6 days ago
Lilywhites ready to bloom in maiden Joe McDonagh Cup final
It's been a busy few years for Brian Dowling.
Aside from managing the Kildare senior hurlers, was also involved with St Kieran's College's Leinster schools' winning team this year following two All-Ireland titles as manager of the Kilkenny camogie team.
Now Dowling is working the oracle with the Lilywhite hurlers as they head to Croke Park this Sunday for their first Joe McDonagh Cup final (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player) as a result of four successive wins in the group stages of the competition.
They meet Laois who they beat by 11 points - 4-20 to 1-18 - at O'Moore Park, but Dowling says that win will count for nothing on Sunday.
"We'll have to raise our level again," he says.
"Beating Laois the last day will count for nothing; they are in the exact same position as us now. They are a top-class team with a brilliant manager in Tommy Fitzgerald and a brilliant coach in Niall Corcoran and it will be a great game, I think. Two very good teams will be going hell for leather."
Back in 2018, at the annual Kildare GAA convention a 32-page, five-year strategic plan was launched.
The Kildare Hurling Action Plan was divided into three main strands – club hurling development, club-school links, and building a club hurling profile.
The hurling community in the county wanted to increase numbers playing the game to a high standard. They wanted top-flight league hurling for the county team and there was always the objective of doing well in the Joe McDonagh Cup.
Back then they were in Division 2B. Now they have promotion to Division 1B secure and Sunday's McDonagh Cup to look forward to.
Behind the scenes former Kildare full-back and county GDA John Doran is driving development and this year's Under-20 side had 11 clubs represented.
"We targeted to get to the top two this year," Dowling said. "We felt if things went well, we could get there.
"After losing to Kerry it didn't look like it would happen but as the year went we were delighted. We are always seeing improvements but things to work on also.
"Winning the Westmeath was a tough game; a big one and it was there to be won. From there we are hurling with confidence."
Dowling said he was delighted to get the job and following consultation with his friend and predecessor, David Herity, he felt there was a chance to do something.
"It was nice in one way to play Christy Ring last year as we had the chance to get things going.
"We could build the thing from there and this year we were promoted to Division 1B, but it's all coming from an incredible effort by different people.
"On the pitch the players work hard three nights a week but then focus on video work, S&C and ball-wall sessions outside training.
"Outside of the team there are a lot of good people involved - this progress hasn't just happened, and Colm Nolan, Adrian Kinsella and Eoin Stapleton have put in a huge amount of work at development and underage level, alongside John Doran.
"It's great to see these people after matches and see how happy they are. But we have another huge test on Sunday and that's all we are focused on."
