Dowling staying on with Kildare

Brian Dowling will remain on as manager of the Kildare senior hurlers for the 2027 season, Kildare GAA have confirmed today.

The Kilkenny native was heavily linked with the job in his own county after Derek Lyng departed that post following the Cats’ exit from the Leinster Championship at the group stage.

Dowling had been nominated by clubs in the county for the position, along with current and former Naas managers Mark Dowling and Tom Mullally. However, it was confirmed in the last 24 hours that Henry Shefflin will take over the post. The Kilkenny legend cut his teeth in inter-county management with Galway but came back into the fold in his native county as the Under 20 manager for the 2026 season.

Although there are still appealing managerial vacancies around the country, particularly Waterford and Wexford, there had been a strong expectation that Dowling would continue in the Kildare role if he was overlooked for the Kilkenny position.

“Kildare GAA are delighted to confirm that Brian Dowling will remain in charge of the Kildare Senior Hurling Team for 2027.

“We look forward to building on the success achieved over the last few years and we wish Brian and his management team the very best going forward,” read a statement released by Kildare GAA today.

Dowling won back-to-back Christy Ring and Joe McDonagh Cups in his first two years in charge of Kildare. The team then performed admirably in this year’s Leinster Senior Hurling Championship but defeat in all five games sent Kildare back to the McDonagh Cup for 2027.

Earlier in the year, safety was secured in Division 1B of the National Hurling League and that will provide Dowling and Kildare with the ideal preparation as they bid for repeat success in the McDonagh Cup.