Fri, 22 May, 2026 - 09:50

Farrell's injury nightmare over as he returns to Kildare squad for Galway clash

U20 All-Ireland winning joint-captain Shane Farrell returns to the Kildare bench after nearly two years out with injury but Brian Flanagan has made just one starting to the starting XV for the All-Ireland Championship Round 1 tie against Galway

Ger McNally

A near two-year injury nightmare is finally over for Shane Farrell as he returns to a Kildare matchday squad for the first time since June 2024 for Kildare’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 1 tie against Galway on Saturday evening

It’s the Kilcock forward's first time back in the 26-man squad since he scored six points as Kildare lost to Laois in the Tailteann quarter-final 23 months ago. He was by far Kildare’s best player on that disappointing afternoon and the future looked bright for a player who was joint-captain of the U20 All-Ireland winning team in 2023 but instead he faced into a hugely frustrating period on the sidelines.

That ended recently with a return to club action and he could be seen to take a full part in the warm-up ahead of Kildare’s Leinster semi-final against Westmeath at the start of this month.

He takes his place among the substitutes as one of three changes to the matchday squad, but there is just one change to the starting XV.

Callum Bolton misses out through injury and his place in the half-forward line is taken by Brian McLoughlin. Daragh Mangan and Daragh Ryan drop out of the squad and their places on the bench are taken by Neil Flynn and Sam Doran.

Manager Brian Flanagan has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes to the team despite another three weeks' training since the Westmeath game for the likes of Alex Beirne, Colm Dalton, Ben McCormack and Jack Robinson. They are all named as substitutes.

History is against Kildare as they go west in search of their first win over Galway since 1985, a full preview of the game can be read here.

Kildare team to face Galway in Round 1 of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

1. (GK) Cian Burke (Clane)

2. Ryan Burke (Caragh)

3. Mark Dempsey (Moorefield)

4. Harry O'Neill (Clane)

5. James McGrath (Athy)

6. Eoin Lawlor (Naas)

7. Brian Byrne (Naas)

8. Kevin Feely (Athy)

9. Brendan Gibbons (Kilcock)

10. Brian McLoughlin (Clane)