Kildare ready to take Leinster 'by the scruff' says Curtin ahead of Championship opener

After sleeking back through the red-drenched hallways of Kinitty Castle in search of a spot for a chat, Muiris Curtin sat down with local reporters at the launch of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship to look forward to Kildare’s opener against Wexford on Saturday, April 18.

“All we can do is prepare as best we can and we're definitely looking forward to playing these teams,” Curtin said. “There are teams that you kind of grow up dreaming of playing against and now we have the opportunity to play against them. You kind of have to enjoy the build-up and that's something that Brian has said to us, that you have to look forward to this championship because it can go by in a flash.

“Who knows, we might never get the opportunity again so we're really taking it by the scruff of the neck now and just putting everything we can into it. Once we've left no stone unturned and just given it our all, that's all we can really ask for and we'll see where it takes us.”

GLAMOUR TIES

The Lilies face Division 1B opponents Wexford and Dublin first out before glamour ties against Galway and Kilkenny which Brian Dowling’s men will no doubt be relishing after putting it up to 2024 All-Ireland winners Clare in the league. The Lilies end the league phases of the Leinster SHC against Offaly at home.

The hurling played in the early months of this year was no casual preparation either as Kildare fought to secure their Division 1B status for 2027 with three outstanding wins. Confidence is higher than ever within the group but expectations for Kildare’s chances from around the country are perhaps lower, which they will be hoping might work in their favour.

HOME SUPPORT

“It might be good enough, it might not be, but once we're competitive in the Leinster Championship and we put in performances that we're very happy with, we can't ask for much more than that. Hopefully now against Wexford next week we can get a big crowd in as well because that's definitely something we feed off as a team and a backroom team, when there's big crowds in the stands,” Curtin explained.

“Just like that Clare game, that night was unbelievable. Even the Antrim and Carlow games in Newbridge, it was really good to see a big crowd turn out, but we're hoping now that everybody can come out and support us off the back of a positive league campaign, that's hugely important.”

Dominant wins over Davy Fiztgerald’s Antrim, as well as old foes Carlow and Down meant Kildare headed into their final round meeting with upcoming Championship opponents Wexford with nothing to lose and little to gain. Brian Dowling rested several key men as Kildare came up well short with neither The Lilies nor The Yellowbellies leaving having learned much from the outing.

Curtin added, “Firstly it was a positive that our 1B status was maintained before that game so maybe that had something to do with how we set up that day. It gave the opportunity for lads to start on the team and to see if they could put their hand up for a place come championship time. I think the management has been very fair to lads with challenge games and other things like that and giving lads equal opportunities. Look, it was kind of disappointing the way it panned out but I suppose the big one now is when we meet them in the championship so we'll be fully focused on that.”

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CHALLENGE GAMES

That lacklustre Wexford clash is of course the last Kildare hurling outing that fans were privy to but the four-week gap between league and Leinster has facilitated fresh challenges for Kildare.

“We played Waterford and then Laois the other night so two very good challenge games to get. Laois are knocking on the door there, they're probably looking to win the Joe McDonagh and Waterford as everyone knows is a Munster Championship team so like they were very valuable challenge games to get. It was nice particularly after the way the Wexford game went to go down and have a very competitive match with Waterford,” Curtin recalled.

“Same again with Laois the other night so I think we're in a good place now going into the championship having had two very competitive challenge games and again a lot of lads got game time. Brian always says the management wants a headache in terms of who they're picking for the starting 15 so I think we've all given them that and hopefully we can get things right next week.”

HARD WORK

It is a time of immense excitement for Kildare hurling for both players and those resigned to watching on as the men in white endeavour into the highest level of Championship hurling in the province. The hard work, hard runs and hard graft are all in the legs now and it is time for this Kildare side to lay it all out on the table as they tackle the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

Curtin explained, “I said at the time as well that you'd be cursing Mick Gillick (S&C) there in the winter months when he'd be having you out running every sort of drill, but when you get to games then and you can see the positive effects it's all worthwhile. The lads bought in very strongly to it and as a result of that we were able to be competitive in 1B so you put in the hard yards to get to where you want to be. Once you know that you're fit enough and strong enough and fast enough, well then you know it's just about how well you can hurl on the big stage.

“I just tried to follow everything Mick gave us as best as I could and that's all it is really. It’s tough at the time (hard work in winter), you'd be fairly busy and it's a bit difficult to do it on your own, but it's the kind of sacrifices you need to make and that you want to make as well. You know you're doing it to play in the spring and the summer. You do it to play at the best level that you can as an individual and to help the team so yeah it was tough but look hopefully it's going to pay off now in the championship coming up.”

He concluded, “All we want to do is represent Kildare the best we can and leave the jersey in a better place than we got it.”