Kildare minors looking to build on McGirr Cup Success

The disappointment of the loss to Dublin in last year’s Leinster MFC semi-final in Manguard Park and buoyed by the capture of the McGirr Cup in Park Tailteann some weeks later Niall Cronin and his 2025 Minor Football Panel are eagerly looking forward to this year’s Leinster campaign.

The Lilywhites travel to Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday for Round 1 in Group 2. Throw in 2pm, Referee Enda Kelly (Westmeath). Also included in Group 2 are Meath and Westmeath.

Speaking of last year Cronin said, “The players made the decision that they were going to go after the Paul McGirr Cup. They had conversations themselves before we got back in to train. It was an All-Ireland Final, albeit not the one we wanted to be in, but it was still a great experience for them and there’s possibly eight or nine of last year's team involved with Sean (O’Dea U20 manager) this year and all things being well they are going to be three-year U20’s now,” he added.

Although weather and schools’ fixtures were a challenge for the Minor manager and his Backroom Team, Cronin is happy with his preparations thus far. “Overall, the lads are working hard and training hard. They’re a good group of players and we’re looking forward getting started now,” he said. Although it is more or less a new panel, “five of the players would have been involved in some capacity last year.” Fifteen clubs are represented on the 2025 Minor Football Panel with some of the smaller clubs in the county well represented on the Panel which has been whittled down from 160 players. “The trials process was extensive and nearly anyone that came for a trial would have got at least two or three opportunities. It's a new group, new game, new rules, new everything.” The progress of Schools football in the county pleases Niall Cronin. “For Kildare it’s great to see the schools so competitive. The Ard Scoil lads were probably unlucky not to get a Leinster out of it. You have Naas CBS now with Kill, Eadestown, Naas and Raheens lads all involved in the Leinster Final last week. It’s good competitive football and at that age the more football these lads get the better. It takes a bit of minding; there's no point in saying otherwise.” Cronin expressed himself a “fan of most of the new rules. Overall, I think they have made the games more exciting. We’ve played a few challenge games and a few internal games and the more exposure they get to the rules in full, the better.

Speaking of his role as manager, the Naas clubman said, “The big thing for us is developing them as players and as individuals as well. That they can just get involved in an intercounty set up and get a taste for it and then go on to play for 20s, go on to play for the seniors. I suppose this whole process is about development.” Looking forward to the Championship, Niall Cronin said, “The lads have got stuck in and are working hard. It’s a tricky first day out against the Champions in Longford. Will Scahill played against us last year and caused a lot of problems in Westmeath, in the Group Stage and he had a very good game against Athy in the Leinster Final. Westmeath have some very good players, very strong and there’s a lot of talk about Meath as well. Louth and Dublin are supposed to be very strong too,” he concluded.

Fixtures Leinster Minor Football Championship 2025 – Group 2 Round 1: Longford V Kildare; Meath V Westmeath, Saturday 29 March Round 2: Kildare V Meath; Westmeath V Longford, Thursday 10 April Round 3: Kildare V Westmeath; Longford V Meath, Thursday 17 April 

KILDARE MINOR FOOTBALL PANEL 2025 Aidan Maddock, Clane Aidan McGrane, Naas Aran Martin, Naas Calum Keaveny, Athy Charlie Cullen, Ellistown Charlie Doran, Clane Cillian Long, Naas Cillian O’Donovan, Sarsfields Conor McBrien, Ellistown Daniel Sargent, Eadestown Daniel Shaw, St Laurence’s Eoghan Lyons, Clane Eoin Markey, Kill Hugh Kelly, Kill Hugh Martin, Suncroft Jack Reilly, Kill Jamie Wall, Round Towers Josh Finn, Kilcullen Mark Travers, Naas Max Rainbow, Sarsfields Nathan Dunne, Naas Niall Finnegan, Milltown Niall McAndrew, Naas Oisin Lynch, Leixlip Ollie Deller, Round Towers Pauric Carty, Rathangan Rian Curran, Raheens Robbie Millham, Naas Rory Thompson, Raheens Sean Gleeson, Round Towers Senan Gallagher, St Laurence’s TJ Donohue, Sarsfields Turlough Donnelly, Kilcullen 

MANAGEMENT TEAM Manager: Niall Cronin Backroom: Emmet O’Keefe, Paddy Beirne, Tom Moran, Liam Foley and Henry Barrett