COMMENT: Much to admire from hectic Kildare GAA weekend

Kildare hurlers finally got their opportunity to rub shoulders with the so-called big boys in championship hurling on Saturday evening when they entertained the boys from Wexford in the Round 1 of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge.

Walking down the town of Newbridge it was certainly great to see the visitors converge on the town with kids, young and not-so-young carrying, not alone their hurleys but some also brought on their helmets just in case.

Some familiar faces, Wexford natives, who have made Kildare their place of residence for some years and have played both football and hurling with clubs within the county, but they were certainly not sporting the white of Kildare.

Johnny Walsh, one of the most talented hurlers to ever don the white of Kildare, along with his brother Ned, did just that for many a year, while also sporting the famous colours of Ardclough. Between the two of them they have a fair collection of Senior Hurling Championship medals.

Both of the Walsh boys played the big and the small ball game for Ardclough while Johnny was a replacement All-Star and if memory serves me correct took home a host of man-of-the match awards when on the trip.

Another Wexford native we spotted, also sporting his native colours, was none other than Eamonn Cleary.

Clear was a 1989 All-Star with Wexford who played football with Round Towers of Kildare town. Can’t say I can remember him playing any club hurling but he was certainly took a fair bit of handling when wearing the no. 14 jersey for that club’s football side.

The most disappointing aspect of Saturday’s game – apart from the result – was the poor state of the pitch.

One supporter remarked that the kids should have brought along their bucket and spades instead of their hurleys, but nevertheless it is a problem, the pitch that is, that is being rectified.

Talking to the county chairman, Mick Mullen over the weekend, he confirmed that work has been completed in the last number of weeks on the drainage problem and he is confident that what has been done will work.

It will take a bit of time, the chairman said, but with a bit of good weather, a bit of sunshine, we are confident the pitch will return to its former glory sooner rather than later.

It was only back in 2017 St. Conleth's Park in Newbridge was named the runner-up in the inaugural 2017 GAA Pitch Award. The pitch was shortlisted and recognised for its high-quality condition in 2017, behind winner Semple Stadium.

That is where, hopefully, the condition of the playing surface can return to at some stage soon.

As for the game itself, it says a lot where Kildare have come from when going in at half-time, those at the game and supporting the home side, were very disappointed that they were not at least three points clear.

And while the Yellowbellies did pull clear in the second half, the final margin of eight points certainly did not do justice to Kildare’s efforts that evening.

Have to say, that while there was no doubt the better side won one was left scratching one’s head at some of the refereeing decisions throughout the encounter.

It was certainly a case of the ‘small’ man not getting the rub of the green and then to hear Wexford manager Keith Rossiter complain that Lee Chin, a magnificent hurlers without a doubt, did not get proper protection from the match official, actually beggars belief, in fact his remarks were bordering on arrogance.

Have to say, and we have come across this situation a few times since The Lilies moved up the pecking order in hurling. The arrogance of some of those so-called stronger counties is both disappointing and very frustrating.

Still it is onwards and upwards for Brian Dowling and his men, more challenges on the way as early as this Sunday when The Lilies travel to Parnell Park to take on The Dubs, who got a major fright last week when they were held by Offaly.

No doubt the boys in blue will be anxious to put that result behind them, so another interesting game to look forward to.

READ NEXT: 'We could have done with a bit of training on the beach' - Kildare boss has his say on St Conleth's Park pitch

FOOTBALL

And so to Sunday, the sun shining, fans in their short sleeve shirts were out in force as the neighbours arrived in Conleth’s with a bit of a pep in their step following their impressive win over Offaly.

Kildare were under severe pressure for this one after losing the final five games in the Allianz Football League which saw them lose their Division 2 status. On top of that they had a host of injuries coming into this game, at least three or four, who would have been expecting to line up for the national anthem on Sunday.

No Alex Beirne, no Colm Dalton, no Jack Robinson, no Ryan Sinkey and a few more besides.

Injuries have played a major role in the Kildare season of 2026.

Then again, with the cramped fixture list these days, many teams find themselves in the same boat.

An eventful opening half, three goals, two for the visitors, level on six occasions going in at the break with nothing between them.

Kildare stepped up on the resumption, pulled clear, added a second goal to win by five, keeping the noisy neighbours quiet while even more importantly advance to the last four in Leinster.

Some very encouraging displays from the likes of Ben Loakman and Eoin Cully, lads making their championship debuts, add in Darragh Kirwan returning to his best form, Ben McCormack making a major impact from the bench it was all very positive.

And we are being told that most, if not all, of the walking wounded could be available for the semi, things have changed to being a big glum, a bit down, to a most positive outlook.

Onwards and upwards. Hopefully!