KILDARE HAVE SELECTED six players from the side that started in last year’s Leinster football final as they get set to commence their 2018 season tomorrow night.
The Lilywhites entertain Louth in the Bord Na Móna O’Byrne Cup with their round two clash in Hawkfield throwing in at 8pm.
Manager Cian O’Neill is able to field six experienced figures in his side with survivors from last summer’s provincial decider loss to Dublin.
Full-back Mick O’Grady and centre-back Johnny Byrne will anchor the defence with Kevin Feely lining out at midfield. The attack includes the trio of Fergal Conway, David Slattery and Cathal McNally.
Some of the new faces include goalkeeper Aaron O’Neill, corner-back Eoin Powderly, wing-back Kevin Flynn – who featured for Celbridge in last year’s Kildare senior football decider – and midfielder Luke Flynn, a younger brother of established attacker Daniel.
Kildare
1. Aaron O’Neill (Carbury)
2. Mikey Kelly (Round Towers)
3. Mick O’Grady (Celbridge)
4. Eoin Powderly (Kilcock)
5. Daniel Courtney (Kilcock)
6. Johnny Byrne (Allenwood)
7. Kevin Flynn (Celbridge)
8. Kevin Feely (Athy)
9. Luke Flynn (Johnstownbridge)
10. Fergal Conway (Celbridge)
11. David Slattery (Confey)
12. Mark Sherry (Two Mile House)
13. Brian McLaughlin (Clane)
14. Chris Healy (Two Mile House)
15. Cathal McNally (Johnstownbridge)
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While Kildare showed a lot of promise last year, a lot will depend on their ability to convince Moorefield and Sarsfields players to commit this season.
A county like Kildare can’t afford to have no representation from a high-population town like Newbridge. Until someone can convince the Newbridge clubs to put county first, Kildare won’t return to the heady days of 98.
@EK: the Moorefield lads are enjoying football and have a life outside of football. You won’t get the same luxury playing inter county.
@Ned Flanders: Very true. I think the expectation levels put on county GAA players around alcohol and going out are ridiculous.
Club players, even pro-soccer players or rugby players, can go out and have a drink after a big win yet at county level they are expected to stay in for 9 months. Especially with social media these days, the levels of expectation have got to a ridiculous point.
@Ned Flanders: I also think there is another side to it all the same. Last season there were no Sarsfields players in the county panel but plenty of Moorefield players. Sarsfields won a county title that year.
This season there were no Moorefield players in the county panel but many Sarsfields players. Lo and behold, Moorefield won the county this year with Sarsfields underperforming just as Moorefield had the season before.
As I said, until a Kildare coach can convince the Newbridge clubs to ignore the town rivalry, Kildare will suffer.