ellistown, Sarsfields, Curragh for this crucial Division 2 clash between and Ardclough. The clashes between the Kildare and Cavan may have heard their Curragh and Sarsfields and Ardclough forefathers recall great encounters during that decade were the highpoints between the counties in the late 1920s of Kildare club football with attendances and ’30s. In that era during an eight-year at county finals smashing all previous period the teams met in two All-Ireland records. John Joe captained the Curragh finals. In 1928, Kildare, led by their to their only Kildare championship in legendary captain Bill ‘Squires’ Gannon, 1948. In addition to playing with the defeated Cavan by a point to win their Curragh John Joe never refused to assist fourth All-Ireland title.