Comment: Little or no advantage for Kildare playing 'home' games in Croker

With the month of October all but done and dusted; the Leinster Club campaigns up and running, and the draws for the 2024 various provincial football championships completed — a Leinster draw that Kildare could not have expected to be any better — but all thoughts now are turning to the 2024 Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues.

Kildare footballers, after what could only be described as a torrid 2023 league campaign, ensuring their participation in the same division next season on the final day of the campaign, albeit with a fine win over Meath, who then went on to the win the Tailteann Cup.

Gaining promotion to Division 2 next year from Division 3 are Fermanagh and Cavan who will be joined by the two counties relegated from Division 1, Armagh and Donegal, making the eight counties in Division 2 for 2024 being: Armagh, Donegal, Louth, Cork, Kildare Meath along with Cavan and Fermanagh.

Kildare had three home games last season with four away and presuming that will be reversed come 2024 so The Lilies will have four at home and three away.

That, of course, brings us to the 'home' venue for Glenn Ryan's side with St Conleth's Park out of commission there is much talk in recent times as to where that 'home' venue will be.

Speculation is suggesting Kildare will be in Croke Park for those four 'home' games; but that speculation it has to be said would seem to be coming from Croke Park rather than from Kildare Co. Board.

And while there is rarely 'no smoke without fire' it is understood that no definite decision has yet been made — bar one game — which is believed will take place at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow as part of the deal that was reached with Carlow GAA along with playing the SFC and IFC at that venue a few weeks ago; two finals that certainly worked out perfectly on the day.

Croke Park, it is understood, would be more than willing to accommodate Kildare, no doubt in double-headers along with The Dubs — The Lilies being the warm-up act for the Division 1 clashes.

Should Kildare agree to such a proposal?

The initial thoughts are, certainly and absolutely, not.

It is bad enough having to concede home advantage, no choice in that regard, but taking on teams in Croke Park instead, for instance, Netwatch Cullen Park or Portlaoise or Tullamore (although it is understood that Laois GAA took the hump with Kildare when they decided to move their Dublin v Kildare game to Kilkenny rather than to Portlaoise last season), is a no brainer.

Surely Kildare should be thinking of what is best, from a Kildare point of view, as their no 1 consideration?

Remember Division 2 of the AFL is, once again, a very competitive division, as we found out in 2023 and with Donegal and Tyrone taking the place of Dublin and Derry in 2024 it will be as competitive again, at least.

Would Kildare be better if, for instance, having a 'home' game against Tyrone and/or Donegal playing them in Croke Park or Carlow for instance?

I know which one I would be choosing — and it wouldn't be at Headquarters.

Remember Kildare's record in Croke Park over the last number of years can only be described as absolutely horrendous, deplorable and in some instances, somewhat embarrassing.

In the Allianz Football League and the Leinster Football Championship Kildare have played 21 games since 2016 and have won just three times. Yes. Three.

And if you want to go back a little further, they have played 33 games in Croker since 2011 and have recorded a mere seven wins.

Surely those stats alone tell a story and it certainly does not make for pretty reading.

Last season Kildare's three home games saw Cork, Derry and Meath visit Newbridge with away games against Dublin, Clare, Louth and Limerick.

So it would be fair to assume that in 2024 Kildare's three away games will be against Fermanagh (taking the place of Dublin) Meath and Cork; leaving the 'home' games against Cavan, Armagh, Louth and Donegal (taking the place of Derry).

The Allianz Football League, in most realistic people's eyes, is more important than the Leinster Championship and certainly more important than the All-Ireland series, such is the place Kildare football finds itself at the minute.

That is certainly not to diminish either Leinster or the All-Ireland Series but it is absolutely imperative that Kildare, at the very least, retain their Division 2 status, with the no. 1 aim for 2024 surely to get promoted to Division 1; anything after that is in bonus territory.

An argument can be made that every team wants (or should want) to play in Croke Park but the bigger picture has to be what is best for Kildare in the long term, at this particular time, and on the facts and figures going back all the way to 2011 playing in Croke Park has been far from beneficial for Kildare.

There may be a financial inducement for Kildare playing in Headquarters but that should not be the deciding factor.

What should decide the issue is where is the most beneficial venue for the future of Kildare football — now.

And on the facts and the figures we have mentioned above, that certainly does not point to Croke Park!

Meanwhile Kildare hurlers, under new manage, Brian Dowling, will operate again in Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League in 2024 with three home games expected in the five game programme.

Meath and Down games will probably see Kildare on the road with home games probably in Manguard Park against Laois, Kerry and Carlow.