Hurlers set for league opener this afternoon as choppy waters of 2A await

The Kildare hurlers will begin their Allianz National Hurling League campaign with a home tie against Meath this Sunday in St Conleth’s Park.

Joe Quaid begins his third year in charge of the Lilywhites, and it is the first time in many years that Kildare have entered a league campaign without any players from outside the county bulking up the squad for the upcoming year. That was a conscious decision made by Quaid, who believes there is enough talent within the Kildare ranks to compete at Christy Ring Cup level and in Division 2A.

It's a somewhat unrecognisable team that will be setting out on this league journey, with a clutch of new, fresh young faces included in a senior panel for the first time, showing the management team's commitment to building from a solid base with the Lilywhites.

The hurlers face a difficult task in the league this year as sides that are competing in the top tier of the All-Ireland championship populate the division. Both Meath and Carlow have won the Christy Ring Cup in the last couple of years, while Westmeath and Kerry have established themselves as regular competitors in the provincial series alongside sides such as Offaly and Laois.

London are the sixth team in the division, and the Lilywhites will travel to the English capital in the final round where they will face the Exiles in Ruislip.