Six Kildare starters as Maynooth edge St Mary's Belfast in thrilling Sigerson opener

Cian Burke, Ryan Burke, Rob Fitzgerald, James Harris, Aaron Browne and Eoin Cully were all in from the start in MU's 1-22 to 1-20 win

There were six Kildare starters as Maynooth University held onto their first half lead to beat St Mary's Belfast in their Sigerson Cup opening round clash in Davitt's GAA, Belfast last night.

Cian Burke (Clane), Ryan Burke (Caragh), Rob Fitzgerald (Naas), James Harris (Castlemitchell), Aaron Browne (Celbridge) and Eoin Cully (Carbury) were all in from the start in MU's 1-22 to 1-20 win. The Kildare university were leading 1-11 to 1-7 at half-time.

It was the Meath men grabbing the headlines in this game though with Dunshaughlin, who had three starters on the night, duo Conor Grey and Conor Duke hitting a combined 1-7 from their midfield and wing-forward positions, with Grey in the middle of the field raising the green flag.

Luke Killian was named on the bench for Maynooth as he recovers from the physical and mental toll of his club Sallins' All-Ireland semi-final defeat to An Ghaeltacht last weekend, a game in which Killian stood up to be counted in the partial absence and injury of star forward Colm Dalton. However, Killian has been named to start for his county this weekend as The Lilies face Dublin in tomorrow’s 2026 Dioralyte O’Byrne Cup semi-final in Cedral St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge at 5pm.