Fab Four now Fab Three+Two as new Kildare Head Coach ratified

And then there were five. Cast you mind back to this gathering of club delegates in September of 2021, St Conleth's Park, if memory serves me correct, and the announcement that the Fab Four — Glenn Ryan (manager), Johnny Doyle, Dermot Earley and Anthony Rainbow (selectors) — were proposed and ratified to lead Kildare for the next three years (with a review after two) a proposal that met with universal acceptance.

Fast forward two seasons and following a somewhat lengthy review, we were told, the Management Committee was proposing to the gathering changes to the backroom with the Round Towers man remaining as manger, hardly a surprise, along with selectors Johnny Doyle and Anthony Rainbow.

The sting, as it were, was in the detail as a new Head Coach or Lead Coach, as the chairman referred to him as, was being proposed.

He, as we indicated some weeks ago, is Colm Nally, a man that comes with a big reputation on the coaching front. The Dublin native, who was involved with Meath during Gerry McEntee's term, will also be a selector.

The chairman also announced that former All-Star corner back, Brian Lacey, who has been in charge of the video analysis the last years, is also to become a selector.
Dermot Earley has stepped aside due to overseas commitments with the Defence Forces.

So what does this all mean at the end of the day?
Well it means that the so-called Fab Four have now become the Fab Three+Two — in other words The Lilies will have no less that five selectors come 2024.

It was also announced that Roli Sweeney is to become involved taking up the role of Performance Coach.
And so the worst kept secret for weeks on end is finally confirmed and if the reaction of delegates is anything to go on, the appointments are indeed welcome as there was certainly no adverse comments, apart from one who enquired if the management team were aware of the disappointment that most felt after the last two seasons?

The chairman said “they are well aware.”
And we moved on.

As was announced last week the new Senior Hurling Manager, proposed and ratified, is the former Kilkenny All-Ireland winning camogie manager, Brian Dowling, along with coach/ selector Nigel O'Hara remaining in that position from last season. Other selectors will be announced in due course.

The news of the U20 Football manager was delayed, in other words no one has was proposed but it is hoped, we were told, that that position will be filled shortly.

Niall Cronin, the Minor (U17) manager for the past two seasons will be staying on to fulfil his third season. Overall little or no discussion on any of the appointments.

COUNTY FINAL
It was announced that due to St Conleth's Park being redeveloped this season's senior and intermed-
iate football finals will be played as a double header at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, October 22; no doubt the new Operations Manager in Carlow, one Peter McConnon, will ensure everything is spic and span come the 22nd.

On St Conleth's Park, delegates were shown a short video of the progress that is being made at the stadium and it certainly moving along at pace; no hold-ups, if anything ahead of schedule with Alan Dunney informing one and all that nearly €2m has been spent up to now and a lot more in the coming weeks and months.

Alan emphasised that funding for the redevelopment is in place and that there are no concerns in that regard. Probably just as well as the county treasurer also informed the meeting that income from fixtures, compared to this time last season, is down some €35,000 but said that as we were now heading into the knockout championship stages he hoped that there would be an increase in attendances.

However, one has to have doubts about that. While Manguard Park has been improved, car parking and more terracing, it could be the reason that income is down with many deciding not to venture to the venue.

One can only speculate if the 'no cash' rule is also off-putting for some folk and only pre-booked tickets may also not be to everyone's liking.

It will be interesting to see how it unfolds but when one delegate suggested that those travelling from north of the county to the senior and intermediate finals in Carlow is a big ask, well, one can only speculate ...

Speaking of Manguard Park, Operations Manager, Louise Conlon, informed delegates that the floodlighting at the venue is due an upgrade with LED lighting about to be installed which is also a welcome development.

While Vice-Chairman Colm Farrell also said that it is hoped to cover the remaining part of the new terracing (down the gym side) in the not too distant future.

Colm also said that the recent Corporate Golf outing at the K Club was a brilliant success and thanked both Arthur French, and in particular the owner of the K Club, Michael Fetherston who made the course available to Kildare GAA free of charge, a gesture that was worth “between €10 and €15,000” according to Mr. Farrell.

Mr Fetherston is an avid GAA man, having also, since he bought the K Club, supported local clubs in the area along with Golf Classics for both Straffan and Ardclough.

Hurling Chairman, John Burke, thanked David Herity, who of course stepped down after five seasons in charge of Kildare hurlers, at the end of this season.

The Naas man had high praise for the Kilkenny All-Ireland winner and said he was undoubtedly the most successful hurling manager Kildare ever had and he wished him all the best in the future.

And so in less than sixty minutes delegates were out the door. The Fab Four shrunk to the Fab Three before growing to The Fab Three+Two.

A new Hurling manager approved. No white smoke on the new U20 football boss, while Eoin Stapleton will be taking the U20 hurling position. All very positive.
For now anyway!