McCabe: "We just had to go back to basics and dug it out"

Kildare midfield maestro Cathal McCabe was in fine spirits following Kildare's win over Antrim in the Walsh Shield semi-finals on Sunday and praised the efforts of his teammates, despite the game being played in extremely challenging conditions. 

“Very, very tough day for hurling," McCabe said. "The wind and rain and the conditions of the pitch, the heaviness, didn't make it easy to play kind of stylish hurling, so we just had to go back to basics and dug it out there.

"The first ten minutes of the second half probably wasn't good enough, 2-1 or 2-2 conceded, but it was good we had that fight in us to bounce back. We never gave up, even against the conditions, we dug it out there towards the end with Liam (O’Reilly) sticking over the winner.

"Another game out next weekend which is the most important thing. We have a bye in the first round of the League, so we really wanted to get another game next weekend so that's big for us."

Kildare had to work incredibly hard and showed serious determination to get the last three scorers, which proved to be decisive. 

McCabe set up O’Reilly for the match-winner and he believes Kildare have fostered a “winning mentality” since capturing the 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup.

“Our winning mentality from last year, it's important," he said. "Especially the home games this year - I don't know how many we have, but we want to make Newbridge a fortress. Any team that comes down here we want to let them know what Newbridge is about.

“It was important today - conditions or no conditions - that we put in a performance and let Antrim know that they're coming back here in a couple of weeks and they're getting nothing easy off us from here."

Victory over a Division 1B adds belief and credibility to the team according to McCabe. “It gives us that boost of confidence that we are actually a good team. It's not just a one-off from last year," he said. 

"We've been putting savage work in over the winter months, Mick Gillis has us doing Trojan work so it's good that it's paid off there. 

"We were still going towards the end which is good and we have another game next weekend so it's a big chance for another couple of lads to put their hands up for selection for the big one on the 31st against Dublin."

Kildare faced a massive uphill battle having conceded two goals early in the second half, but they showed tremendous character to claw their way back and ultimately come away with the win. 

“We've been kind of doing that, you know, working on body language and mentality," McCabe said. 

"It didn't really affect us too much. We kind of bounced back straight away. It was kind of five, six minutes but it's something that, it's our first day out, them things are going to happen. 

"It's about how you bounce back and how you learn from it. I thought we bounced back brilliant towards the end, you know, facing into nearly a hurricane at one stage.

"To get up and get the last three or four points - it wasn't even a goal, it was points into that wind - we're delighted. And, again, as I said, we have another day out next time, which is big for us."

The Walsh Shield final will see Kildare take on Kilkenny, a clash that McCabe seems more than up for. 

"That’ll be good now, I'm sure Brian (Dowling) will love that - he'll be going back down to Kieran’s College in the week, letting them know all about it,” McCabe joked.

“They’re the games we want to be playing, the likes of Kilkenny and them boys, so it’ll be good - another test for us to see where we're at in preparation for Dublin."

McCabe seems to have come out the other side of his injury woes and is optimistic about the season ahead, both in individual terms and for the county panel as a whole. 

"I'm back injury free, thank God,” the Maynooth midfielder said. "Towards the end of the Joe Mac (Joe McDonagh Cup), I had a couple of torrid months with injuries and stuff. Touch wood now, all stays good this year. It's a big year for us.

“It's Kildare Hurling, so hopefully we can get the likes of (James) Burkey back, Conan (Boran) back, (David) Qualter back, Simon Lacey and them boys. They're working hard in the back and they've injuries. Everyone's working hard. There's 35, 36 men in there that are putting their shoulder to the wheel for Hurling and that's really important for us this year."