PREVIEW: Kildare champs Grangenolvin travel in confidence to Junior final

Before a ball was kicked in anger in this season's Tom Cross Junior Football Championship in Kildare, there was just one name on most people's list. Grangenolvin.

They were fancied the previous year but fell at the semi-final stage to Kill by three points.
This time around they were hell bent on making amends.

And they certainly did that in style, getting to the final where they came up against Rathcoffey, who in fairness gave them a fair test, level at half-time before pulling clear in the second half winning 0-18 to 2-7.

Under the guidance this year of David Conway, from nearby Arles Kilcruise (Laois), Grange' then set their sights on having a good Leinster Club campaign and todate they have certainly done that.

Playing in Group A of the Tom Cross JFC they defeated Ballymore Eustace, Kill, Castlemitchell and Kildangan, going to defeat Athgarvan in the semi-final and Rathcoffey in the final.

In Leinster Club, Grangenolvin opened with a win over St Brigid's Croghan of Offaly; and Cloughbawn of Wexford in the quarters.

In the semi-final they proved too strong for the shock team of 2025, Barcelona.

In the 28 Leinster provincial junior finals played since 1996, the dominant county has been Meath with no less than 11 titles, Kildare are next best with four, Carlow have yet to win a junior title having played in just one final, that was back in 2010 when St Andrew's lost out to The Royals' Ballinabrackey.

The Kildare teams who have won provincial titles at this level are Milltown (2023), Two Mile House (2013), Sallins (2000) and Kilcullen (1997).

Grangenolvin were last in the final back in 2007 losing out to Westmeath's Ballinagore.

This weekend Grange' take on The Fighting Cocks from Carlow, who defeated Clann na nGael of Meath and St Brigid's in the quarter-final and Killashee (Louth) in the semi-final.

Grangenolvin's manager, David Conway, despite winning somewhat comfortably against Cloughbawn in the quarter-
final expressed his displeasure with his side conceding 1-12, making no bones of the fact that “we will have to look at that area before the semi-final.”

No doubt that is what they did and while Barcelona may not have brought their 'A' game to Hawkfield for that semi, nevertheless Grange' certainly tightened up at the back as they only conceded 1-3, two weeks ago.

Exactly how strong that Barcelona side is we will have to wait and see but no doubt the Carlow champions will be a much stiffer proposition and will bring a lot more to the table and the fact they (Fighting Cocks) will have a 'home' venue should certainly give them a bit of an advantage.

It has been a brilliant season for Kildare sides in 2025 getting three football club sides into provincial finals is something to be immensely proud of.

David Conway is certainly fully aware of that and he has praised his side, no end, for the time and effort they have put in 2025.

Proud
“I am extremely proud of my players and what they have done, they would do anything that I would ask of them. These lads have put in savage work and I can't wait for the final and a tilt against The Fighting Cocks.”

While admitting that he knows very little of the opposition he, no doubt, has informed himself of their strengths and weaknesses in the two weeks between the semi-final and the final, as, no doubt, has the Fighting Cocks manager, Gary Nolan, done likewise on Grange'.

The Kildare side will come into the decider with their confidence high, their belief exceptional and will certainly be well prepared under David Conway.

Decent

They are a decent side at the back, despite conceding that 1-12 in the quarter-final, that probably focused the mind on the defence and that should stand to them.

Team captain, Paul Huntingdon has moved from corner back to the centre half-back position with Dylan Costigan, a big strong defender, moving to the wing back position.

Brian Cullen, operating on wing back position, has the ability to get forward and has found the posts on a few occasions this year.

Keith McGloin and Conall Bergin are an excellent partnership. Conall picked up the Junior Club Player of the Year Award at the recent Kildare GAA Awards night, there were few others in contention for that particular award, such has been his influence throughout this season.

Conall is one of four Bergin brothers on the side, Cillian, at wing forward, is a fine player, Oran, hit an impressive 1-5 in the semi-final against Barcelona, a display that earned him the man of the match award, while Fionn in the corner forward position, managed two two-pointers (inside the opening 90 seconds of play) in that game while he is also an excellent free taker.

It was James Gannon's somewhat fortuitous goal in that semi-final that really put Grangenolvin in the driving seat.
Nathan Doyle brings plenty of experience to the full forward line and overall Grange' have a fair bit of fire power and if they can all click on the day, they will take a bit of stopping.

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