McGeeney meeting up first for Kildare footballers in 2019 league as GAA release master fixture plan

Another reunion with former manager Kieran McGeeney lies in wait for the Kildare senior footballers as their 2019 National Football League campaign will get underway with a clash against Armagh in Newbridge.

The master fixture list was revealed by the GAA this week, and Cian O’Neill’s footballers will have just three home games out of their seven fixtures, with long trips to Donegal and Cork in store. The Lilywhites will be looking to bounce back up to Division 1 following relegation last year, and if they are to make the leap they will be playing in a potential final on March 31.

The footballers’ campaign gets underway on Sunday January 27 and the last round of games will be on Sunday March 24, while there are two Saturday fixtures in the schedule; away to Fermanagh on February 9 and home to Tipperary on March 16.

Kildare’s Leinster Senior Football Championship preliminary round game away to Wicklow has been pencilled in for the weekend May 11/12.

The Kildare hurlers have the benefit of three home games out of their five fixtures as the side under the new management of David Herity look to gain promotion back to Division 2A. Their first fixture is away to Donegal, while the last game of the league will be in Newbridge on March 3 against Down.

If the Lilywhites make it to the league final they will be playing that on March 10.

The hurlers’ opening round game in Group B of the Christy Ring Cup has been pencilled in for May 11/12, and that is a visit to Roscommon as they begin their attempts to retain the title.

Kildare NFL fixtures

January 27- Armagh (Home)

February 3- Cork (Away)

February 9- Fermanagh (Away)

February 24- Clare (Home)

March 3- Meath (Away)

March 16 – Tipperary (Home)

March 24- Donegal (Away)

Kildare NHL fixtures

January 27- Donegal (Away)

February 3- Warwickshire (Home)

February 17- Derry (Home)