New venue and time for Kildare hurlers' massive meeting with Down this weekend
The Kildare hurlers have their biggest game of the season so far when they face Down this Sunday, March 1 in a game that will now take place at Fontenoy Park, Liatroim, Co. Down at 12:45pm
Kildare's crunch clash with Down has been moved to Fontenoy Park, Liatroim, Co. Down with the The Mournemen's usual fortress of McKenna Park in Ballycran unplayable after recent and ongoing weather conditions. The venue change shaves some time off the usual three-hour plus trip for any loyal Lilywhite patrons and indeed for the travelling team itself.
Brian Dowling's men now meet Down at 12:45pm on Sunday, March 1 at the new venue chosen venue.
This is the biggest game of the season so far for both side's in their pursuit of Division 1B survival in the Allianz Hurling League and The Lilies come in with confidence in spite of defeat last time out against Clare. A four-point loss to the 2024 All-Ireland champions was nothing to be ashamed of, but in the end it was a mix of pride and disappointment after The Lilies carried a lead into half-time.
After a bye last week, Down's last game was also against Brian Lohan's Clare where they suffered a 3-35 to 0-15 defeat in Cusack Park on February 8. The comparative scale of the losses to Clare should indicate strength for Kildare but Down come into this game refreshed after a decent mid-league campaign break and are always a tough nut to crack on home soil.
The Lilies have two huge fixtures coming in consecutive weeks with the away clash with Down before a home fixture with Carlow on Sunday, March 8. These next two games will decide who stays up and who goes down in Division 1B.
Brian Dowling, speaking after the Clare game, said: “We have a massive, massive game now against Down. That’s the one, we have been waiting for that. It is a huge game, we have to try and stay in this division. There is no point in putting in performances like that and going back down to Division 2 next year. We have to keep building on this. The lads now have to get their bodies right, I’m sure they are tired and sore after that but a huge game now away to Down. We haven’t had good results there the last two years.”