Leinster Final place at stake for U20 footballers
Kildare U20 Football manager Sean O'Dean Photo: Jim Campbell
Another talented Kildare under-20 football team go in search of a Leinster Final place tonight (Tuesday) under lights in Ashbourne having blazed an impressive trail through their qualifying group.
Seán O’Dea’s men disposed of Laois, Carlow and Wexford with a combined 53 points to spare with the likes of Jay O’Brien, the Round Towers revelation (1-25), Ben Loakman (Sarsfields) on 1-13 and Carbury’s Eoin Cully (2-6) overshadowing even senior starter Ryan Sinkey and All Ireland winner two years ago Killian Browne.
This is a strong all-round Kildare team though, buttressed by the experienced James Harris and centre-back, Athy’s Pádraic Spillane at number three and midfielders Senan Murphy and Ross Harris.
And yet, the quality of the opposition faced (Laois, Carlow and Wexford) leaves a significant question mark hanging over the relative merits of O’Dea’s side, particularly facing into an away semi-final against a battle-hardened Meath outfit who topped a strong group where they beat Dublin and Westmeath before losing against Offaly having fielded a weakened team.
Meath, the holders having succeeded the 2022 and 2023 winners Kildare, struggled to shake off Wexford in their quarter final last week but the free taking of Rian Stafford, nephew of the great Brian, helped them over the line by four points. Wexford were a better team against Kildare than their twelve point loss to Kildare suggested.
Kildare lost to Meath at this stage last year with the likes of Browne, Cully and Sinkey involved and if they can get their forwards motoring in Ashbourne they can prevail to set up a final against either Dublin or Louth.
Two battling wins in their Tier 2 group against Carlow and Kerry saw Adrian Kinsella’s Kildare under-20 hurlers through to a Preliminary Quarter Final in the provincial championship proper against a Laois side who operated in Tier 1 but lost their two games against Galway and Offaly by a combined 37 points.
Laois were the rock upon which Kildare floundered at this level last year but perhaps the contrasting momentum of the two teams, as well as home advantage in Newbridge, might prove a leveller here.
Kinsella’s side is backboned by county senior panellist Evan Ó Briain (Naas) and Oran Byrne (Maynooth) at midfield with the former registering three of their five goals to date but, overall, it is a team that demonstrates the value of the collective over the individual.
Unfortunately, Leinster GAA in their wisdom have scheduled this within 24 hours of the under-20 footballers playing their semi-final and Kildare have two dual players involved.
While Charlie Carroll (Eadestown/Naas), the hurler’s centre-forward, will be between the sticks for the footballers, it is asking a lot of Niall Cramer (Raheens/Éíre Óg Corra Choill), who holds the number 4 jersey in both codes, to give his best two nights in a row.
Technically, Pat Temple’s Minor Hurlers could still finish second in this four-team group and qualify for the championship proper but having lost to Laois and Kerry by a combined 29 points it would take a minor mathematical miracle. Kildare would need to beat Carlow and hope Kerry lose to Laois, but they’d need to win by fifteen points more than Kerry lose by. They’ll go all out for the win to at least round off their campaign on a high note.
