David Herity, a hard act to follow
Five seasons on, five season mixed with much success, silverware, promotion, and of course, disappointment, for Kildare hurling has ended with the announcement that manager David Herity has decided it is time to move on.
The former Kilkenny All-Ireland winning goalkeeper has brought Kildare hurling to a new level, a level they has not been seen prior to his arrival and while some of that progress can certainly be put down to the work at ground level over the past number of years, there is no doubt that David Herity built on that and built on it big time.
Two Christy Ring Cup successes (2020 and 2022) had other counties sitting up and taking notice.
That long awaited aim of gaining promotion to Division 2A was achieved in 2022 — something that David Herity had been insisting for some time was absolutely essential if Kildare was to progress to the next level — and that in itself gave hurling in the county a really big lift.
It was another step forward, a step forward that saw Kildare mix it with counties, not the top tier counties mind you, but one step away from joining the top table of hurling counties, when they qualified for the Joe McDonagh Cup rather than the Christy Ring.
This season, Herity and his backroom team , came out with all guns blazing, capturing the Kehoe Cup early season competition that just led to expectations growing and growing.
Operating in Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League was looked upon a great step forward and again here the display from the boys in white was more than encouraging as they made it to the League final and a date with Offaly.
That was probably the highlight of the 2023 season both for David Herity and Kildare hurling as a big crowd headed to Portlaoise — and not just an opportunity to take a league title but to gain promotion to the top division.
Kildare started that game in blistering form, hitting 1-4 in the opening nine minutes, goal coming from Gerry Keegan and while The Faithful Boys hit back, it was The Lilies who still led at the break by three points— 1-11 to 0-11.
Offaly hit back and eventually took the in the lead in the 50th minute, went five clear before Kildare came again, got the lead back to two. That, however, was as good as it got, Offaly eventually winning 0-24 to 1-18.
Just three points between The Lilies and joining the top table of league action.
Still there was the Joe McDonagh Cup to come but unfortunately from a Kildare point of view that also proved a stop too far with Herity's boys failing to win a game and to rub salt into the wound, ended up losing to Down in the final league game which resulted in them losing their McDonagh Cup status for 2024.
After a season that promised so much it was a bitter, bitter disappointment and probably one that eventually made the Kilkenny man decide to move on.
Co. Board Chairman, Mick Gorman, said that the decision of Herity to move was his and his alone and totally in his hands.
“As far as Kildare Co. Board were concerned they would have had no issue whatsoever if David Herity had decided to stay on for a further year or two.”
An absolute gentleman said the chairman, adding “David Herity owes Kildare nothing; hurling is in a far better place now than before he came, I wish him the very best.”
And so say all of us!