June 18th, 2021

A Chairde,

This week’s 6 page edition includes “Bits & Bytes” from the past week, a Quickfire question round with Kildare Senior Hurler Mark Doyle and Kildare Senior Footballer Conor Hartley. Also included is an article on Bill ‘Squires’ Gannon by Lorcán O’Rourke.

“Bits & Bytes”

  • Congratulations to both the Senior Footballers & Hurlers who gained promotions from their respective divisions. Focus now turns to the Championship which commences for the Hurlers on Saturday 26th June at home v Carlow. The footballers will play in two weeks’ time against the winners of Offaly v Louth.
  • With Cúl Camps and Club Summer Camps just around the corner, all Clubs are asked to fill out the camp planning checklist and submit to murphy.gda.kildare@gaa.ie
  • Bord na nÓg Registration night takes place this evening (Friday 18th June) from 7:30 – 8:30pm in Rathcoffey & Manguard Plus Hawkfield.
  • An Online Go Games Referee Course will take place next Wednesday 23rd June at 7pm. Clubs are encouraged to ask members who may be interested in taking up refereeing to register via https://forms.office.com/r/1hHGTHGma2
  • Following a number of requests from Clubs the Kildare GAA Club Draw has been deferred to Autumn. The revised dates are 10th & 24th September, 15th & 29th Updated promotional posters will be issued in due course.
  • U15 & U16 Talent Academy Programmes will be taking place this Summer. Trial dates and registration forms were circulated to Club Secretaries during the week.
  • The GAA, in conjunction with Kellogg and TG4, are pleased to announce that GAA Cúl Camps show will air for a second season on TG4 for six weeks this summer. The series begins on Monday 28th June at 7:30pm with the camps themselves also starting up around the country on the same day.
  • Annual Registration for the Player Injury Fund is now open. All Clubs are asked to review their teams within Foireann requiring cover and register accordingly. Registration and payment must be completed by August 20, 2021.
  • Cycle Against Suicide are working to train and deploy a network of ‘Community Buddies’ into communities across Ireland. The “Cycle Against Suicide” organisation are inviting individuals who are already garda vetted in clubs and associations to participate in this training free of charge. Full details are available at: https://www.cycleagainstsuicide.com/community-buddy-club/
A full round of fixtures will take place tomorrow evening (Saturday 19th June) with the Senior Hurling League continuing on Tuesday.
  • Upcoming Inter County Fixtures:
    • Leinster MFC: Kildare v Longford, Saturday 26th June @ 12 noon in St. Conleth’s Park.
    • Joe McDonagh Cup: Kildare v Carlow, Saturday 26th June @ 12 noon in St. Conleth’s Park.
     

    Quickfire Questions with Kildare Senior Footballer Conor Hartley

    Age: 23
    Club: Sarsfields
    Senior Inter County League Debut: 2017 v Meath.
    Senior Inter County Championship Debut: 2019 v Wicklow.
    Pre-Match Day Routine: A nice lie in, 5/10 minute stretch when I get up, something light to eat 3 hours before match and plenty of water throughout the day. Try keep nice and relaxed.
    Pre match rituals: No rituals actually.
    Toughest opponent: Brian Howard, very athletic and good on the ball.
    Team you most like to beat: I think everyone in the country would say Dublin.
    Proudest Day: First County title with Sarsfields in 2015.
    Toughest or most disappointing day: When I tore my ACL playing with the club in 2017.
    Biggest influence on your career: My Dad & My brother Diarmuid.
    Joker in the panel: Mark Dempsey.
    Best Dressed: Con Kavanagh.
    Worst Dressed: Shea Ryan.
    Player do you admire from another sport: Lebron James – has dominated the NBA for nearly two decades now.
    Manager from another sport do you admire: Pep Guardiola – his passion for the game.
     
     

    Quickfire Questions with Kildare Senior Hurler Mark Doyle

    Age: 21
    Club: Clane
    Senior Inter County League Debut: 2021 v Roscommon.
    Senior Inter County Championship Debut: 2020 Christy Ring Semi Final against Roscommon.
    Pre-Match Day Routine: Breakfast, go for a walk, re-grip a couple of hurls, pre match snack and then drive to the match.
    Pre match rituals: No I do not.
    Toughest opponent: Down – Good team that never give up.
    Describe yourself in three words: Patient, confident, easy-going.
    Proudest Day: Beating Down in the 2020 Christy Ring Final.
    Toughest or most disappointing day: Losing to Meath in 2019 U20 championship.
    Biggest influence on your career: Paul Dermody.
    Joker in the panel: Jack Travers.
    Best advice you were given: Play the sub-keeper role as if you were the number 1. It will make the transition to number 1 a lot easier.
    Best Trainer: Paul Dermody.
    Teammate most likely to be a future manager: Niall O’Muineachain.
    If there was a transfer market, who you buy: Daithí Burke.

    Statue Commissioned to honour Kildare’s Bill ‘Squires’ Gannon -First Captain to lift Sam Maguire Cup

    Although it is 93 years since Bill ‘Squires’ Gannon had the honour of being the first player to be presented with the Sam Maguire Cup when he captained Kildare to win the 1928 All-Ireland football final, his name may not be familiar to many Lilywhite followers in 2021.
    ‘Squires’ led his club, Kildare*, to win the county senior title in 1927 and thus had the honour of captaining his county the following year.
    The same 15 players who lined out in white when Kildare won the 1927 final played again in the ’28 final, the only time in the history of the GAA that this occurred in hurling or football.

    In 1929 ‘Squires’ was captain of the Leinster team which won the Railway Cup final against Munster. Kildare supplied five other dual All-Ireland winning players for that provincial team:
    • Matt Goff, Leixlip, Magee Barracks
    • Gus Fitzpatrick, Naas
    • Jack Higgins, Magee Barracks, ex-Naas
    • Paddy Martin, Ellistown
    • Paul Doyle, Magee Barracks, ex-Kildare
    Kildare County Council, with support of a local committee, has commissioned a statue to honour ‘Squires’ unique achievement. It is expected that the sculpture will be unveiled when planning and safety regulations permit. This will be a fitting tribute to his memory, recognising his captaincy of the team to win the last of Kildare’s four All-Ireland titles.
    Bill ‘Squires’ Gannon’s GAA Record
    Bill Gannon played in 14 county finals, including three replays, and won five of the 11 that were decided. His record is summarised as follows:
    All-Ireland Senior Finals
    • 1927: Kildare 0-5 Kerry 0-3, 25 September @ Croke Park
    • 1928: Kildare 2-6 Cavan 2-5, 30 September @ Croke Park

    Railway Cup Final
    • 1929: Leinster 1-7 Munster 1-3, 17 March 1929 @ Croke Park
    Kildare Football Finals – 14 (3 Replays)
    Won I Junior, 4 Senior: Lost 2 Intermediate, 4 Senior
    • 1921 Junior: Kildare 2-3 Naas 2-1, 8.1.1922 @ Droichead Nua
    • 1924 Senior: Naas 1-1 Kildare 0-4, 5.10.1924 @ Droichead Nua
    • 1924 Replay: Naas 1-2 Kildare 0-3, 26.10.1924 @ Droichead Nua
    • 1927 Senior: Kildare 2-6 Athy 1-5, 16.10.1927 @ Droichead Nua
    • 1929 Senior: Kildare Towers 3-2 Naas 1-2, 3.11.1929 @Droichead Nua
    • 1930 Senior: Kildare Towers 2-4 Naas 0-5, 17.5.1931 @ Droichead Nua
    • 1931 Senior: Naas 6-7 Kildare Towers 0-3, 15.11.1931 @ Droichead Nua
    • 1933 Intermediate: Newbridge 0-5 Kildare Sarsfields 1-2, 17.12.1933 @ Suncroft
    • 1933 Replay: Newbridge 2-6 Kildare Sarsfields 0-3, 16.2.1934 @ Athy
    • 1935 Senior: Raheens 6-3 Kildare St Brigid’s 1-0, 17.11.1935 @ Droichead Nua
    • 1936 Intermediate: Maynooth 1-8 The Towers 3-2, 22.11.1936 @ Droichead Nua
    • 1936 Replay: Maynooth 2-3 The Towers 0-1, 29.11.1936 @ Leixlip
    • 1938 Senior: Kildare St Patrick’s W/O Ellistown Scr @ Droichead Nua 30.10.1938
    • 1939 Senior: Ellistown 3-2 Kildare St Patrick’s 1-3, 3.9.1939 @ Droichead Nua
    • As can be seen from the records, Kildare town teams played under several different names – Kildare, Kildare Towers, Kildare Sarsfields, Kildare St. Brigid’s, The Towers, St. Patrick’s – between 1921 and 1939, before being known as Round Towers.