Kildare Junior Football Championship Group A 2026

Club championship football in Kildare runs deep, and the Tom Cross Junior Football Championship is where that passion plays out at grassroots level. Group A of the 2026 competition brings together four clubs - Robertstown, St Kevin’s, Rathcoffey, and Rheban - across six fixtures from early August through to the first weekend in September. Close to the pitch, among people who genuinely care about every ball, a junior championship group game is hard to beat.

What to expect

The group stage is a round-robin format, with each club playing three matches. Fixtures are spread across three established Kildare GAA grounds: Conneff Park in Clane, Manguard Park at the Kildare GAA Centre of Excellence in Hawkfield near Newbridge, and Round Towers GFC. Round 1 opens on the weekend of 8-9 August, with Robertstown hosting St Kevin’s at Conneff Park on the Saturday (3:30pm) and Rathcoffey taking on Rheban at Manguard Park on the Sunday (1:30pm). Round 2 follows on 22-23 August, with the final round of group games on 5 September.

Junior championship games attract loyal club followings - expect families on the sideline and committed football from players who have grown up together. Conneff Park in Clane is a well-maintained county ground with a capacity of around 5,000, named after the Irish athlete Tommy Conneff. Manguard Park is part of the Kildare GAA Centre of Excellence and keeps pitches to a good standard. Entry prices at this level are typically modest.

Getting there

Conneff Park sits in Clane village, just off the M7 motorway. From Dublin, take the M7 and exit at junction 9 for Clane - around 30 kilometres from the city. Dublin Coach and Bus Eireann run services from Dublin to Clane; the journey takes roughly 50 minutes. Manguard Park in Hawkfield is signposted from Newbridge, about 2.5km north of the town centre. Newbridge is well served by the Dublin Heuston to Kildare rail line, with frequent daily services. Car parking is available at both grounds.

While you’re in Kildare

A summer weekend in north Kildare offers more than football. The Hill of Allen is a short drive from Clane with fine views across the Midlands on a clear day, and the heritage town of Kildare is easy to reach from anywhere in the county. There is more to see in Kildare and across Co. Kildare.

Good to know

• Dates: Round 1 - 8-9 August; Round 2 - 22-23 August; Round 3 - 5 September 2026
• Times: Various - from 1:30pm to 5pm depending on fixture
• Price: Various; junior club championship admission is typically low cost
• Venues: Conneff Park (Clane), Manguard Park Hawkfield, Round Towers GFC
• Fixtures and updates: kildaregaa.ie