St Conleth's Park, Newbridge will re-open this Sunday for the Kildare senior football final between Naas and Celbridge.
The grounds have been undergoing re-development works over the last nineteen months as Kildare GAA looked to improve their county grounds.
The clash of Meath and Kildare in the 2023 National Football League was the last game to have taken place in the Newbridge stadium with Kildare having played 'home' games in grounds such as Hawkefield and Nowlan Park in Kilkenny in recent times.
26 March 2023; Kildare management, backroom team and players stand for Amhrán na bhFiann before the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Kildare and Meath at St Conleth's Park in Newbridge, Kildare. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Meanwhile, last year's county final took place in Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow, with Naas overcoming Celbridge by 0-13 to 0-11.
The same sides meet again 12 months on with Naas in pursuit of their fourth county title in a row, having beaten Athy in their semi-final a fortnight ago.
Joe Murphy's side needed extra-time to see off the challengers with 1-6 from Darragh Kirwan eventually helping them to a 3-13 to 1-9 victory.
Micheál McDermott's Celbridge also needed extra-time in their semi-final win over Sarsfields and will be intent on winning their first title since 2008.
"It's going to be a fantastic occasion for the county, and for Kildare GAA, with Conleth's Park re-opening, but we have to be ready for the game and the battle rather than the occasion," McDermoot said afterwards.
The big change this time around is that St Conleth's Park has re-opened for business. After nineteen months of construction, Kildare GAA posted a video on social media showing the new state-of-the-art facilities.
Kildare GAA are delighted to confirm that the new redeveloped Cedral St. Conleth’s Park has been officially handed over to the County Board by the Elliott Group.
Please see video attached. pic.twitter.com/ajj5ma2hEV
— Kildare GAA (@KildareGAA) October 9, 2024
Changes
The stadium has almost doubled in capacity from its previous guise, rising to approximately 15,000.
The estimated cost of the project is €18 million with new dressing rooms, hospitality facilities, shops as well as a new surface and new floodlights. Known once-upon-a-time as a tight pitch, the dimensions have been increased from 137 x 80m to 145 x 85m to mirror Croke Park.
Players from Naas and Celbridge were allowed to walk around the pitch in recent days but weren't allowed to train on it, with GAA president Jarlath Burns set to attend the game on Sunday to mark the re-opening.
Pics: Kildare GAA.
Fixture: Naas v Celbridge, 2.00, Sunday, St Conleth's Park
