Comment: A weekend of triumph in Kildare as Lilies bloom all round

Two major achievements last weekend for the footballers and hurlers of Kildare.

In Trim, Brian Dowling's hurlers recorded a win over Meath in the final game of the Allianz Hurling League, Division 2, to ensure they just did not top the table but guaranteed promotion to Division 1B of the AHL come 2026.

And what an achievement that is as they can look forward to mixing it next season with the 2024 All-Ireland champions, Clare, along with the likes of Wexford and Dublin, to name just a few.

A huge step-up for The Lilies and it is certainly testament to the enormous work that has gone into hurling over the past number of years.

All credit to manager Brian Dowling, team captain Cian Boran, and all members of the panel.

They now take on Down in the Division 2 final this Saturday, a game fixed for Grattan Park, Inniskeen, Monaghan, 13:30.
Following Saturday's big win it was back to Cedral St Conleth's for Brian Flanagan's footballers and a final league outing with Antrim the visitors, a game with a win guaranteeing promotion to Divisison 2 of the Allianz Football League come 2026.

In the end there was all of eleven points separating the sides, which hardly looked on at half-time, Kildare having led by six points to no score, going in behind by five at half-time and them coming out and hitting 1-17 in the second half, with the visitors getting a mere 1-1.

Talk about topsy turvy.

It was, of course Brian Flanagan's no. 1 objective at the start of the league, getting out of Division 3 was absolutely top priority and it looked well on the way after winning their opening four games before going down to Clare and then Offaly.

Squeaky bum time and that's for sure, but they held their nerve before stepping up big-time in the second half with a devastating display of forward power.

And so it is on to Croke Park on Sunday and another meeting with Mickey Harte & Co as The Lilies face up to The Faithful for the second time in two weeks.

Six points separated these times in Tullamore, two Offaly goals proving the difference, in a game that Kildare played in only fits and starts.

Another huge game and with the Leinster Championship starting in a few weeks time after that, opening game against Westmeath in Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, on Saturday 12 April, with a 7 pm throw-in, that is surely a game that will fill the revamped stadium.

But for now it is all eyes on Croke Park, a game that Kildare will start as favourites, despite that six point defeat in Tullamore.
Hopefully last Sunday's win over Antrim will see the momentum rise for the boys in white, they had some top class performances with Niall Kelly putting in a man-of-the-match display, Callum Bolton, Alex Beirne not too far behind while the return, after missing out on the last couple of games, of Darragh Kirwan is a huge boost for the team.

The big Naas man, introduced in the second half showed just how important he is to the team, firing over five points in total, that included one two-pointer.

Hopefully Ben McCormack will be fit to start, the Sarsfields man, introduced at half-time, looked very sharp and on his game but was forced off late on with what manager Flanagan said was a knee problem. A fit McCormack is another vital cog in the Kildare scoring machine, so fingers crossed he will be available for the weekend.

Ryan Houlihan, back from injury last weekend, added that much needed pace, he missed the last clash with Offaly so another big plus there for Kildare.

A huge weekend for both hurlers and footballers while Kildare Ladies also have a massive game when they take on Tyrone, at home, a win ensuring they retain their Division 1 status after being pipped at the post by a single point last week against Mayo.

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