June 11th, 2021

A Chairde,

This week’s 3 page edition includes “Bits & Bytes” from the past week, a Quickfire question round with Kildare Senior Hurler Conor Dowling and Kildare Senior Footballer Daragh Ryan.

“Bits & Bytes”

  • The Kildare Senior Hurling Team play Mayo tomorrow in the fifth round of the Allianz Hurling League. The match throws-in at 2pm in MacHale Park and the fixture will be streamed live via the Mayo YouTube channel (link to follow). KFM will also have full commentary of the fixture. A win or a draw will ensure the lads win promotion to Div2A.
  • The Kildare Senior Footballers take on Meath in a crucial Semi Final on Sunday. The fixture throws-in at 2pm in St Conleth’s Park. The winners will gain promotional to Div1 for the 2021 League.
  • Congratulations to Carmel McNally Mangan was sworn in last night as President of the Kildare Association in New York. Carmal hails from the Johnstownbridge Club and we wish her every success in the role.
  • Last Friday the Nationwide programme featured a special report on the GAA’s Community Heart Programme. It is another opportunity for us to collectively highlight the important work of an initiative that we know has saved 42 lives in recent years by GAA club-based defibrillators being on hand to help people in a cardiac emergency. The programme is available to watch back on the RTÉ Player.
  • Kildare GAA in conjunction with the Mick Sammon Commemoration Committee have developed a Referee Award Scheme for referees at County and Club levels in the name of Michael Sammon, who refereed the tragic game that was ended by the Bloody Sunday shootings, 21 November 1920, when 14 people lost their lives and hundreds more were injured. Full details can be obtained from your Club Secretary.
  • Have you purchased your Kildare GAA Club Draw ticket?? Back Your Local Club/Team by Supporting #KildareGAAClubDraw2021. Visit kildaregaa.ie/clubdraw to purchase your ticket. Renault Clio/€12k & 14 cash prices on offer each month.
  • Annual Registration for the Player Injury Fund is now open. All Clubs are asked to review their teams within Foireann requiring cover and register accordingly. Registration and payment must be completed by August 20, 2021.
  • Registrations for this summer’s Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps are flying in. Book now to avoid disappointment as places in each camp are limited due to Covid-19. Visit https://www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie/ to secure your child’s entry.
  • Senior Football League Match of the Day:
    • SFL Div1: St. Laurence’s v Naas
    • SFL Div2: Leixlip v Two Mile House
    • SFL Div2: Straffan v Allenwood
    • SFL Div4: Kildangan v Ballykelly

Quickfire Questions with Kildare Senior Footballer Daragh Ryan

Age: 21
Club: Sarsfields
Senior Inter County League Debut: N/A.
Senior Inter County Championship Debut: N/A.
Pre-Match Day Routine: Simple enough – Good breakfast, Try to relax before leaving the house by doing something else, Have a chat in the car/bus on the way.
Pre match rituals: Packing my bag the night before.
Toughest opponent: That Con Kavanagh lad playing for DIT inters was a nightmare to mark.
Team you most like to beat: Moorefield/Dublin.
Proudest Day: Captaining Kildare u20s.
Toughest or most disappointing day: Losing a Minor County Final in 2017.
Biggest influence on your career: Parents.
Joker in the panel: Jack Robinson.
Best Dressed: Eoghan Bateman.
Worst Dressed: Mick O’Grady.
Player do you admire from another sport: Finn Russell – Big risk taker.
Manager from another sport do you admire: Marcelo Bielsa – Cult hero.

 

Quickfire Questions with Kildare Senior Hurler Conor Dowling

 
Age: 24
Club: Naas
Senior Inter County League Debut: 2019 against Warwickshire.
Senior Inter County Championship Debut: 2019 against Roscommon.
Pre-Match Day Routine: Wake up and I would have a coffee with breakfast usually oats and berries with a bagel. Then I’d have a bowl of pasta about 2 hours before throw in and have at least 2-3 litres of water consumed before throw in.
Pre match rituals: Always Warm up with Trousers on before the match..
Toughest opponent: Oisin Kelly (Offaly) just his sheer size and aerial ability was very tough to deal with..
Describe yourself in three words: Committed, Competitive, Skillful.
Proudest Day: Winning the Kildare Club Hurling Final in 2019 with Naas.
Toughest or most disappointing day: Losing the 2017 Club Hurling Final.
Biggest influence on your career: John Holmes and my mother.
Joker in the panel: Jack Travers.
Best advice you were given: From an early age I was told to not have a weak side and be able to strike of both sides equally.
Best Trainer: John Doran.
Teammate most likely to be a future manager: Brian Byrne.
If there was a transfer market, who you buy: Gearoid Hegarty – just an unbelievable hurler and an all-round athlete.