New management, new faces and exciting times as Kildare ladies prepare for Division 1 opener
Daragh Nolan previews the Kildare ladies' league opener against Waterford this Sunday at 2pm in Manguard Park, Hawkfield
It is a game of storylines as Kildare face Waterford in their opening Division 1 clash of 2025.
The tie is set for Sunday, January 26 at 2pm in Manguard Park and, as well as the exciting action expected on the pitch, there are plenty of narrative strands to account for heading into this fixture.
It will be Kildare’s first game under new manager Pat Sullivan and therefore without Diane O’Hora, with whom The Lilies had so much recent success. The Mayo woman took Kildare out of Division 3 and the Intermediate Championship to compete at the top table on all fronts. It is now the turn of the Waterford native to take the mantle at the very highest level.
Sullivan is not only facing his home county on the opening day, but one that he has managed in two separate extended stints.
In a huge plus for Kildare, there are few people walking the earth that will know more about their first opponents than their new manager. Indicative of the fact that they are playing one another, Sullivan kept Waterford in Division 1 last year with them finishing sixth in the pile of eight.
Major panel changes
Aside from the changes made by any new manager, there are some especially notable differences from last year, and indeed the last 14 years, with the absence of captain Grace Clifford.
The Eadestown legend is due to give birth in June, but still has her eyes set on the club championship later in the year. Clifford also confirmed that she has not retired from intercounty action with the 2026 campaign in her sights.
Waterford 2024
Sullivan’s final league campaign with Waterford saw them finish with two wins and five losses in Division 1. They beat the two sides below them, Cork and Galway, to stave off the drop. The beating of those around you is the key to survival across all sports. An 0-11 to 0-9 win vs Galway and a 2-12 to 1-6 win over Cork represent Sullivan’s ability to get it right when it matters most.
Kildare and Waterford’s opening day clash is a huge one for both sides as they look to get vital points on the board. The inverse of the positives that can be derived from Sullivan’s achievements with Waterford is the demonstration that they are a really strong team.
Waterford remained in Division 1 and will be targeting newly-promoted Kildare to ensure the same happens in 2025.
Despite beating them earlier in the year, Waterford exited at the quarter final stage of the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship at the hands of Cork.
Kildare 2024
It was a year of two halves for Kildare in 2024. Their blitz of Division 2 was a continuation of their now legendary ‘23 season that saw them lift a fourth title in just 18 months under their then manager.
The Lilies won six games and drew just one, to future Division 2 final opponents Tyrone. Kildare would go on to beat The Red Hand 2-9 to 0-12 in Croke Park last April. Goals from Claire Sullivan and Neasa Dooley helped The Lilywhites, who donned black on the day, win a first Division 2 title for the county in 20 years.
The rest of Kildare’s season snowballed in all of the worst ways. The relentless nature of their league schedule fed straight into one of the toughest provincial Championships in the country. The Lilies suffered a punishing opening day defeat to Dublin before responding well, but still coming up short against Meath.
Diane O’Hora’s team beat Laois before suffering two more heavy defeats in the All-Ireland Senior Championship, which ended with a relegation final against Leinster opponents Laois. The drama of that game has been extensively covered with Kildare needing an injury time penalty from Neasa Dooley to maintain their Senior status.
After a hectic 12 months, Pat Sullivan’s first year in charge of The Lilies will likely be about stability. It is Kildare’s first year tackling both Division 1 and Senior Championship, and the maintenance of their position in both would likely represent success.
However, the Waterford manager has big ambitions for The Lilywhites and all in the county are intrigued to see he can bring to this exciting Kildare panel. The county has produced excellent minor teams and superb young players in recent years and the new boss has already declared his intention to build on the great work done by the respective underage coaches.
Crucial game
This game is a tough start to Kildare’s season for all the reasons listed above, but chiefly due to its importance. There is no easy game in Division 1 football, but their home clash with Waterford represents a fixture where they could do with a result to maintain their status at the top table.
With the absence of captain Grace Clifford, it will be up to the other senior members of the Kildare panel to lead the new faces into battle for what should be an enthralling tie.
The storylines and discussion will all matter little come January 26 as the Kildare ladies’ 2025 season gets underway.