PREVIEW: Kildare Camogie season starts with renewed hope for Roscommon clash

Kildare Camogie get their 2026 season underway on Saturday, February 14 away to Roscommon in their first game in Division 3A of the National League. Throw-in is set for 2pm in St Aidan’s GAA, Ballyforan and the fixture will also mark new manager Rob O'Neill's first game in charge. 

O’Neill’s brings fresh optimism to a Kildare side who have had a tough time of late between player welfare controversies and on-field struggles. The originally Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman, now of Naas, guided The Lilies to provincial and All Ireland Minor ‘B’ Championships in 2023, as well managing fellow Division 3A opponents Wicklow to the Leinster Junior title and a Premier Junior All Ireland semi-final in 2025.

Speaking with the Leinster Leader about his new role Rob O’Neill said, “Several of the players from that minor team were represented on the Maynooth and Naas teams in the Senior County Final. I’m delighted that they are coming through. This is my way of coming back home to see if we can rebuild and see if we can set some achievable and measurable goals for 2026.

“I know we have a very good conveyor belt of talent there. It’s just bringing those on to the senior squad and bringing them on to a place where they are used to seeing and having that elite mentality. I have no doubt that we will move the needle in the right direction,”

O'Neill's familiarity with and knowledge of a multitude of Kildare camogie players that have come through the underage system should be of enormous benefit. Similar to the appointment of Brian Flanagan for the men’s footballers, his player insight gives the new boss a boost and the squad an immediate sense of faith in their new leader, even setting aside the success that Kildare achieved under the Kilkenny men.

Fixtures

Division 3A: Kildare, Armagh, Roscommon, Tyrone, Wicklow.

It will be back-to-back away fixtures for Kildare to kick off the league as they travel to Wicklow seven days after their 3A opener. The Camogie league may start later than the other Gaelic games but it is a relentless start once it gets going with The Lilies hosting Armagh on Saturday, February 28 making it three in three weeks. Kildare get their league bye during the March 7 set of fixtures before rounding off their league campaign on March 21 when they host Tyrone. 

It is an unusual fixture structure for Kildare who set off with three back-to-back games before a two-week break ahead of their final outing. The Lilies are the only side who will have a fortnight gap between fixtures and whether that is a benefit or a hindrance remains to be seen. Of the five teams, only Kildare and Roscommon are in action in all three of the first three gameweeks.

The Lilies had a disappointing league campaign in 2025 but head into this season with renewed positivity. Issues of unavailability and injuries to key players will hopefully be a distant memory as they look to avenge a loss to Wicklow and get one over on week one opponents Roscommon, whom they drew with it in the league last year. Those results were the key disappointments in the league for Kildare with Roscommon equalising in injury-time to draw that game and The Lilies squandering a seven-point lead with seven to go to fall to Wicklow.

Squad

A huge cause for concern in previous years has been the availability of personnel for Kildare Camogie, only 26 players made themselves available in 2025. With the issues of mismanagement and lack of support for intercounty players, it is easy to imagine why there would not be a willingness to sacrifice that time. This is once again where Kildare may benefit from the appointment of their new manager and the players’ faith in that set-up. Worth of mouth will also likely be strong with the new boss and an experienced coaching team hopefully with enough numbers to get on board and stay there.

“I think there is a huge willingness within the club and within the county to bring themselves back up to where they belong,” O’Neill said. “And with the cohort of individuals coming through now and the number of players that have expressed an interest in playing, I have no doubt that we will reach the level that we were a few years ago.

“The feedback that I’m getting is extremely positive. I think that we will be having the best players in Kildare playing for Kildare in 2026 and beyond.”

Management Team

Manager: Rob O’Neill (Naas)

Keith Heffernan (Maynooth)

Laura Smullen (Straffan)

Iluta Ratkevica (S&C)

Finbarr McCarthy (Stat's/Data Analysis)

Aoife Timmons (Physio)

It is onwards and upwards for Kildare Camogie after a tricky few years. Division disappointment last year and being relegated to the All-Ireland Junior Championship, following a heavy relegation final defeat to Westmeath, means it is time to start anew in 2026. 

That fresh start officially begins on Valentine’s Day as Kildare look to rediscover their love of it all when they face Roscommon in St Aidan’s GAA, Ballyforan at 2pm.

READ NEXT: Major Kildare club championship changes in football and hurling approved