Latest news with #Division1B
The 42
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Dublin bring abrupt end to Kildare's summer of fun in hurling championsip
Dublin 3-25 Kildare 0-13 Paul Keane reports from St Conleth's Park, Newbridge KILDARE'S SUMMER OF fun is finally over, visitors Dublin bringing an abrupt end to the Joe McDonagh Cup champions' interest in the All-Ireland SHC. Just six days after claiming an unlikely tier two title with a huge Croke Park display, the hope was that Kildare might be able to summon a similar performance on home soil to extend their season. But they were summarily dispatched by a Dublin side that had victory, and an All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Limerick next weekend, as good as wrapped up by half-time in Newbridge. First-half goals from Ronan Hayes and Diarmaid O'Dulaing laid the platform for Dublin's 21-point win with Fergal Whitely adding a third goal late in the second-half. Sean Currie, who shot 0-8, finished as top scorer for the Dubs who were sent down the preliminary quarter-final route as a result of their third placed finish in Leinster behind Galway and Kilkenny. The jump in standard was simply too great for Kildare who were still cheered off the pitch by their fans at the end of a terrific season. They will meet Dublin again in next season's Division 1B, though. Their dubious reward for this big win is a quarter-final clash with Limerick next weekend. Kildare hoped to carry the momentum from their breakthrough triumph through to this game, their seventh of the year in Newbridge. They'd won five of their previous six outings at home, only slipping up to Kerry in Round 1 of the Joe McDonagh Cup, and were tied with Dublin after 10 minutes. But when Hayes struck Dublin's first goal at that point of the game, it created a blue wave that washed over the overwhelmed hosts. By half-time the Dubs put 2-14 on the board to Kildare's 0-5 – the Lilywhites managing just two points from play in that period. The loss of James Burke from the team to injury hardly helped Kildare, but Dublin were still without Donal Burke while former All-Star Danny Sutcliffe was absent too through injury. Advertisement Burke was at least togged out and, in a positive development ahead of next weekend, got through a light warm up along the sideline in the closing minutes of the game. John Hetherton was a late addition to the Dublin lineup and the big St Vincent's man made two great first-half fetches, laying on points for Currie and O Dulaing. Rising star O Dulaing was the other late addition to the team and filled his boots, striking 1-4 in the first-half alone. The Commercials attacker was a constant threat, jinking this way and that and contorting his body to clip some terrific scores. He grabbed his goal in the 17th minute after a powerful run in from the right wing that left Dublin 2-6 to 0-4 up and already in the clear. In all, between the 14th minute and half-time, they outscored a stunned Kildare by 1-10 to 0-1 to open up that 15-point half-time lead. Hayes almost sniped a third goal for Dublin in the 43rd minute but blasted wide when he had Currie free on his left. It wasn't a fatal error. While Dublin weren't as prolific in the second-half, Kildare never looked like making it a contest again. The one time they did get in on goal, Cathal Dowling was thwarted by goalkeeper Sean Brennan who pulled off a great save in the 49th minute. Both sides rolled in their full allocation of substitutes in the closing minutes as the game petered out towards its inevitable conclusion. Whitely registered Dublin's third goal and finished with 1-1, beating the Kildare goalkeeper at his near post following a run in from the left wing for his 65th minute goal. Scorers for Dublin: Sean Currie 0-8 (0-5f), Diarmaid O Dulaing 1-4, Fergal Whitely 1-1, Ronan Hayes 1-1, Rian McBride 0-3, Brian Hayes 0-3, Cian O'Sullivan 0-2, Chris Crummey 0-2, Conor Burke 0-1. Scorers for Kildare: David Qualter 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 65), Gerry Keegan 0-2, Jack Sheridan 0-1, Cian Boran 0-1, Jack Travers 0-1. Dublin 1. Sean Brennan (Cuala) 2. John Bellew (Lucan Sarsfields) 3. Paddy Smyth (Clontarf) 4. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna) 5. Paddy Doyle (Naomh Barrog) 6. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields) 7. Paddy Dunleavy (Ballyboden St Enda's) 9. Brian Hayes (Kilmacud Crokes) 11. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes) 13. Sean Currie (Na Fianna) 15. Ronan Hayes (Kilmacud Crokes) 10. Rian McBride (St Vincent's) 20. John Hetherton (St Vincent's) 25. Diarmaid O Dulaing (Commercials) 14. Cian O'Sullivan (St Brigid's) Subs: 8. Conor Burke (St Vincent's) for Whitely (28-29, blood) Burke for McBride (45) 26. Conal O Riain (Kilmacud Crokes) for O'Sullivan (50) 17. Andrew Dunphy (St Brigid's) for Dunleavy (51) 18. Sean Gallagher (Naomh Barrog) for Brian Hayes (59) 12. Darragh Power (Fingallians) for Ronan Hayes (65) Kildare 1. Paddy McKenna (Clane) 4. Dan O'Meara (Maynooth) 3. Rian Boran (Naas) 2. Richy Hogan (Naas) 7. Paul Dolan (Eire Og Corra Choill) 19. Liam O'Reilly (Naas) 6. Cian Boran (Naas) 8. Daire Guerin (Naas) 5. Simon Leacy (Naas) 9. Cathal McCabe (Maynooth) 11. Gerry Keegan (Celbridge) 12. David Qualter (Maynooth) 13. Darragh Melville (Leixlip) 14. Cathal Dowling (Naas) 15. Jack Sheridan (Naas) Subs: 17. Jack Travers (Leixlip) for McCabe (45) 18. Harry Carroll (Naas) for O'Reilly (50) 21. Muiris Curtin (Moorefield) for Sheridan (58) 23. Killian Harrington (Naas) for Dowling (60) 22. Oisin Lynam (Celbridge) for Qualter (67) Referee: James Owens (Wexford).
Irish Examiner
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Dublin summarily dispatch of Kildare at St Conleth's Park and book All-Ireland quarter final spot
All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-final: Dublin 3-25 Kildare 0-13 Kildare's summer of fun is finally over, visitors Dublin bringing an abrupt end to the Joe McDonagh Cup champions' interest in the All-Ireland SHC. Just six days after claiming an unlikely tier two title with a huge Croke Park display, the hope was that Kildare might be able to summon a similar performance on home soil to extend their season. But they were summarily dispatched by a Dublin side that had victory, and an All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Limerick next weekend, as good as wrapped up by half-time in Newbridge. First-half goals from Ronan Hayes and Diarmaid O'Dulaing laid the platform for Dublin's 21-point win with Fergal Whitely adding a third goal late in the second-half. Sean Currie, who shot 0-8, finished as top scorer for the Dubs who were sent down the preliminary quarter-final route as a result of their third placed finish in Leinster behind Galway and Kilkenny. The jump in standard was simply too great for Kildare who were still cheered off the pitch by their fans at the end of a terrific season. They will meet Dublin again in next season's Division 1B though for Dublin themselves, their 2025 season still has at least one more game to run. Their dubious reward for this big win is a quarter-final clash with Limerick next weekend. Kildare hoped to carry the momentum from their breakthrough triumph last weekend through to this game, their seventh of the year in Newbridge. Dublin's Sean Currie made all the difference on the day. Picture: Bryan Keane/Inpho They'd won five of their previous six outings at home, only slipping up to Kerry in Round 1 of the Joe McDonagh Cup, and were tied with Dublin after 10 minutes. But when Hayes struck Dublin's first goal in the 10th minute, it created a blue wave that washed over the overwhelmed hosts. By half-time Dublin had put 2-14 on the board to Kildare's 0-5 with the Lilywhites managing just two points from play in that period. The loss of James Burke from the team to injury hardly helped Kildare. But Dublin were still without Donal Burke while former All-Star Danny Sutcliffe was absent too through injury. Burke was at least togged out and, in a positive development ahead of next weekend, got through a light warm up along the sideline in the closing minutes of the game. John Hetherton was a late addition to the Dublin lineup and the big St Vincent's man made two great first-half fetches, laying on points for Currie and O'Dulaing. Rising star O Dulaing was the other late addition to the Dublin's team and filled his boots, striking 1-4 in the first-half alone. The Commercials attacker was a constant threat, jinking this way and that and contorting his body to clip some terrific scores. He grabbed his goal in the 17th minute after a powerful run in from the right wing that left Dublin 2-6 to 0-4 up and already in the clear. In all, between the 14th minute and half-time, Dublin outscored a stunned Kildare by 1-10 to 0-1 to open up that giant 15-point half-time lead. Hayes almost sniped a third goal for Dublin in the 43rd minute but blasted wide when he had Currie free on his left. It wasn't a fatal error because while Dublin weren't as prolific in the second-half, Kildare never looked like making it a contest again. The one time Kildare did get in on goal, Cathal Dowling was thwarted by Dublin goalkeeper Sean Brennan who pulled off a great save in the 49th minute. Both sides rolled in their full allocation of substitutes in the closing minutes as the game petered out towards its inevitable conclusion. Whitely registered Dublin's third goal and finished with 1-1, beating the Kildare goalkeeper at his near post following a run in from the left wing for his 65th minute goal. Scorers for Dublin: S Currie 0-8 (0-5f), D O Dulaing 1-4, F Whitely 1-1, R Hayes 1-1, R McBride 0-3, B Hayes 0-3, C O'Sullivan 0-2, C Crummey 0-2, C Burke 0-1. Scorers for Kildare: D Qualter 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 65), G Keegan 0-2, J Sheridan 0-1, C Boran 0-1, J Travers 0-1. DUBLIN: S Brennan; J Bellew, P Smyth, C McHugh; P Doyle, C Crummey, P Dunleavy; B Hayes, F Whitely; S Currie, R Hayes, R McBride; J Hetherton, D O'Dulaing, C O'Sullivan. Subs: C Burke for Whitely (28), blood, Burke for McBride (45), C O Riain for O'Sullivan (50), A Dunphy for Dunleavy (51), S Gallagher for B Hayes (59), D Power for R Hayes (65). KILDARE: P McKenna; D O'Meara, R Boran, R Hogan; P Dolan, L O'Reilly, C Boran; D Guerin, S Leacy; C McCabe, G Keegan, D Qualter; D Melville, C Dowling, J Sheridan. Subs: J Travers for McCabe (45), H Carroll for O'Reilly (50), M Curtin for Sheridan (58), K Harrington for Dowling (60), O Lynam for Qualter (67). Referee: J Owens (Wexford)
The 42
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'There's a buzz around the county' - Joe McDonagh success and Kildare's hurling rise
THE MUNSTER AND Leinster senior finals took centre stage last weekend, but another hurling story also captured the imagination. Kildare won the Joe McDonagh Cup for the first time in their history after stunning Laois in Croke Park. Having landed the Christie Ring Cup 12 months ago, the early aim for Brian Dowling's side would have been retaining their second-tier status. That certainly seemed the case after losing their opener to Kerry, yielding a ninth defeat in nine games in the competition. But the Lilywhites went on a remarkable run, which culminated in Croke Park glory last weekend. Former Naas hurling chairman and Laois native Austin Bergin may have watched his home county fall short, but he saw a host of players from his adopted club climb the steps of the Hogan Stand. Rian Boran lifted the silverware as captain, one of nine Naas players to feature on the day. 'Personally, I would have been happy for the Naas lads,' Bergin tells The 42. 'Not that I wouldn't have been happy for Kildare, but I'd know all the Naas lads. 'I've seen them growing up, I've been with them at different team levels, be it at minor, U14, U16, I've been involved with them. There's great personal pleasure to see young fellas turning into men and becoming fantastic hurlers. To win something at that level and not expect it, it's fantastic. It gives opportunities in life that you'd never expect.' The Leinster senior hurling championship awaits for the first time since 2004 next year, as well as Division 1B of the league, but a home All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final is the immediate focus. ***** The Naas story is a huge part of Kildare's hurling rise. Bergin was chairman of the club from 2017 to 2022: after a period of underage success, their senior hurling breakthrough arrived in 2019 with a first county title in 17 years. They have reigned supreme every year since, and enjoyed national glory in '22 as All-Ireland intermediate champions. Bergin grew up hurling for Clough-Ballacolla in Laois, but life eventually brought him to Naas. An urban centre off the M7 motorway, its population is 26,180, as per the April 2022 census. The GAA club has almost 3,000 members and fields up to 100 teams in hurling, football, camogie and ladies football. Advertisement The Naas senior hurling team pictured in 2022. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO But that hasn't always been the case. 'What the hell is going on in Naas?' was a question at one county board meeting years back as they struggled for numbers. Hurling would be viewed as the fourth sport in in the town behind Gaelic football, rugby and soccer, with the football/hurling split broadly 70/30 to this day. Similar to Kildare in its entirety. 'Blow ins' from hurling strongholds getting involved helped through Naas' hurling resurgence, while the nursery and juvenile section of the club came into sharp focus. Competing in Kilkenny and Dublin was huge too amidst a myriad of other factors. 'There's no magic solution to what Naas got to,' says Bergin. 'It was just work for 30 years, and it continues to be work. 'It's all pieces of a jigsaw; good people, the commitment of parents, the training, the coaching. 'I often use the example, Kilkenny set the bar so high, people had to come to the level of Kilkenny to compete. Naas have set a bar in Kildare. There's fantastic work being done in other clubs, shoots of life coming in, certain underage teams that are going to springboard up the line in due course, because they know the work needs to go in.' Bergin identifies the 'different type of hurling' in Kilkenny as instrumental in player development. Kildare starters Rian Boran, James Burke and Richy Hogan were all on the first Naas team that played on Noreside 10 years ago, with Sunday's player of the match Cian Boran, Daire Guerin and Liam O'Reilly among those following suit. James Burke (centre) in action for Kildare last weekend. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO Reeling off names reminds Bergin of another interesting point. 'For the last couple of years, players have played for Kildare senior hurling before they played for Naas senior hurling,' he says, listing Burke, Boran and Guerin as some examples. 'The Naas senior team is so strong, they're blooding them in the second team and they don't get a chance because they're not needed. It's a very unusual dynamic, but that's part of the work that it has built into in Naas.' And fed into Kildare. Brilliant rises on both accounts, intertwined along the way. These are heady days for the small hurling fraternity in the county, with the excitement palpable. Young fellas are out pucking around on greens in Naas, something rarely seen. The profile is rising, promotion increasing. Every little helps. After Croke Park last weekend, another huge occasion awaits in Newbridge on Saturday. Dublin are the opposition in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final, as part of a blockbuster double-header at the redeveloped Cedral St Conleth's Park. 'There certainly is a buzz,' says Bergin. 'I know the football is on after it [Tailteann Cup quarter-final versus Offaly] but I think the hurling on it's own would bring a huge crowd. KIldare celebrate with the Joe McDonagh Cup. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO 'The anticipation of playing Kilkenny, Galway, Wexford, Dublin and Offaly next year. The likes of TJ Reid coming to a hurling championship match in Newbridge, that's kind of fairytale stuff. 'Look, they've earned the right to be there. It's the structure, I know it's being looked at, but trying to keep the teams up at that level, that's the key. Letting them up for one year doesn't work. You need to change the structure, hopefully they come up with solutions. 'Kildare go up, but it could be a yo-yo effect by coming down. The key was to compete at Joe McDonagh. Now they've competed and kind of surpassed that drive — going up to hurl at the next level, it's to sustain it, the buzz around the county.' That's the challenge, but the immediate one is Dublin after a six-day turnaround. 'Not only did Kildare perform last Sunday, they hurled,' Bergin concludes. 'They showed that they can hurl and hurl at a level. 'You'd hope on Saturday evening, that they can bring intensity to it. It's certainly not the perfect preparation, but hopefully they can perform to some level.' ****
RTÉ News
03-06-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Lilywhites ready to bloom in maiden Joe McDonagh Cup final
It's been a busy few years for Brian Dowling. Aside from managing the Kildare senior hurlers, was also involved with St Kieran's College's Leinster schools' winning team this year following two All-Ireland titles as manager of the Kilkenny camogie team. Now Dowling is working the oracle with the Lilywhite hurlers as they head to Croke Park this Sunday for their first Joe McDonagh Cup final (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player) as a result of four successive wins in the group stages of the competition. They meet Laois who they beat by 11 points - 4-20 to 1-18 - at O'Moore Park, but Dowling says that win will count for nothing on Sunday. "We'll have to raise our level again," he says. "Beating Laois the last day will count for nothing; they are in the exact same position as us now. They are a top-class team with a brilliant manager in Tommy Fitzgerald and a brilliant coach in Niall Corcoran and it will be a great game, I think. Two very good teams will be going hell for leather." Back in 2018, at the annual Kildare GAA convention a 32-page, five-year strategic plan was launched. The Kildare Hurling Action Plan was divided into three main strands – club hurling development, club-school links, and building a club hurling profile. The hurling community in the county wanted to increase numbers playing the game to a high standard. They wanted top-flight league hurling for the county team and there was always the objective of doing well in the Joe McDonagh Cup. Back then they were in Division 2B. Now they have promotion to Division 1B secure and Sunday's McDonagh Cup to look forward to. Behind the scenes former Kildare full-back and county GDA John Doran is driving development and this year's Under-20 side had 11 clubs represented. "We targeted to get to the top two this year," Dowling said. "We felt if things went well, we could get there. "After losing to Kerry it didn't look like it would happen but as the year went we were delighted. We are always seeing improvements but things to work on also. "Winning the Westmeath was a tough game; a big one and it was there to be won. From there we are hurling with confidence." Dowling said he was delighted to get the job and following consultation with his friend and predecessor, David Herity, he felt there was a chance to do something. "It was nice in one way to play Christy Ring last year as we had the chance to get things going. "We could build the thing from there and this year we were promoted to Division 1B, but it's all coming from an incredible effort by different people. "On the pitch the players work hard three nights a week but then focus on video work, S&C and ball-wall sessions outside training. "Outside of the team there are a lot of good people involved - this progress hasn't just happened, and Colm Nolan, Adrian Kinsella and Eoin Stapleton have put in a huge amount of work at development and underage level, alongside John Doran. "It's great to see these people after matches and see how happy they are. But we have another huge test on Sunday and that's all we are focused on."
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Couldn't be more in love' – Overjoyed Kilkenny camogie legend gives birth to ‘gorgeous' baby son
FORMER Kilkenny camogie ace Miriam Walshe "couldn't be more in love" after giving birth to her son Dáithí. 4 The camogie star has given birth to a baby boy named Dáithí Credit: @miriamwalshe 4 She turned 30 in February Credit: @miriamwalshe 4 Talk about starting them young Credit: @miriamwalshe 4 Walshe starred in the black and amber for 13 seasons Posting an album of adorable hospital photos, she reflected: "Welcoming Dáithí Mc 19/05/25 - We couldn't be more in love. Uncle Willie shining his light down on our lil man." The cute pics were naturally warmly received by friends and family alike. Jemma replied to the sweet Similarly, Jenny gushed: "Congratulations Miriam, he is so adorable!" Read More On GAA Finally, Brian added: "Huge congratulations Miriam, he is gorgeous!" Her former inter-county teammates will surely also wish her well once Derry secured their senior status quite comfortably 12 months ago and that will be their target once again in 2025. They will need to defend better than in the Division 2 league final, when they conceded four goals and could have shipped more. Most read in GAA Hurling They were missing half last year's team, however, and some of those will return against the Cats. Starting at home is a boost against a Kilkenny side making gradual improvements under new manager Tommy Shefflin. Limerick GAA fans troll RTE pundit Donal Og Cusack after win over Cork The Stripeywomen were easy winners of the Leinster final last weekend against Wexford and will be hotly fancied to make the long trek back home with the three points tucked under their belts. Another 2pm throw-in that catches the eye is the meeting of Clare versus Wexford. There is no time for these teams to feel their way into the championship as in a group that includes Cork, Tipperary and Limerick, this looks like being a crucial fixture with regard to determining one of the three qualification berths to the knockout stages. There has rarely been much between the teams and in the league, a couple of goals gave the Banner a one-point victory in Enniscorthy. That got them to the Division 1B final which they lost to Antrim, after a very competitive hour. Wexford actually scored more and conceded less than Clare through the group stages of the league. They also reached the Leinster final last weekend, where Kilkenny were too strong, and must put that to bed quickly. It is truly an impossible game to call.
