Pre Season Cup Competitions

Anyone got the details for the pre-season cup competitions, Aldridge Cup etc.

The Aldridge, Keogh and Dowling Cups start on 14th February. The draws are:

Aldridge Cup:
Group 1 - St. Kevins vs Sarsfields, Allenwood vs Clane
Group 2 - Eadestown vs JTB, Naas vs Carbury
Group 3 - Celbridge vs Moorefield, Confey vs Leixlip
Group 4 - Maynooth vs Monasterevan, St. Laurences vs Athy

Keogh Cup:
Group 1 - Ellistown vs Suncroft, Caragh vs Kilcock
Group 2 - Rathangan vs Castledermot, TMH vs Ballymore
Group 3 - Sallins vs Kill, Ballyteague vs Raheens
Group 4 - Clogherinkoe vs Round Towers, Straffan vs Nurney

Dowling Cup:
Group 1 - Naas (2) vs Leixlip (2), Ballykelly vs Rathcoffey
Group 2 - Grange vs Milltown, Rheban vs Celbridge (2)
Group 3 - Kilcullen vs St. Laurences (2), Cappagh vs Castlemitchell
Group 4 - Moorefield (2) vs Round Towers (2), Sarsfields (2) vs Robertstown

Looking on the Kildare Gaa website I see 4 walkovers in the pre season cup compitations last weekend, including 2 in the Aldridge Cup, how can this happen so early in the season or have things got that bad.   Surely Celbridge could field 15 players.

no they haven't got that bad, teams just don't care too much in most cases about aldridge/keogh/dowling cup etc.

Frankel wrote:

no they haven't got that bad, teams just don't care too much in most cases about aldridge/keogh/dowling cup etc.

I can understand that, but then don't enter them.  I feel it can be very unfair on the teams that want to play and instead receive walkovers.

Teams are finding it increasingly difficult to field two teams at this time of year. Celbridge are one of the teams trying to do that and I would guess couldn't get one of the games postponed and given the first team had already lost to Moorefield decided to field a team in the Dowling Cup instead.

Moorefield were probably in a similar situation where their second team gave a walkover.

I think the county board and the clubs themselves might need to look at this again next year and maybe save the Dowling Cup for Junior teams only with a separate competition for second teams if there is an apetite for one, if not the leagues for second teams start in a couple of weeks time.

They need to get rid of B teams from all senior competitions. They've no right being there. You see very few SFL games postponed since they were removed.

Kildangan, Ardclough and Athgarvan should play in the Dowling Cup to make up 12 teams.

Any idea of the semi final draws.

Aldridge Cup is
Sash v Moores
Larries v JTB

Is it Me, or is there a serious lack of interest in these Competitions ?.
Would it not be better to play the U21 Championships instead ?

I would say there was a serious lack of interest in these competitions this year i also believe there would be greater value in running the U'21 at this stage especially for clubs as they could get the u'21 players training with the adult teams which is tough for a lot of clubs.