Kildare Junior Football Championship Group C 2026

The Tom Cross Junior Football Championship is one of the highlights of the Kildare GAA summer, and Group C brings together four clubs with genuine local rivalries: Ardclough, Athgarvan, Ballymore Eustace, and Kill. Running from early August through to early September 2026, this is a round-robin group stage where every result matters and no club can afford a slow start. If you enjoy club football at its most committed - smaller crowds, players who work day jobs and bleed for the jersey, parents roaring from the sideline - this is exactly the kind of afternoon or evening worth clearing the diary for.

What to expect

Six fixtures spread across three rounds decide who advances from Group C. The opening round gets things going on 7 August with Ardclough taking on Athgarvan, and Ballymore Eustace facing Kill on 9 August. Round two falls on 21 and 23 August, and the final round of group games takes place on 3 September, with Ardclough v Kill and Athgarvan v Ballymore Eustace throwing in simultaneously. Most evening matches kick off around 7:45pm or 8pm; the daytime fixtures have earlier starts around 2pm to 4:30pm. Most matches are played at Manguard Park, Hawkfield - Kildare GAA’s county headquarters near Newbridge - with one Round 2 match hosted at Raheens GAA’s ground in Caragh. The standard of junior club football in Kildare is high, and with Tom Cross Transport’s name on the cup, there is added prestige to take out of the group stages.

Getting there

Manguard Park, Hawkfield is located near Newbridge, with an Eirecode of W12 H293. Newbridge is well served by Irish Rail on the Dublin Heuston to Kildare commuter line, with regular services from the capital taking around 40 minutes. From Newbridge station it is a short drive or taxi ride to the ground. By road, exit the M7 at Junction 10 (Newbridge North) and follow the signs for Hawkfield. Parking is available on site. The Raheens GAA ground in Caragh is a few kilometres south-west of Newbridge - easiest to reach by car; take the R445 towards Naas and follow local signage.

While you’re in Kildare

County Kildare has a lot going on outside matchday - the Japanese Gardens and National Stud are just a few minutes from the county town, and the Curragh plain stretches out between Newbridge and Kildare town with a character all its own. There is more to see in Kildare and across Co. Kildare.

Good to know

• Dates: Round 1 - 7 August and 9 August 2026; Round 2 - 21 August and 23 August; Round 3 - 3 September
• Times: Evening fixtures generally at 7:45pm or 8pm; daytime fixtures at 2pm or 4:30pm (check kildaregaa.ie for exact times nearer the date)
• Price: Admission varies by fixture; check with Kildare GAA for current gate prices
• Venues: Manguard Park, Hawkfield, Newbridge (W12 H293) and Raheens GAA, Caragh
• More info: kildaregaa.ie