Wrong to write off Kildare just yet

Niall McIntyre

It’s only February yet.

Tomás Ó Sé went in hard on the Kildare footballers on League Sunday.

“They lost to Dublin last year, they got beaten by Armagh. They’ve lost the first two O’Byrne Cup games, they’ve lost the first three League games. They play cluelessly at times, they are naive. That was a very poor game…a shocking game to watch. If Kildare are the next best team to Dublin in Leinster…”

“They play cluelessly at times, they are naive. That was a very poor game…a shocking game to watch. If Kildare are the next best team to Dublin in Leinster…” – Tomás Ó Sé on Kildare pic.twitter.com/Y8J6Dyk8B6

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 11, 2018

Kildare are on a losing streak of late. But you get the feeling that it won’t be bugging Cian O’Neill too much.

Ó Sé references two losses in the O’Byrne Cup. In reality, no manager or team give a continental about the O’Byrne Cup or any pre-season competition. So let’s forget about those for the time being.

League struggles

We know it’s an overused cliché and an excuse only used when teams are losing – but it is still only the league. And for the League, and for Kildare. the primary focus will be on performances, rather than results. The same goes for all teams.

Barring a second half capitulation against Dublin in Croke Park, the Lilyhwhites’ performances haven’t been that bad at all. There haven’t been many complaints within the county, and if there were grounds for them, they certainly would be more prominent than they are.

Now don’t get us wrong, Kildare have only won two of their last 8 competitive games. Losing is not a healthy habit in any situation. But it’s way too early to write them off and it’s certainly too early to assume it’s all doom and gloom there.

It’s certainly not this gloomy.

Last year was a progressive one for Kildare. Barring Mayo, they were the closest team to Dublin in the championship last year. Kevin Feely established himself as one of the best midfielders in the country, while Dave Slattery, Daniel Flynn, Ben McCormack and Paddy Brophy all showed this team has loads of potential.

Their following see improvements on this time last year.

They really should have beaten Monaghan in St Conleth’s Park last weekend. They had loads of chances to win that game, and were undoubtedly the better team on the day.

They hit the post, Kevin Feely missed frees you’d bank on him to score every time and black cards and injuries went against them. The loyal Kildare following left that game disappointed they hadn’t won, but they will have found solace in the solid general play of their team.

It’s not a death-knell for the county that bad luck went against them.

On Sunday, against Tyrone – it was a similar story. Cian O’Neill’s men started brightly, kicked some fine scores and worked some slick moves. Fergal Conway, McCormack and Feely were all faring well.

They’re giants of men, too, these Kildare lads. They’re built like brick walls, they’re tall, they’re physical and they’re well able to throw themselves about.

They stuck it to Tyrone and a victory wouldn’t have been undeserved.

Eventually, the lost by a 75th minute wonder score from the boot of Mattie Donnelly, but no Kildare fan will have left Newbridge without hope.

Prospects

Kildare are the second best team in Leinster. There’s no doubt about that.

It’s still early days in the season. Cian O’Neill isn’t aiming to peak his team in February.

Also interesting to note in an era of talk of the huge commitment that GAA players make, after a tough few weeks Cian O’Neill is quite happy for his players to have a night out tonight, have Tuesday off and be back in training in Thursday looking ahead for to the Donegal game.

— Ger McNally (@GerMc31) February 11, 2018