July 2nd, 2021

A Chairde,

This week’s 3 page edition includes “Bits & Bytes” from the past week, a Quickfire question round with Kildare Senior Hurler Rian Boran and Kildare Senior Footballer Chris Byrne.

“Bits & Bytes”

  • The Minor Football Team will play Carlow in Rd2 of the Leinster Minor Football Championship on Saturday 10th July @ 12noon in St. Conleth’s Park. The lads overcame Longford on Saturday last with a very impressive performance.
  • Both the Minor & U20 Hurlers travelled to Carlow during the week and came away with impressive victories in Rd1 of their respective Leinster Championship competitions. The U20s will take on Wexford on Tuesday @ 7:30pm in St. Conleth’s Park while the Minors will play Laois on Wednesday also in Newbridge.
  • Best wishes to the Kildare Senior Hurlers in next week’s Rd3 Joe McDonagh Cup fixture away to Westmeath in Mullingar. The fixture will throw-in at 3pm and Westmeath will be streaming the fixture – full details to follow early next week.
  • Don’t miss the Be Ready to Play programme in association with @UPMCinIreland ‘Summer Series’! To find out more and to register for #BeReadyToPlay click on the following link for: https://learning.gaa.ie/bereadytoplay
  • The Bord Gáis Energy GAA Legends Tour series returns for another season having been launched by three greats of Gaelic Games today, Seán Boylan, Noelle Healy and Ken McGrath – the series starts on July 7th and can be accessed through https://bit.ly/3hptjd1
  • 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.
  • Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps will return to TG4 for a second season after last year’s hugely successful run. Starting at 7.30pm this Monday, the 6-week series will also be available on the TG4 player TG4.ie, making the return to camp activity, both live and on demand, available to everyone at home and abroad.
  • Best wishes to Conor Daly from Leixlip who will referee the 2020 Minor Hurling Championship Final tomorrow afternoon between Kilkenny and Offaly.
  • The GAA “Dadsandlads” programme was also launched recently. The programme similar to the “Mothersandothers” is aimed for those to rediscover their GAA skills whilst playing in a social environment. Further Info can be obtained on http://gaa.ie/dadsandlads
 

Quickfire Questions with Kildare Senior Footballer Chris Byrne

Age: 23
Club: Clane
Senior Inter County League Debut: N/A
Senior Inter County Championship Debut: Hopefully on Sunday.
Pre-Match Day Routine: Wake up around 7, bring the dog for a walk in Donadea forest. Breakfast is a bowl of porridge with berries, seeds and a banana. Then depending on the match time, I’ll try to get a 2-hour nap in. Before I leave for the match, I will complete a stretching and mobility session.
Pre match rituals: 2-hour nap.
Toughest opponent: Every opponent has their strengths.
Team you most like to beat: Dublin – Dad’s a Dub.
Proudest Day: Scored a late winning goal against Carlow in the O’Byrne Cup in 2020.
Toughest or most disappointing day: Sigerson final loss in 2020 – makes it worse that team-mate Kevin Flynn was on the other team.
Biggest influence on your career: My Dad.
Joker in the panel: Mark O’Grady.
Best Dressed: Con Kavanagh.
Worst Dressed: Shane O’Sullivan.
Player do you admire from another sport: Lebron James – always makes the right decisions on the court and off it.
Manager from another sport do you admire: Phil Jackson – 11 time champion as a coach.

Quickfire Questions with Kildare Senior Hurler Rian Boran

Age: 21
Club: Naas
Senior Inter County League Debut: Donegal 2019.
Senior Inter County Championship Debut: Roscommon – Christy Ring 2019.
Pre-Match Day Routine: Wake up, fuel up and hydrate. Play a bit of Harry J Allstars before the game to get pumped in the car/on the bus.
Pre match rituals: Nothing really.
Toughest opponent: Sean McGettigan, Donegal because of his sheer physicality or Pearce Óg McCrikard, Down because of his natural ability.
Describe yourself in three words: Tough, relaxed and honest.
Proudest Day: Friday 9th of April 2021, if you know you know.
Toughest or most disappointing day: Losing to Meath in the All Ireland Minor B Championship Semi Final 2016.
Biggest influence on your career: My Dad and Marty Boran.
Joker in the panel: Brian Byrne.
Best advice you were given: Two strikes off the left, one off the right.
Best Trainer: James Burke.
Teammate most likely to be a future manager: Mark Doyle.
If there was a transfer market, who you buy: Daithi Burke, Galway. I could learn a thing or two!!