Dublin will look to build on last weekend’s thrilling draw against Offaly when they host Kildare in their Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Round 2 encounter at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon (3pm).
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Tue, 21 April 2026
The point secured by Dónal Burke’s superb equaliser deep into added time in that 2-28 to 4-22 draw could well prove invaluable once the three All-Ireland qualifier spots are decided later next month.
Of course, Dublin and Kildare met earlier in the year in the league, with two early Ronan Hayes goals setting Dublin on the road to a comfortable 2-19 to 0-11 victory at Parnell Park.
It’s unlikely to be as straightforward at the weekend, given the progress that the Lilies have made over the spring with evidence of that for all to see as they pushed Wexford all the way before succumbing by 1-22 to 1-14 in their Championship opener on Saturday evening.
Kildare were more than competitive last week with a Jack Sheridan goal giving them a deserved lead before a Lee Chin-inspired Wexford rallied to finish on the front foot.
Last year’s McDonagh Cup winners will look to get more return from a lively forward line that includes David Qualter, Sheridan, Cathal McCabe and Gerry Keegan while Paul Dolan is well able to take a score from wing-back.
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Getting the balance right between defensive security and attacking threat will be central to the thinking of Kildare manager Brian Dowling, with his Dublin counterpart Niall Ó Ceallacháin similarly focused.
What role the returning Liam Rushe offers Dublin remains to be seen but his experience should help Dublin's defensive solidity.
Further up the field, Dublin’s inside-forward line will hope to offer a big scoring threat and in both Cian O’Sullivan and John Hetherton, they possess proven match-winners.
With weather set fair, a large crowd is expected to descend on Donnycarney.
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