Kildare seek redemption in Tailteann Cup
Jason Curry of Waterford and Darragh Kirwan of Kildare in attendance at the launch of the Tailteann Cup 2024 at Croke Park in Dublin recently. They meet on Saturday in Fraher Field. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
Kildare make a rare visit to Dungarvan on Saturday next to face Waterford in the second round of Tailteann Cup group fixtures. The common denominator between both teams is that they laboured throughout their respective Allianz League campaigns with neither managing to win a game. While Waterford did succeed in getting a draw even that minimum eluded Kildare as they suffered the humiliation of relegation to Division 3, a bitter blow to a county of such a strong football tradition.
Former star and present manager Glenn Ryan has come in for strong criticism but has taken it on the chin and sees the Tailteann Cup as a means to get things back on track in advance of next year’s campaign.
For Paul Shankey, a game like this against higher tier opposition can only be good for his improving Deise side. They certainly narrowed the gap between themselves and a Leitrim team that will be facing Kildare in Division 3 next year and will be hoping for a big performance on Saturday. Waterford are unlikely to show many changes from the side that faced Leitrim on Saturday given the limited squad available throughout this year’s campaign but a big effort will be forthcoming here.
Kildare’s determination to make a statement in the Tailteann Cup was demonstrated in their 3-25 to 0-11 win over Waterford’s fellow Division 4 side Longford on Saturday last so Waterford can expect them to arrive in Fraher Field with all guns blazing. Waterford will be very much up against it here but it is all part of the learning process and ideal preparation for next year’s league.
Offaly V Waterford Waterford’s minor footballers have continued in training since their decisive 3-10 to 0-13 win over Limerick in the final game of their Munster campaign in Lemybrien four weeks ago and on Saturday next they will break new ground when they travel to face Offaly in the new tier three championship.
Paul Power has done a great job with this enthusiastic group of young players and will be hoping to maintain the rate of progress that brought victory over Limerick and a dramatic one point loss away to Clare with victory in their grasp.
This will be a big test for Waterford but if star forwards Paddy McCarthy and Joe Brennan can find the range Offaly could be in for a surprise.
It is understood the Waterford minor hurlers will be out in their championship qualifier against Leinster opposition on Saturday week but with the final round of Leinster fixtures due to be played this coming week it is not clear who their opponents will be.
