| Cill Daingin | |||
| Founded: | 1925 | ||
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| County: | Kildare | ||
| Nickname: | The Greens | ||
| Club colours: | Green with a yellow hoop | ||
| Grounds: | More O'Ferrall Park, Kildangan Stud | ||
| Playing kits | |||
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Kildangan GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Kildangan, County Kildare, Ireland, not to be confused with the similarly named Kildangan GAA, based in County Tipperary. The main activity in the club is Gaelic football.
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At the turn of the last century a football team known as the Charles J Kickhams existed in Riverstown, playing their games in a field opposite John "Shirty" Sextons house. A Gaelic football team was formed in 1913 in Kildangan,[1] playing their first game against Booleigh on Sunday 4th October 1913. This team disbanded in 1915, some of the players transferring to Monasterevin.[2]
After a hiatus of some ten years, Kildangan GAA reformed in 1925 and appeared in the 1925 Junior League Final against Two Mile House. No result of that match has been found. Kildangan had their first success when they won the Junior league in 1930. Their next appearance in a league final was in 1931, where after two replays, they were beaten by Straffan on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-4. Kildangan made amends by winning the following years competition. Kildangan also had appearances in league finals in 1946 and 1952.
Kildangan played their first championship final in 1936, where they were beaten by Celbridge, who scored 3-6 to Kildangans 1-2.
In 1942 Kildangan beat Cappagh in the final of the Junior Championship, played on Nov 1st in Newbridge. The team which won this championship was as follows:- John(Shirty) Sexton, George Sexton, Jack Sexton, Eamonn Lawlor, Paddy Behan, Tommy Berns, Michael Ryan, Hal Conway, Jimmy Behan, John Joe Martin, Joseph Conlan, Tommy Behan, John Merrins, Bill Broderick, Michael O'Sullivan and Thomas Curran.
The winners were 1 point behind in the last minute when a goal by Midfielder Hal Conway secured victory. The previous year in 1941 they had been beaten in the final by Ardclough and in 1943 they reached the Intermediate Final also against Ardclough. The score in the final was Ardclough 2-12 Kildangan 1-3, the game was played in front of a record attendance of 1658 spectators in Newbridge.
The following years were somewhat barren, and the club ceased to exist in the 1960s. Most of this can be attributed to high unemployment and an exodus of some of the more gifted players, such as Paddy and Eddie O'Loughlin to Round Towers.
The club was relaunched in 1970, some players from this era were John Casey, Noel Forde, Ollie Hickey, Eamon Foley, Willie Dunne, Paddy White, Pat Kelly and the Lawless brothers Jimmy and Aiden. This team contested a Junior Championship final against Robertstown in 1980, in which Kildangan were narrowly beaten. Following this final the club once again folded due to a lack of players. However the underage scene remained active and many Kildangan underage players played on a joint Kildangan Nurney team.
The demographics of Kildangan and it's hinterland altered considerably at the start of the new millennium, the Celtic Tiger brought a significant increase in population to the area. The Club was re-established in 2001, mainly with players from surrounding clubs, many of whom had played with Nurney underage, and also migrants to the area.[3] Success followed rapidly and Kildangan won the Junior league in 2003. 2004 brought even more success, and Kildangan won the Junior league and then had a win over Sarsfields in the Junior C final, on a scoreline of 0-14 to 0-10.
2005 again saw Kildangan contest the Junior B final, against Caragh where they were beaten narrowly.
In 2008 Kildangan won the Division 5 league title by beating Suncroft in the final.
In early 2009 Kildangan GAA moved to a new location, complete with dressing rooms and clubhouse. Named More O'Ferrall park, the new grounds were officially opened by Leinster Council Chairman Seamus Howlin on 21 May 2010.
Kildangan GAA was awarded Kildare's Club of the Year in November 2010.
Kildangan Camogie club was founded in 1934, adopting the cream and scarlet colours of Kildangan Stud. Games were played in Lennox's field in Richardtown. The committee in the 1920's was Chairperson: Tommy Stynes, Secretary: Eileen Stynes, Treasurer: Mary Murphy . Tommy Stynes and Mick Lyons were team trainers. Following a successful number of years the club lapsed in 1939.
In 2007, a Ladies Gaelic Football Club, Kildangan Nurney was established with players from Kildangan, Nurney and surrounding areas.
Kildangan GAA has placed a major emphasis on underage coaching since its re-establishment and the club now has a thriving underage section, with both boys and girls playing at in all underage categories up to minor. In 2010, Kildangan and Athgarvan amalgamated for the U13 to U16 age groups for boys, under the name Cúchulainn Gaels.
Full back Jack Sexton represented Kildare at Senior Level in 1936-37 as did goalkeeper John (Shirty) Sexton around this time. Shirty actually played in the Railway Cup for Leinster around 1937, playing against Munster in Portlaoise.
Other Kildangan stalwarts were Paddy and Eddie O'Loughlin, Sean Duffy, Bill Broderick, The Connell brothers Martin and Sean, Mick Maher, who went on to play Inter-County for Westmeath, Joe Conlan and Jimmy Mullaly.
Former association football player Sean Francis currently plays for Kildangan. Francis, who had played association football for Birmingham City, Cobh Ramblers, Shamrock Rovers and Longford Town, as well as having been assistant manager to Waterford United until May 2008, made his Gaelic football début as a substitute in the 2005 Junior B Championship Final against Caragh. In 2006, he received the club's 'Footballer of the Year' award.
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