Changes aplenty as Lilies season of '24 gets under way with 14 new faces

The Big Fella is safely back recovering from his exertions and his travels on Christmas Eve.

That other hyped-up madness of New Years's Eve has (thankfully) come and gone.

And with Cadbury Creme Eggs — I cod you not — already appearing in the shops, it can all mean just one thing.

The GAA season of 2024 is upon us.

And while, from a Kildare point of view, that means early action for the club players of Allenwood and Milltown who are seeking All-Ireland final places this Saturday in their respective competitions, it also means that the inter-county season is about to take off.

The Lilies open their account this Wednesday when they travel to their 'home' venue of Netwatch Cullen Park for an 'away' clash with Niall Carew's Carlow in the opening round of the O'Byrne Cup, a game that throws in at 7.30.

For Glenn Ryan and his management team it is an early opportunity to throw an eye over their perceived panel as the Allianz Football League is a mere four weeks away, when they again travel to Carlow, but this time for a 'home' game with Cavan providing the opposition.

But for now all focus is on Wednesday as the new-look Kildare management get their first glimpse in a competitive game of the new season.

Like all counties, of course, Kildare have a good month of pre-season under their collective belts at this stage and with changes in both the management set-up and the playing panel it will be interesting to see how things unfold.

On the management front, Dermot Earley has departed the scene, the army officer has begun a two-year stint in Brussels with the Defence Forces.

Glenn Ryan has added two names to his immediate backroom panel with Colm Nally and Roli Sweeney coming in.

Colm Nally, a highly respected coach has been handed the title of 'Head Coach' along with being a selector; while Roli Sweeney will be the forward's coach. Both are big additions to the Kildare set-up; Anthony Rainbow and Johnny Doyle remain as selectors.

While there is nothing unusual these days having big backroom teams, there are few counties out there who have five selectors and it will certainly be interesting to see how that pans out.

Speaking to manager Ryan prior to the Christmas the Towers man said he was happy with the way things have been going since they came back in for the new season, while admitting “a lot of experienced players have gone but we are bolstered with lads coming in; a number of last season's U20 lads who won the All-Ireland” adding “I prefer to focus on the new additions to the panel, rather than the lads who have left regardless why they are not on the panel.”

Definitely missing from the 2023 squad are lads who have mostly decided to travel for the next 12 months including David Hyland, Neil Flynn, Darragh Malone and Jack Robinson — more than decent players it has to be said with Darragh Malone delaying his trip abroad until the Allenwood voyage of 2023 reaches it's climax.

While exactly who from last season's panel will again be involved this season has not been officially released, nevertheless with the addition of fourteen newcomers (to be reviewed after the O'Byrne Cup) it can be assumed a number of other players will not be seen in 2024.

The fourteen lads who have been in for pre-season training, which included a number of in-house games along with friendlies against Galway and Antrim, are: Barry Kelly (Athy), Brian Byrne (Naas), Callum Bolton (Sarsfields), Conor McCarthy (Naas), Didier Cordonnier (Two Mile House), Eoin Bagnall (Allenwood), Harry O'Neill (Clane), Kieran Dwyer (Sarsfields), Killian Galligan (Clogherinkoe), Luke Killian (Sallins), Niall Kelly (Athy), Rian Burke (Caragh), Sam McCormack (Clane), Shane Farrell (Kilcock).

Niall Kelly certainly needs no introduction, the Athy man enjoyed a great senior championship throughout 2023 and certainly looks like his appetite for inter-county football is back. An experienced player, he has the potential to be a huge asset this season.

Other players who have impressed in their respective championships and have been called in include Barry Kelly (brother of Niall), Sam McCormack who had a mighty season with Clane; Brian Byrne switches codes having enjoyed a stellar hurling career, along with a great football season with Naas and he is joined by his fellow club man Conor McCarthy; Kerry native Kieran Dwyer was prominent with Sarsfields in 2023 while U20 stars Harry O'Neill, Shane Farrell, Ryan Burke and Callum Bolton are all in on merit.

Eoghan Bagnall is one of the stars of the Allenwood side at present while it is a great opportunity for the likes of Didier Cordonnier (Two Mile House), Killian Galligan (Clogherinkoe), Luke Killian (Sallins) to show what they are capable of at this level.

Looking back on a disappointing 2023 manager Ryan said “The year probably finished at its best at the end; one of the positives being to try to get better; trying to improve without throwing the toys out of the pram; a huge credit for that and I think that might have build up the resilience that the players fed off and hopefully we can improve as the new year goes along; we don't want to experience a similar faith this year as we did last year.”

Glenn added that “The county board has been hugely supportive; communicative and accommodating, it has been productive as well as being very cordial and everybody is very clear nothing will be achieved unless everyone is pulling in the same direction and that is the case” adding “everyone wants to get to the same place but ultimately there hasn't been anything we have not been able to agree upon; very good and positive ... we have been consulted in everything, including playing our 'home' games in Carlow, and my thoughts were very much asked for and everything that is being done is being done to ensure the team gets better and trying make a success of it.”

Manager Ryan also announced an U23 development squad under Brian Flanagan. “We will be able to liaise with Brian and look at fellas who he sees progessing; those lads with get S&C programmes; will get access to everything that the seniors will have helping to progress their own development and then for in-house games we will be feeding into that and that will help to keep everyone on their toes.”