Routine win on the cards for Galway hurlers against Kildare in Leinster Championship
THE teams have only met once before in championship hurling – the 1980 All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park – and 46 years later Galway and Kildare are about to trade blows again.
That quarter-final in July of 1980 – the season Galway ended a 57-year wait for All-Ireland glory – saw the Tribesmen carry the day against the Lilywhites on a 5-15 to 1-11 scoreline, with team captain Joe Connolly scoring 3-5.
The teams will finally renew rivalry at St Conleth's Park, Newbridge on Saturday (3:30pm) in the latest round of matches in the Leinster championship.
Last year's Joe McDonagh Cup winners, Kildare are more than a little in over their heads in the provincial series, though they did give a good account of themselves before falling by eight points to Wexford.
The Lilywhites subsequently lost to Dublin (3-24 to 1-19) at Parnell Park, but again battled honourably and possess a quality attacker in top scorer Jack Sheridan.
However, Galway will win by as much as they want to on Saturday. They should be much too slick and cohesive for Kildare and will be in good heart following big wins over both Kilkenny and Offaly.
The teams were due to meet in the Walsh Cup last spring, but the game was postponed at the eleventh hour due to parts of the surface at St Conleth's Park being frozen.
Galway have been the bolters from the pack so far in 2026, with young players Jason Rabbitte, Rory Burke, Aaron Niland and Cillian Trayers all impressing so far.
Micheál Donoghue and his management will also have been heartened by Conor Whelan's return to form against Offaly, while Cian Daniels and Tiernan Killeen have the makings of a complimentary midfield alliance.
With Whelan, the Mannion brothers, Padraic and Cathal, and Daithí Burke providing a hardcore of experience, and Darren Morrissey revelling in the captaincy role, Galway have been catching the eye of neutrals.
With games to come against Dublin (home) and struggling Wexford (away), Galway are odds on to at least reach the Leinster final in early June. There will be no slip-ups against Kildare on Saturday.