Brian Flanagan brings his Kildare side into the unknown, new team, new rules, new game

Cast your mind back to March 2023. Sunday 26 March to be precise.

The final game in the 2023 Allianz Football League. Division 2. Kildare v Meath.

A game The Lilies won on a final score line of 0-13 to 0-8.

A vital game at the time and a game that saw Kildare secure their Division 2 status (as did Meath due to other results).

However, it was the last time Kildare actually won an Allianz Football League game.

The bulldozers rolled into Newbridge the next morning after that game and now we have Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge.

In the meantime The Lilies dropped to Division 3, having lost every league game last term, so a new beginning, a new start, a new division, a new stadium and, whisper it, a new game.

To say it will be interesting is a bit of an understatement, and that's for sure.

A host of new rules, seven or so we probably all know to most but lots of others that will only become apparent as the new season unfolds.

Brian Flanagan will be taking charge of his first competitive game with Fermanagh the visitors on Saturday, in Newbridge, a game that throw-in at 5 pm.

It should certainly attract a more than decent crowd.

Manager Flanagan has made it very clear already that this is a huge game for his new side and with a visit to Sligo eight days later there is no doubt that these two opening games could well decide where Kildare end up come the end of this league campaign.

Looking ahead it is very difficult to see how this, or in indeed most league games will pan out, not just in this division but in probably all divisions with the new rules.

Both Kildare and Fermanagh were relegated from Division 2 last season but vitally, Fermanagh defeated The Lilies 2-10 to 0-12 when the sides met in Enniskillen 12 months ago.

Fermanagh led at the break 1-7 to o-4 and the writing was on the wall; Brian Byrne had picked up a black card in that opening half and Fermanagh certainly made full use of their extra man for that ten minute spell, their opening half goal was scored by Declan McCusker after Mark Donnellan, very unusual for him, spilled a high ball that ended up in his net.

The Lilies improved considerably in the second half, cutting the lead back to three 1-10 to 0-10 but Sean Cassidy got his side's second goal of the game and that was more or less that.

From a Kildare point of view, and even before the Kildare team is announced, we can be certain will be a vastly different team from the one that started against Fermanagh back in last February.

Scorers that day for Kildare were Jimmy Hyland 0-4 (3f), Paddy Woodgate 0-2, Ben McCormack 0-2, Mark Donnellan 0-2 (free, 45), Mick O’Grady 0-1, Kevin O’Callaghan 0-1.

As said, without knowing team as of yet that will take to the field there are a few things we can certainly be assured of.

There will be a minimum of seven changes from the team that started that game, quiet possibly more but we will have to wait.

There will also be a few lads making their debut, so all in all a very tricky assignment.

The 2025 League panel has been released with Kevin Keely being names as captain and Darragh Kirwan as vice-captain.

Challenge games

As well as playing a fair few 'in-house' games The Lilies have also played two inter-county challenges, the first against Cavan in Hawkfield, followed by that game against Galway while two weeks ago they traveled to Newry where they took on Down in a behind-closed-doors affair.

That game we are told ended in a draw; Cavan won the early challenge, while Galway also prevailed in Newbridge; however the results of those games are really immaterial it is more about getting accustomed to the new rules which will certainly prove more than a big challenge.

The Galway game saw The Lilies play well in the opening half and while they fell away somewhat in the second half, mainly due to Galway strengthening up their side in the second half, with many of their All-Ireland final stars making an appearance.

One aspect of that game was the worth of the 'two-pointers' — points scored from outside the 40m arc, in fact in total Galway scored six of those which of course were worth 12 points in total; a very valuable contribution to any team.

Kildare, on the other hand that day, failed to score any 'two-pointers' so no doubt that will be a bit of a concern.

The goalkeeping role with the new rules will certainly be vastly different and it will be very interesting to see how Kildare deploy, and who they deploy, in that rule.

A few players carrying injuries picked up in the last week or two so fingers crossed all will be available come Saturday.

See full pane of players on this page.