Kildare team named for Dublin clash

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026 - 15:11

Brian Flanagan has named the Kildare team for Saturday evening’s Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup semi-final at Cedral St Conleths Park, throw in at 5pm.

It’s a team that includes nine players who began the quarter-final win over Wexford in Enniscorthy last weekend.

Padraic Spillane, Eoin Lawlor, Brian Byrne, Dara Crowley, Brendan Gibbons, Brian McLoughlin, Ben Loakman, Niall Dolan and Sam Doran retain their places.

Elsewhere, team captain Kevin Feely makes his first appearance of the season, as does last year’s Tailteann Cup Player of the Year Alex Beirne. Mark Dempsey and Harry O’Neill are named in the corner back positions, Didier Cordonnier is named in goal while Luke Killian comes straight into the team after an outstanding season with Sallins during their run to the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-finals.

The bench features a number of players who were on Sigerson Cup duty during the week, and also Johnstownbridge’s Aaron McNally who is named in a Kildare senior squad for the first time.

The match was previewed on this week's edition of The Short Grass Kildare Nationalist Sports Podcast.

Kildare team to face Dublin

1 Didier Cordonnier - Two Mile House

2 Mark Dempsey - Moorefield

3 Padraic Spillane - Athy

4 Harry O' Neill - Clane

5 Eoin Lawlor - Naas

6 Brian Byrne - Naas

7 Dara Crowley - Raheens

8 Kevin Feely - Athy

9 Brendan Gibbons - Kilcock

10 Brian McLoughlin - Clane