Dónal Óg Furious With Decision To Snub Kildare Hurlers For TV Broadcast

The Kildare hurlers have become one of the best stories of the GAA, with their remarkable rise through the All-Ireland ranks culminating in a memorable Joe McDonagh Cup triumph last Sunday.

Laois had no answer, as a ruthless showing saw Kildare claim a decisive 10-point victory to win the Joe McDonagh for the first time.

Just last year, Kildare were plying their trade in the Christy Ring Cup. Next year, it will be Leinster Senior Championship hurling for the Lilywhites.

For a county with little hurling pedigree, it has been a remarkable rise, and their victory last weekend was one of the feel-good stories of the championship summer thus far.

Joe McDonagh success secured Kildare a place in this weekend's All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals, where they will face neighbours Dublin on home soil in Newbridge.

Despite the massive attention garnered by their success last Sunday, the game will not be broadcast on either RTÉ or GAA+, with the other preliminary game between Laois and Tipperary favoured for broadcast on the streaming service.

It will come as no surprise that Cork legend Dónal Óg Cusack has been outspoken on this decision - but the RTÉ pundit is not the only one to have questioned the wisdom of the call.

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Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio on Friday, a sarcastic Dónal Óg Cusack made his feelings clear on the decision to snub Kildare v Dublin for live TV broadcast this weekend.

"On Sunday, just before a dreary, badly-attended Leinster final, Kildare became one of the best stories of the year," Cusack said.

They were young, fast, skillful and a joy to watch. They play again tomorrow, just six days later.

Are this new exciting team on the television? Of course not. GAA's own GAA+ channel, which seems like it should be designed for such a service disdains the Joe McDonagh Cup until the final.

You can watch Laois versus Tipperary. However, don't hold your breath. The last time Tipp played in one of these games, they put 7-38 past Offaly, who then stood where Laois now stand after losing the final.

Tomorrow, get out to support Kildare playing Dublin in Newbridge and Laois playing Tipperary in Portlaoise. You probably won't see a thriller in either place but they've earned the support.

With the Dublin hurlers also a well-supported team, fans in both counties will be hugely disappointed that Saturday's game will not be televised, even if most will expect the Dubs to win with relative ease.

For one of the biggest hurling stories of the year to be going under the radar (relatively speaking) this weekend is a major disappointment.

Cusack's comments echo those of many fans, who made their feelings known earlier this week when the televised fixtures were announced.

Kildare will face Dublin in Newbridge on Saturday afternoon, with throw-in at Conleth's Park at 4pm.