Kildare betting on Cill Dara for success

Kildare County Football Club had double cause for celebration when they launched two exciting new sponsorship deals at a function in the Osprey Hotel, Naas, on Monday night.

The new main sponsor is local bookmaking firm Cill Dara Betting – a new and expanding locally based business. Also announced was a new two year kit sponsorship deal with O’Neill’s Sports. The deal will see County’s Senior and Under 20 sides wear and promote the O’Neills Soccer brand in the Kildare Area.

County director Michael Casey welcomed the guests on behalf of the club. He said that with the support of businesses such as Cill Dara Betting and O’Neill’s Sports the Club can look positively to the future. Such support he said was crucial to the survival of clubs such as ours.

The function was attended by Mr Fran Gavin, Director of the FAI Eircom League of Ireland, Ms Caroline Rhatigan Vice Chairperson of the League, representatives of Cill Dara Betting and O’Neill’s as well as representatives from the official Supporters Club. Also in attendance were John Ryan, Manager of the Senior Team and squad members and the management of the under 20 and under 18 sides.

Mr Gavin said “On the eve of the new season the FAI is delighted to once again have Kildare County as one of our member clubs. Those involved with County are committed to the development of the club within the local community”. “As we all know it takes a lot of time and patience to build an Eircom League of Ireland Club that can compete at top level on a consistent basis” continued the League Director. Mr Gavin added “In the modern game the securing of a club sponsor is essential and with this in mind I would like to thank Cill Dara Betting and O’Neill’s sports for their generous sponsorship”. The League Director concluded by saying “the first division will be one of the most competitive for years and he encouraged fans to get behind John Ryan and the Kildare County players and hopefully it will be the Thoroughbreds who finish first past the post”.

The gathering was addressed by Mr Darragh a FitzPatrick Managing Director of Cill Dara Betting. “As a new and expanding firm, based primarily in County Kildare, we are proud to enter into the new season as main sponsor of Kildare County FC”. “We hope this will prove a mutually beneficial association and be the first of many years for our company to be involved with the club” continued Mr FitzPatrick. He concluded by wishing Kildare County every success on and off the field for 2008 and beyond and said he looked forward to many successful nights at Station Road during the coming season. Mr Gary O’Carroll, Operations Manager of the group was also in attendance.

Addressing the function on behalf of O’Neill’s Sports Mr Michael Byrne said “O’Neill’s Sports Company have agreed a kit supply deal with Kildare County in the first division of the FAI Eircom League of Ireland for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The agreement will see the club wear and promote O’Neill’s Soccer brand in the Kildare area” Mr Byrne continued “O’Neill’s look forward to working with Kildare County and developing a fruitful relationship between both parties.”