Changes on the way, on and off the field of play for Kildare

After mixed fortunes in hurling and football, Kildare GAA look ahead to a hopefully much improved 2025

The season of 2024 is slowly but surely coming to an end but thankfully we still have a few Kildare sides strutting their stuff in 'Leinster' with both Caragh (Intermediate Club) and Ellistown (Junior Club) both in action this weekend.

In many ways it is a season best forgotten, particularly when it comes to our senior county footballers who went through the League without winning a game; losing out to Louth in Leinster (that after defeating Wicklow by a single point) and then defeating Leitrim, Waterford and Longford in the group stages of the Tailteann before crashing out to neighbours Laois in the quarter-final.

Ouch!

Hurlers retained their Division 2 status; won the Christy Ring Cup (again) and can look forward to the Joe McDonagh come 2025.

So very mixed fortunes for our footballers and hurlers.

Brian Flanagan has take over the senior footballers and by all accounts is in the process of making sweeping changes.
We await with baited breath!

But there are many other changes coming down the line, and rapidly at that.

We have the new rules in football up for discussion at the end of the month at a special congress which could be very interesting.

Will county delegates bite the bullet and agree to the proposed changes?
Most believe they will but it wouldn't be the first time congress bucked the expected trend and with some of the top referees voicing strong reservations, suggesting too many changes at the one time, it will be interesting to see how that pans out.

By all accounts there are some 50 motions on the clár connected to the new rules, crazy or what, but there is a 'safety net' as Central Council can amend, or rescind, any rule changes agree by the special congress if the management committee deem it necessary.

Could only happen in the GAA and that's for sure.

Annual Convention
Meanwhile the Annual Kildare GAA Convention is also coming down the tracks at pace and this will certainly be another big-decision making gathering, which is certainly unusual as mostly these affairs are practically done and dusted before the delegates collective bums hit the seats.

Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, is the venue for the 2024 Convention which is great to see and that in itself will be something to look forward to.

Changes aplenty on the way here also.

With chairman Mick Gorman ending his five year reign; Colm Farrell's five years as vice chairman also coming to an end, while a few other officers will be scouting for new positions.

Very interesting when it comes to the chair in particular.

Initially it was indicated that Vice-Chairman Colm Farrell would be seeking the top job, along with Mick Mullen who has chaired the CCC for the last number of years.

It looked like a straight shoot-out but then came the bombshell with former county player and hero of the 1998 Leinster final, Cork native Bryan Murphy putting his name in the hat for the top job.

Then when nominations closed last week Colm Farrell's name did not appear on the list of nominations for the chair, just two, Mick Mullen and Bryan Murphy, with Colm Farrell seeking the role of Central Council Delegate.

For the Vice-Chair there were three nominees. Larry Curtin (Rathangan) had initially indicated it unlikely he would be seeking the vice-chair position but lo and behold his name is one of the three nominated, along with Dave Cahill (Clane) who has chaired Coiste na nÓg for the past number of years, having previously been county PRO; also on the list is Colm Nolan, the former Hurling Board Chairman, the Maynooth man is running alongside Bryan Murphy as a 'team' for chairman and vice-chairman respectively.

Then on Monday came the news that Dave Cahill has withdrawn his name for the position of vice-chair but will be remaining in the hunt for Leinster delegate.

So lots of 'action' and 'maneuvering' going on behind the scenes which will all make for a very interesting convention.

There will be other changes but the role of secretary will see Christine Murray re-elected unopposed, on this her fifth and final term; Alan Dunney is also unopposed (after receiving special permission from Croke Park to run again, for a final term having steered, and very successfully steered, the Conleth's Park venture over the line); County PRO, Lorraine Wolfe will also have a free run, the Naas club lady will beginning her fourth year in the role.

Next year with both Alan Dunney and Christine Murray's terms coming to an end it will mean than inside a 12 month period all the top jobs will have new names and new faces.

The election for the chair is however what this year's convention is all about.

Bryan Murphy (and Colm Nolan) are presently doing the rounds of the clubs and are “more than happy with the response” they are receiving.

Talking to the Leinster Leader Bryan Murphy had indicated that he feels he has the necessary credentials to move Kildare forward in both football and hurling and while admitting he does not have the administrative experience of Co Board, feels that is not a hindrance.

Full interviews with Bryan Murphy and Mick Mullen, who will, no doubt, go into this contest as the favourite to succeed Mick Gorman, will appear in next week's edition of the Leinster Leader.

In the meantime keep a look out for two additional election posters on the poles throughout the county, over the next week or so.

Vote No 1 Mick Mullen.

Vote No 1 Bryan Murphy.

• Condolences to the McMahon family from Naas on the sudden death of John, former County Board Chairman and former Chairman of Naas GAA. John was Head Steward at Manguard Park and Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge. John's death will be sorely felt, not just by his wife and family but the GAA family of Naas and indeed the entire county. May he RIP.