No shortage of talking points on opening weekend of 2026

In a sporting sense, the first weekend of the year is usually a tranquil affair as we dust ourselves off and gradually return to normality after the festivities over the Christmas and new year period.

That certainly wasn’t the case for the opening weekend of January here in Kildare as 2026 began with a flurry of high emotions and talking points.

Both Sallins and Grangenolvin had their dreams of running out for an All-Ireland Final at Croke Park ended, Sallins’ defeat to An Ghaeltacht coming in almost unfathomably cruel circumstances.

Although both were left devastated at coming so close to an All-Ireland Final, Sallins and Grangenolvin should take great solace and satisfaction from the joy they have brought to their communities in what was for both, surely the greatest season in their respective clubs’ histories.

It’s the end of the road for them this season but both still have very bright futures ahead.

At county level, for the Kildare footballers the focus over the weekend was on the new and old.

The announcement from Athy captain David Hyland that he was to be the fourth player from last year’s Tailteann Cup winning squad to announce their retirement from inter-county football is undoubtedly a huge blow for Kildare.

Hyland made 136 appearances in the O’Byrne Cup, League and Championship for Kildare, leaving him in 13th place in the all-time list. He has always been a shining star for Kildare but it could be argued that he had one of his most influential seasons in a Kildare jersey in 2025, and he continued that form for Athy as he led them on their run to a Leinster final.

On the field, no less than 14 players made got their first taste of competitive senior inter-county action as Kildare began 2026 with an O’Byrne Cup win over Wexford in Enniscorthy.

With injuries, retirements, club and college commitments all a factor, Brian Flanagan’s squad is stretched to the limit at the moment but that means opportunities for those newcomers.

Hyland’s retirement cuts the last link to the 2013 Under 21 Leinster winning team and there certainly is the feel of a new era dawning under Flanagan.

Next up for Kildare is a visit of Dublin to Cedral St Conleths Park on Saturday at 5pm for an O’Byrne Cup semi-final. Like Kildare, Dublin started their season last weekend with a whole host of new faces but while neither team will be anywhere near full strength, the visit of the Dubs to Newbridge is always an occasion and it gives supporters the first chance to get out and see the Kildare team at home this year.

The Kildare hurlers were also due to get their season underway at the weekend but, much like the Grade 1 meeting at Naas Racecourse, that fell foul to the cold snap and frozen ground.

However, unlike the meeting at Naas, which was postponed a full 24 hours before the off, the decision to postpone the Walsh Cup tie between Kildare and Galway was made very late on.

Initially, the decision was to push the game back from 1.30pm to 2pm in an attempt to allow the pitch to thaw a little but the call was then made at around 1.15pm that the game could not go ahead at the Newbridge venue, much to the disappointment of a number of Galway supporters who had made the trip from the west, and also to the Kildare supporters who were also beginning to gather.

Kildare later lost that game in Leinster HQ by virtue of a coin toss and they will make a second attempt at getting their season underway on Sunday in Cedral St Conleths Park against Antrim at 2.30pm.