Welcome back to The Smoking Area, where we gather what North Kildare has been chatting about. This week is almost entirely about sport, which is how October tends to go around here.
Heartbreak, with honour, for Kilcock
Kilcock’s hurlers reached the UPMC Junior Hurling Championship final on Saturday, 10 October, but met a Wolfe Tones side in full flight at Cedral St Conleth’s Park.
The Sallins/Kill club won 4-17 to 1-14, according to Kildare GAA. Wolfe Tones had been favourites from the start, having already reached the Division 2 league final. Jack Crouch, Mark Kiernan, Aaron Cronin and Simon Hughes each found the net.
Kildare GAA was generous to the beaten side, calling it a fine season for Kilcock in spite of the result. Gavin Kenny top-scored with 0-8 and Ben Mulligan got their goal. Wolfe Tones now move up to intermediate for 2027. Kilcock will have a winter to plan their own route there.
Ellistown do it the hard way
Further south in the county, Ellistown won the National Electrical Wholesalers Intermediate A Football Championship for the first time. They beat Nurney 0-12 to 0-4 in Kilcullen on Sunday, 11 October.
The route to the final is the best part. Kildare GAA said Ellistown won two of their three group games but still missed out on score difference to Rathangan and Two Mile House.
They came back with three wins in a row, over Kilcullen, Ballyteague and Nurney, and finished the year with a cup. Former Kildare player Andrew McLoughlin captained the side. It’s a reminder that in Kildare club football, being knocked down doesn’t always mean you’re out.
Five-four, and nobody’s nails survived
Closer to home, Leixlip United’s under-13 major boys beat Ashbourne 5-4. The club’s own match report called it a great game for the neutral.
We suspect the people on the sideline were not neutral at all. Nine goals in one under-13 match is enough to keep a car journey home lively, and the parents of the winning side will be telling the story for a while yet.
Something to do for the mid-term
Parents counting down to the October break, take note. Leixlip United AFC says its Shooting Stars Soccer School Mid Term/Halloween Camp 2026 at the club is now live.
Dates, prices and booking details are on the club’s website. A few days of running about in the autumn air is a reliable way to make sure everyone sleeps well on Halloween night.
That’s the lot for this week. If something in your area deserves a mention here, you know where to find us.
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