Kildare county football team

Gaelic football team

This article is about the Gaelic football team. For the short-lived League of Ireland First Division association football team, see Kildare County F.C.

Kildare

Sport:| Football
Irish:| Cill Dara
Nickname(s):| The Lilywhites
County board:| Kildare GAA
Manager:| Brian Flanagan
Home venue(s):| St Conleth's Park, Newbridge
Recent competitive record
Current All-Ireland status:| Leinster (SF) in 2025
Last championship title:| 1928
Current NFL Division:| 3 (1st in 2025; promoted to Division 2)
Last league title:| None

First colours

Second colours

|

The Kildare county football team represents Kildare in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Kildare GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Leinster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

Kildare's home ground is St Conleth's Park, Newbridge. The team's manager is Brian Flanagan.

The team last won the Leinster Senior Championship in 2000, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 1928 and has never won the National League.

## History

[edit]

Kildare first entered the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) in 1888, and lost to Dublin by a scoreline of 2–7 to 0–1.

1903 Kildare team

Kildare made a major contribution towards the evolution of rules and tactics in Gaelic football. The county was the first to abandon the tradition of playing 21 people on each team, using 16 on each team for a period. Kildare players invented the hand pass: a polished team tactic since 1903; [citation needed] The toe-to-hand was pioneered by the Roseberry (now Newbridge Sarsfields) club. A team made up of players from the two strongest clubs in the county, Roseberry and Clane, played Kerry three times for the All-Ireland Championship of 1903; the matches drew the first mass interest in a field sport in the country, had an aggregate attendance of 50,000, and were regarded as the games which "made the GAA."

Kildare's four All-Ireland titles were won between 1905 and 1928: over Kerry in 1905, Galway in 1919, and Kerry again in 1927 and Cavan in the 1928 final. Kildare became the first team to win the Sam Maguire Cup in 1928. They haven't won it since.

Tactics such as the hand pass were perfected by those early Kildare teams, but they also developed what became traditional catch-and-kick football. Olympic high jumper Larry Stanley was regarded as one of the greatest fielders in the history of the game, and first winner of the all-time All Star award.

Despite winning a Leinster Senior Football Championship in 1956, reaching the National League final in 1958 and 1968, and winning the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship in 1965, Kildare footballers seemed to have difficulty maintaining their proud tradition. The county lost six Leinster finals in the twelve years between 1966 and 1978. Although the Raheens club won a Leinster Senior Club Football Championship title in 1983.

In 1991, former Kerry manager Mick O'Dwyer took charge of the county football team. Kildare lost two more Leinster finals to Dublin in 1992 and 1993, as well as the National League final of 1991. When Dublin came back for a draw in 1994 and won the replay, O'Dwyer was succeeded by Dermot Earley Snr for two years. He returned in 1997, and guided the county to victory over Laois with 13 players and a dramatic, twice replayed series of matches with Meath (which they lost) that captured the imagination of the public and steeled the side for further honors.

In 1998, the Kildare team became the only team in 110 years of championship football to beat the previous three champions, Dublin, Meath and Kerry in turn only to lose to Galway in the All-Ireland final; despite leading by three points at half time. Another Leinster followed in 2000, but Galway defeated them in the semi-final. Leinster Final defeats followed in 2002 and 2003, against Dublin and a Laois side back-boned by their All-Ireland MFC winning sides of the late 1990s. In (2005), Kildare enjoyed mixed success and finished in the top six in the National Football League, but was knocked out of the championship by Sligo.[1]

Donegal defeated Kildare in the 2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in Jim McGuinness's first season in charge

In 2008 under the new management of Kieran McGeeney Kildare made a bit of unfortunate history by becoming the first team ever to lose a championship game to Wicklow in Croke Park, losing in the first round by 0–13 to 0–9. However Kildares season took a turn for the better after that by beating Cavan, Limerick and Fermanagh in the all- Ireland qualifiers to reach their first ever all-ireland quarter-final. To date in 2009, an improved Kildare side reached the Leinster Final only to suffer a defeat to Dublin. Kildare advanced to the All-Ireland quarter-final to play then All-Ireland champions Tyrone after beating Wicklow only to be knocked out by Tyrone. 2010 saw Kildare lose to Louth in the 2nd round. However Kildare had a great run through the qualifiers beating teams like Antrim, Leitrim, Derry and Monaghan to once again reach the All-Ireland Quarter-final to face Leinster champions Meath which they got a slow start but enjoyed the 2nd half as they ran out winning 2–17 to 1–12. to reach the All-Semi-final for the first time since 2000. On 29 August 2010 Kildare faced Down for the first time ever in the championship which turned out to be a very tense game but Down ran out winners 1–16 to 1–14 after a very frantic finish. 2011 saw Kildare advance to the Leinster semi-final after defeating Meath in the Leinster quarter-final only to be defeated by Dublin. Kildare had a good run in the qualifiers beating teams like Laois, Meath & Derry to advance to the All-Ireland quarter-final to face Ulster champions Donegal which turned to be a very poor performance but the 2nd half was a real contest from both sides with the sides finishing level to drag the game into extra-time only to be defeated by a single point by Donegal.[2] Then in 2015 Cian O'Neill became manager after being with the Kerry backroom. In 2017 Kildare reached a first Leinster SFC final in 10 years. Only losing to Dublin by 9 points (Dublin 2–23 Kildare 1–17).[citation needed]

Glenn Ryan hired to manage the team from October 2021. Laois knocked Kildare out of the 2024 Tailteann Cup and that was that for Ryan.

## Colours and crest

[edit]

The old Kildare GAA crest, showing oak trees, acorns and lily flower, was replaced by the current crest in 2005.

The Kildare crest had a serpent on it until 1993, reflecting that of Kildare County Council, itself based on the crest for the town of Naas.[3] When Kildare County Council had the Heraldic Office of Ireland create a proper crest in 1991, and with Kildare fans regarding the serpent as a bad omen, the Kildare Supporters' Club requested a new one for their county teams; this featured acorns above a bunch of lilies (the county council one differed in that it had a Brigid's cross, a harp, a horse's head and acorns).[3] Kildare still lost in the first round of the Leinster Senior Football Championship (SFC) for three years afterwards, from 1994 until 1996.[3]

The 1993 crest is no longer in use.

## Support

[edit]

There is a Kildare Supporters' Club.[3]

Kildare had songs in the official Irish Top 40 ahead of the 1998 All-Ireland SFC final.[3] These were "C'mon you Lilywhites" by Sean Brennan and "Up the Lilywhites" by Brendan Cummins.[3]

Other songs from then included "The Lilywhites Are On The March" by John Rafferty, "Cill Dara Abu" by Paul McCormack and "The Power and the Glory" by the Patrician Primary Pipe and Brass Band.[3]

## Panel

[edit]

Team as per Kildare vs Fermanagh in the Tailteann Cup semi-final, 22 June 2025[4]

| No.  | Player  | Position  | Club

|
|
|

1  | Cian Burke  | Goalkeeper | Clane
2  | Harry O'Neill  | Right Corner Back | Clane
3  | Mark Dempsey  | Full back | Moorefield
4  | Ryan Burke  | Left Corner Back | Caragh
5  | Brian Byrne | Right half back | Moorefield
6  | David Hyland  | Centre back | Athy
7  | James McGrath  | Left half back | Athy
8  | Kevin Feely (c)  | Midfield | Athy
9  | Brendan Gibbons  | Midfield | Kilcock
10  | Tommy Gill  | Right half forward | Carbury
11  | Alex Beirne  | Centre forward | Naas
12  | Colm Dalton  | Left half forward | Sallins
13  | Ryan Sinkey  | Right corner forward | Naas
14  | Darragh Kirwan  | Full forward | Naas
15  | Daniel Flynn | Left corner forward | Johnstownbridge
|  | No.  | Player  | Position  | Club

|
|
|

16  | Didier Cordonier  | Substitute | Two Mile House
17  | Jack McKevitt  | Substitute | Naas
18  | Mick O'Grady  | Substitute | Celbridge
19  | Kevin Flynn  | Substitute | Celbridge
20  | Callum Bolton  | Substitute | Sarsfields
21  | Aaron Masterson  | Substitute | Moorefield
22  | Paddy McDermott  | Substitute | Naas
23  | Darragh Swords  | Substitute | Caragh
24  | Brian MCLoughlin  | Substitute | Clane
25  | Niall Kelly  | Substitute | Athy
26  | Eoin Cully  | Substitute | Carbury

## Management team

[edit]

Appointed Month 2024:

* Manager: Brian Flanagan
* Selector: Aidan O'Rourke
* Selector: Damian Hendy
* Selector: Daryl Flynn

## Managerial history

[edit]

* Joe Rafferty 1905
* Joe McDonald (coach) 1919
* Mick O'Reilly (coach) 1958
* Jim Clarke 1965
* Mick O'Reilly (coach) 1968
* Frank Murphy (coach) 1972

Mick O'Dwyer managed Kildare to the 1998 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, the team's most recent appearance at this stage of the competition. 1975 onwards[5] Dates  | Name  | Origin | Honours

|
|
|

1974  | Pat Mangan  |  | —
1975–1981  | Eamonn O'Donoghue  |  | —
1982–1984  | Bobby Burns  |    | —
1985  | Eamonn O'Donoghue (2)  |  | —
1986–1987 (pt.)  | John Courtney  |    | —
1987 (pt.)–1990  | Pat Fitzgerald  |     | —
1991–1994  | Mick O'Dwyer |    | —
1995–1996  | Dermot Earley |    | —
1997–2002  | Mick O'Dwyer (2)  |    | 1998 Leinster Senior Football Championship,
2000 Leinster Senior Football Championship
2002–2005[6][7][8] | Pádraig Nolan | Kilcock | 2003 O'Byrne Cup
2005–2007[9][10][11] | John Crofton  | Sarsfields | —
2007–2013[12][13] | Kieran McGeeney |    | 2011 O'Byrne Cup,
2012 NFL Division 2,
2013 O'Byrne Cup
2013–2015[14][15][16] | Jason Ryan |    | 2014 O'Byrne Cup
2016–2019[17][18][19] | Cian O'Neill | Moorefield | —
2020–2021[20][21] | Jack O'Connor |    | —
2021–2024[22][23] | Glenn Ryan | Round Towers | —
2024–[24] | Brian Flanagan | Johnstownbridge | 2025 Tailteann Cup

## Players

[edit]

### Notable players

[edit]

For individual player details, see Category:Kildare inter-county Gaelic footballers.

### All Stars

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

Kildare All Stars

Kildare has 15 All Stars, as of 2011. 12 different players have won, as of 2011. No player has won more than two All Stars.

1978: Ollie Crinnigan
1991: Martin Lynch
1997: Niall Buckley, Davy Dalton, Glenn Ryan
1998: Dermot Earley, Karl O'Dwyer, Glenn Ryan2nd, Brian Lacey, John Finn
2000: Anthony Rainbow
2009: Dermot Earley2nd
2010: Peter Kelly, Johnny Doyle
2011: Mick Foley

Nominations

1998: Christy Byrne, Ronan Quinn, Anthony Rainbow, Niall Buckley, Willie McCreery, Declan Kerrigan, Martin Lynch, Eddie McCormack
2000: Christy Byrne, Ken Doyle, Glenn Ryan, Willie McCreery
2002: Dermot Earley
2003: Enda Murphy
2007: Johnny Doyle
2008: Johnny Doyle
2009: James Kavanagh, Alan Smith
2010: Emmet Bolton, Eamonn Callaghan, James Kavanagh
2011: Hugh McGrillen
2012: Emmet Bolton
2017: Kevin Feely, Daniel Flynn
2018: Eoin Doyle, Daniel Flynn, Paul Cribben
2021: Daniel Flynn

### Football Team of the Millennium

[edit]

Ollie Crinnigan (Carbury), Matt Goff (Leixlip), Pa Connolly (Clane), Glenn Ryan (Round Towers), Jack Higgins (Naas), Mick Carolan (Athy), Larry Stanley (Caragh), Pat Mangan (Carbury), Jack Donnelly (Ellistown), Paddy "Boiler" White (Sarsfields), Larry Tompkins (Eadestown and Castlehaven (Cork), Pat Dunny (Raheens), Tommy Carew (Clane), Paul Doyle (Suncroft). 15th player tbd

## Honours

[edit]

### National

[edit]

* All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
* Winners (4): 1905, 1919, 1927, 1928
* Runners-up (5): 1926, 1929, 1931, 1935, 1998
* Tailteann Cup
* Winners (1): 2025
* National Football League
* Runners-up (5): 1927–28, 1928–29, 1957–58, 1967–68, 1990–91
* National Football League Division 2
* Winners (1): 2012[25]
* National Football League Division 3
* Runners-up (1): 2025[26]
* All-Ireland Under-21/Under-20 Football Championship
* Winners (3): 1965, 2018, 2023
* Runners-up (4): 1966, 1976, 2008, 2022
* All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
* Runners-up (1): 1973

### Provincial

[edit]

* Leinster Senior Football Championship
* Winners (13): 1903, 1905, 1919, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1956, 1998, 2000
* Runners-up (23): 1891, 1906, 1908, 1916, 1920, 1921, 1925, 1936, 1938, 1946, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1978, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2003,[27] 2009, 2017, 2021, 2022
* O'Byrne Cup
* Winners (11): 1962, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1982, 1989, 2003, 2011, 2013, 2014
* Leinster Junior Football Championship
* Winners (12): 1927, 1931, 1938, 1956, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1989, 2004, 2011, 2013, 2018
* Leinster Under-21/Under-20 Football Championship
* Winners (13): 1965, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1976, 1983, 1992, 2004, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2022, 2023
* Runners-up (8): 1973, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1989, 2005, 2015, 2016
* Leinster Minor Football Championship
* Winners (9): 1973, 1975, 1983, 1987, 1991, 2013, 2015, 2016,[28] 2019
* Runners-up (13): 1934, 1940, 1942, 1949, 1953, 1965, 1980, 1989, 1990, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2018

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results". RTÉ. 14 October 2021.
2. ^ "Donegal 1–12 Kildare 0–14 (Aet)". RTÉ. 30 July 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015.
3. ^ a b c d e f g "Lily snake was banished". Irish Independent. 23 September 1998.
4. ^ Callaghan, Tommy (22 June 2025). "Kildare book a place in Tailteann Cup decider". Kildare Now.
5. ^ "Manager Records – Kildare GAA 365".
6. ^ O'Riordan, Ian (17 October 2002). "Nolan new Kildare manager". The Irish Times.
7. ^ "Nolan steps down in Kildare". RTÉ. 19 July 2005.
8. ^ "Nolan leaves Lilywhites". Hogan Stand. 20 July 2005.
9. ^ "Crofton is new Kildare boss". Irish Independent. 26 September 2005. "The versatile Sarsfields clubman's 15 year inter-county career ended in 1993 and included a losing league final appearance in '91."
10. ^ "Crofton gets Kildare job". RTÉ. 24 September 2005.
11. ^ "Crofton resigns in Kildare". Hogan Stand. 25 July 2007.
12. ^ "McGeeney appointed Kildare boss". The Irish Times. 2 October 2007.
13. ^ "End of the road as Kieran McGeeney loses Kildare ballot by one vote". The42.ie. 3 September 2013.
14. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (8 October 2013). "Jason Ryan ratified as new Kildare boss tonight". The42.ie.
15. ^ "Jason Ryan steps down as Kildare manager". RTÉ. 28 August 2015.
16. ^ Keys, Colm (27 August 2015). "Jason Ryan steps down as Kildare football manager". Irish Independent.
17. ^ "Cian O'Neill named as new Lilywhites boss as Glenn Ryan overlooked". RTÉ. 3 October 2015.
18. ^ O'Rourke, Steve (3 October 2015). "Surprise as Cian O'Neill is appointed new Kildare football manager". The42.ie.
19. ^ Kennedy, Marisa (16 July 2019). "Cian O'Neill Steps Down As Kildare Manager After Four Years". Pundit Arena. "In 2018, the Newbridge man steered the county to the Super 8s after a historic win over Mayo in St Conleth's Park."[permanent dead link]
20. ^ "O'Connor's appointment a real coup for Kildare". Kildare Nationalist. 4 September 2019.
21. ^ "Jack O'Connor steps down as Kildare manager". RTÉ. 6 September 2021.
22. ^ Lawlor, Damian (October 2021). "Ryan set to be appointed as Kildare manager". RTÉ.
23. ^ McNally, Ger (16 June 2024). "Glenn Ryan steps down as Laois end Kildare Tailteann Cup run". RTÉ.
24. ^ https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/0904/1468292-flanagan-formally-lands-kildare-job-on-four-year-term/#:~:text=Brian Flanagan has been ratified,last night's county board meeting.
25. ^ "As it happened: Tyrone v Kildare, National Football League Division Two Final: Kildare win their first national title since 1928 and lay down a serious championship marker with an impressive second-half display against Tyrone". The42.ie. 29 April 2012.
26. ^ https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41603416.html
27. ^ Whyte, Barry J. (20 July 2003). "Laois claim dramatic Leinster final victory". RTÉ.
28. ^ "Jimmy Hyland haul sees Kildare reclaim customary position". Irish Examiner. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

Kildare panels – competitive victories

Kildare panels – All-Ireland Senior Football Champions

* v
* t
* e

Kildare – 1919 All-Ireland Senior Football Champions (2nd title)

* 1 L. Cribbin
* 2 J. Conlon
* 3 J. Moran
* 4 T. Goulding
* 5 M. Buckley
* 6 Joe O'Connor
* 7 P. Doyle
* 8 M. Sammon
* 9 L. Stanley (c)
* 10 G. Magan
* 11 J. Stanley
* 12 C. Flynn
* 13 B. McGlade
* 14 James O'Connor
* 15 F. Conlan

* v
* t
* e

Kildare – 1927 All-Ireland Senior Football Champions (3rd title)

* 1 M. Walsh
* 2 M. Buckley (c)
* 3 G. Fitzpatrick
* 4 F. Malone
* 5 J. Higgins
* 6 J. Hayes
* 7 J. Loughlin
* 8 B. Gannon
* 9 J. Curtis
* 10 P. Martin
* 11 P. Doyle
* 12 B. Mangan
* 13 P. Loughlin
* 14 T. Keogh
* 15 M. Goff

Sub used
P. Ryan

* v
* t
* e

Kildare – 1928 All-Ireland Senior Football Champions (4th title)

* 1 M. Walsh
* 2 M. Buckley
* 3 M. Goff
* 4 G. Fitzpatrick
* 5 F. Malone
* 6 J. Higgins
* 7 J. Hayes
* 8 J. Loughlin
* 9 B. Gannon (c)
* 10 P. Martin
* 11 P. Loughlin
* 12 P. Doyle
* 13 B. Mangan
* 14 J. Curtis
* 15 T. Keogh

Links to related articles

* v
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Kildare GAA

County teams|

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Stadiums|

* St Conleth's Park
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Competitions|

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County teams in Gaelic football

* Antrim
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(o) = overseas; (j) = junior team; (nfl) = non-league

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National Leagues of the Gaelic Athletic Association

National Football League (2026)

Division 1|

* Armagh
* Donegal
* Dublin
* Galway
* Kerry
* Mayo
* Monaghan
* Roscommon

Division 2|

* Cavan
* Cork
* Derry
* Kildare
* Louth
* Meath
* Offaly
* Tyrone

Division 3|

* Clare
* Down
* Fermanagh
* Laois
* Limerick
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* Westmeath
* Wexford

Division 4|

* Antrim
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National Hurling League (2026)

Division 1A|

* Cork
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* Offaly
* Tipperary
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Division 1B|

* Antrim
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* Down
* Dublin
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* Wexford

Division 2|

* Derry
* Kerry
* Laois
* London
* Mayo
* Meath
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Division 3|

* Armagh
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Division 4|

* Cavan
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