Kildare take on Limerick in Div 1 Cup

Division 1 Cup, Saturday July 6: Kildare County FC v Limerick FC, Station Road, 7pm

KILDARE County will play its first ever competitive match tomorrow when they take on Limerick in the Division 1 Cup in Station Road ground, Newbridge.

The new club was included in Division 1 of the Eircom League ahead of several other applicants and will be led by former Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely.

This is the first time Co. Kildare has had a team in the National League and it is thought that the growing population in the county together with a strong soccer tradition helped secure the franchise.

Keely, who led Shels to the Premier League and FAI Cup double in 2000, has imported several players from other clubs around the country as well as including some local talent in the squad.

Kildare's first game in the league proper will take place on August 24, also against Limerick.