Preview: We are going to try win every game says Kildare boss Brian Dowling

It was from an ideal end to 2023 for the Kildare hurlers, but it is easy to forget that the start of last year was full of enormous promise for The Lilywhites.

A Keogh Cup win and reaching a league final that will be no easy feat to replicate as new manager Brian Dowling navigates early season squad changes, injuries and the natural bedding in process of newly introduced players.

The format shift in Division 2A means that there is no relegation threat for Kildare hurlers in 2024, but last year’s league finalists would certainly love to leave a mark on the division again. However, if they don’t get off to a flyer, their new boss won’t be frightened to change things with that safety net beneath his team.

Dowling said, “It does take the pressure off, you can try out a few things. Of course you want to win the games you play and the lads did brilliantly in getting to a league final last year. We know it’ll be very competitive and a lot of lads are going to be missing for the league.”

To name a few, Paul Divilly’s retirement, Alan Goss’ long-term shoulder injury and David Qualter’s absence are all notable misses.

With big names such as Cathal Dowling and James Burke still recovering from hamstring issues.

It is mixed fortunes for Coill Dubh pair Johnny Byrne and Mark Delaney, who are coming back into the Kildare hurling set-up from their footballing adventure with Allenwood. While Delaney should be okay for the league’s commencement, Byrne will likely not appear until later.

However, who’s in and who’s not is a concern for another time as Kildare prepare for their opening league fixture against Meath. The selectors must go with who they have and after a sterling campaign last year under different management the new boss will, no doubt, be looking to recreate that early season momentum.

“Any team wants to win every game because it builds confidence in the group. We are going to try to win every game we can and hopefully be in the knockout stages like the lads were last year,” Dowling said.

“The last couple of competitive games have helped (pick a starting XV), but we are still down a lot of bodies. What we said to the lads is that when you get your chance it is up to you to take it and make it impossible for us to leave you off the starting team. We have some quality players to come back into the group, but we hope they have a fight on their hands to get back into that jersey.”

MANY CHANGES
Brian Dowling’s appointment brought about many changes to the Kildare squad as David Herity departed following years of excellent service to hurling to the county.

One of the men who has remained in the squad is goalkeeper and now captain Paddy McKenna, who was given the leadership role by the new staff in charge.

“It is a huge honour to be asked by the players and management to take on that mantle for the year,” McKenna said.

“It was great to be able to tell the family, and there is great pride in it. There have been a good few Clane lads that have been captain of the Kildare footballers over the years, but not so many of the hurlers, so it’s a great honour.”

Brian Dowling has been asked ad nauseam about the challenge of replacing a long-term manager like David Herity, but in-truth the transition will be a far more noticeable change for the players who have remained in the Kildare set-up.

Nevertheless, the panel are excited about having a fresh approach and few are better placed to discuss the matter than the current captain.

“David did unbelievable work for Kildare, not just with the adult teams, but with the running and operations of minors upwards and incorporating everyone. Freshness coming in is what we wanted, David understood that, and Brian and the lads came in and definitely brought that,” McKenna said.

“There is a difference to it too, even though they are both Kilkenny men, they operate differently and the lads like that. David was there five years and did great work, but it's up to Brian, his team, and the players to get it going again and to build on the work that has gone before. You are always trying to leave it in a better place than you get it, not only for managers, but for players too.”

McKenna also discussed in more detail the differences between the two Kilkenny men as it pertains to their coaching style.

He said, “David would say it himself, he is 100mph in everything that he’s doing. Brian is a little bit more relaxed about things.

Of course it means an awful lot to him as well, but it's more of a steady approach. We are not looking to get from point one to point two at 100mph, it is a bit more steady progress. We all know what our goals are, where we need to get to, and we have a timeline in place for that.

“Brian has set out his plans with us for the coming years and the Joe McDonagh is a serious part of that, but we are not going to get ahead of ourselves. There is a lot of hurling to be done between now and the June Bank Holiday (Christy Ring final).”

Of course much pre-season discussion has surrounded the change in management staff after five years, but there are also plenty of new faces in the dressing room too and the new Kildare captain has praised the hurlers that have come in for rejuvenating the squad.

“Lads like James Dolan from Celbridge have come in and he has had the number 15 jersey the last few games and done very well. A few other lads like Daire Guerin have had two great games, amongst others who will get their chance too,” McKenna said.

“I’m one to preach that it takes a while to get an opportunity and to hold onto a jersey is not easy. But the lads are doing a good job in giving Brian and the management headaches coming into the league. And that’s what they want.”

Kildare will begin their Allianz Hurling League Division 2A campaign away from home against Meath on Sunday February 4.