Quote from: Dinny Breen on July 27, 2008, 07:07:48 AMWell done Dinny, you played well and were worthy winners. Agreed with most of what you said there. I don't think its a case that i underestimated Kildare, but i certainly did over-estimate Limerick. Although had Ian stuck that goal away before half time it might have been a different story, a bad miss by his standards. It was very disappointing from a Limerick point of view, but Kildare will take a lot of confidence from this game. They knew exactly how to play Limerick and had us well figured out.
Firstly I would to congratulate the Kildare footballers for putting the pride back in the jersey and for the first time a long time the future looks good and I have no doubt McGeeney is the man to lead us and he is starting to leave his mark on this Kildare team, specifically regarding committment, attitude passion and tactical nous
I knew Kildare had talent and the Wicklow result was a shock but I knew Wicklow were a good side and if they were allowed qualify for the qualifiers tonight they would be probably be in the draw tonight. Even now Wicklow are dismissed even they only for a piece of wood they could have beaten Laois. Since the Wicklow game it has been complete negativity in Kildare and in the media (local and national) towards Kildare football and if we're honest a lot of it deserved but what amazes is me is that no one was focused on the bigger picture, new manager, tight league campaign 5 games decided by a point, All-Ireland u/21 final, a lot of injuries, the Moorefield contingent on the go for pratically 18 months. So I had always written of this season as a learing curve for both players and manager, a transition where not only would new players be introduced but a new style of play. So regardless of the next round result and the relegation Kildare are making progress and that is all we can ask for.
As for the game all week it was Limerick this, Limerick that, Limerick to hammer Kildare Limerick to progress and all they had to do was just show up. As I said previously Limerick were over-rated and Kildare under-rated but how much the swing was I didn't know and it was a John Doyle goal that was ultimately the difference. Ian Ryans open goal miss in the first half was one of the turning points of the game Limerick were well on top and that goal would have given them a seven point lead, a lead I don't think Kildare could have pegged back. Limerick should have been leading by more at half-time, they were very dominant and Galvin was controlling the middle and I was glad for the half-time whistle. The second half was a tremendous affair although the quality of football at times was poor the game was on a knife edge throughout. Kildare though had that little bit more composure in front of goal and Flynn, White and Conway were three excellent subsitutions that swung the game in Kildare's favour. Our full back line still looks shaky although I thought McLoughlin did well on Ian Ryan, Flynn will have to start the next day, McGeeney has shown he picks players on form and so no doubt he will.
Avoid Kerry and Mayo and we have a great chance of a quarter-final, unbelievable after the Wicklow game
Credit to McGeeny, its easy to see that an Armagh man is coaching Kildare. Limerick ran through you a bit too much in the first half, so whatever McGeeny said to his players at half time, they came out a different side in the second. The second half was all about guts, sheer effort and application from Kildare, they swarmed midfield, and when Limerick tried to play through them, we simply lost possession, time after time. All too often though we were the architects of our own demise, i lost count of the number of times we lost the ball in our own half, coughing up several soft scores. Its this sort of naive play that kills us. I couldn't believe we did not avert from the short game tactic, because we were totally swallowed up by a flurry of white shirts, every time Lavin or Ranahan or Donovan had the ball - Limerick's support play also left a lot to be desired. Limerick should have hit direct long ball in to the full line, Kildare did plenty of this and Doyle prospered. He's a slippery customer. Also mightily impressed with Michael Conway, he was involved in several Kildare scores. McLoughlin did a good job on Ian Ryan, although to be fair to the kid, he got little of no decent service in the second half, didn't score from play but hit some fine scores from placed balls. Kildare are a fine team, however you could certainly do with another scoring forward - there was some bad wides last night. Limerick will take a lot from this year - mostly that its important to take each game on its own merits, I was fearful that they would crack under the pressure of the media blowing them up, and they duly did.
I fully expect Kildare to beat Fermanagh. And good luck to them. They had wonderful support in the Gaelic Grounds last night.