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Pleasantly surprised by the way that turned out, thought we would lose by 10-plus and was uncomfortable with the thought of us in effect throwing the game.
But we had a plan to win it, and it would have come off with better shooting.
A very useful exercise and I thought Liam Healy and Fionn Dowling really stuck their hands up for selection.
Meath a bit poxed by the way the fixtures worked out. I feel sorry for them but time is a great healer so I'm confident I will one day rebuild my life.

No use being hungry if you're out of your depth. It is cruelty serving that full-back line up to Galway. Be shocked if we get within 10.

[I can't see Hurley having much of an impact if he returns to the fold at all this year.]

Paper says Kevin Feely, despite missing the last quarter through a black card, scored 5 points from play from midfield (as well as two frees). That true? Sounds very impressive.

Na all 7 were from frees.

He has scored 17 points in the league 12 frees and 5 from play and has also won about 20 marks in midfield.

Himself and Moolick (2-4 all from play) are turning into a fine midfield partnership, hopefully Sean Hurley makes a full recovery and we will see really intense competition for midfield,  Rory Feely, Kevin's brother might commit as well, currently on the books of St Pat's. Still a very young side but with some of the players coming through Kildare might be competitive again. Nice to enjoy rather than endure again.

I can't see Hurley having much of an impact if he returns to the fold at all this year. Paddy Brophy would be a serious addition and would free up Dan Flynn to move out the field. Going by some of the comments on the Aussie Rules forum they're not that hopeful of him making it down there.

Really? based on ability or just away from the game and needs recovery and time to settle back? I thought he was immense in the 2013 Leinster final win over Longford. Stat of the day, 8 of that team started yesterday, probably 9 if Dan Flynn was available.

Brophy would be a great addition, I hope it makes it all the same.

I watched him for JTB in the Aldridge Cup and didn't walk away thinking he was going to have a big impact this year anyway. He has had that hip problem for a good few years now so hopefully he gets that sorted. If he can get it fixed it's a case of whether he has the same mentality and focus that the likes of Feely and Moolick seem to have.

Would be shocked if was involved at all this year. Can take a while to settle back in, maybe he'll put the head down next year and have something to offer.

Jesus from the reaction I was expecting something at least somewhat contentious. Beats me how there was any controversy in the first place.
Refs are serious unsung heroes in my eyes. Imagine making a routine correct call and then finding yourself branded a cheat all over social media. He's owed a lot of apologies.

Thing is Dinny, some Kildare fans think marginal decisions only go against us because they only see what they want to see. They remember Benny Coulter but forget Johnny Crowley, Graham Geraghty and Enda Muldoon. And if you play into the 'we were robbed' script you miss the lessons you need to learn. 2011 is a prime example - yes, the Brogan free was an unlucky call to go against us but we allowed it to obscure the fact that we were well outplayed that day.
Now, we run the risk of letting a marginal call obscure the fact that Derry put 1-18 on us in February, which is extremely worrying when you also consider that Meath could have had 2-16 despite getting slaughtered at midfield. We are an exciting team going forward but if we don't start conceding less there will be a horror show in summer - if you're conceding 1-18 against a far below average Derry team in February, what you might concede against Dublin on a summer's day in Croke Park doesn't bear thinking about.

I get that but it was still an awful decision. Defensive football doesn't suit us - remember Wexford and Westmeath last year. Why are Kildare supporters referencing Dublin we are top 16 hoping to push into top 12 that is our level. I am happy to see us play attacking football yes the balance is off but the attitude looks better although loose today. A win Wed night is more important I was delighted to see Ben McCormack not risked if it means he is  available for Longford. Good management of a young player. Anyway control the controllables.

Not advocating a return to Wexford and Westmeath, you can defend well without parking the bus, and with the players we have back this year that we didn't have then, would expect us to counter-attack better than we did those days (wouldn't be hard). Can't disagree with anything else you say, except maybe the top 16 pushing for top 12 bit, very arbitrary. I'd see it as Dublin, Mayo, Kerry, Tyrone, Donegal and Monaghan being a top six with a huge pack of teams below that who can all beat each other on a given day.

Thing is Dinny, some Kildare fans think marginal decisions only go against us because they only see what they want to see. They remember Benny Coulter but forget Johnny Crowley, Graham Geraghty and Enda Muldoon. And if you play into the 'we were robbed' script you miss the lessons you need to learn. 2011 is a prime example - yes, the Brogan free was an unlucky call to go against us but we allowed it to obscure the fact that we were well outplayed that day.
Now, we run the risk of letting a marginal call obscure the fact that Derry put 1-18 on us in February, which is extremely worrying when you also consider that Meath could have had 2-16 despite getting slaughtered at midfield. We are an exciting team going forward but if we don't start conceding less there will be a horror show in summer - if you're conceding 1-18 against a far below average Derry team in February, what you might concede against Dublin on a summer's day in Croke Park doesn't bear thinking about. 

Why is 'we were robbed' always the reflex? If it was at the other end, we'd be praising the ref for listening to his umpires, or saying we were due a decision.
Here's what we should take from the game instead: we are conceding way, way too much.

Delighted with our progression from Kings of January to Kings of February, has only taken five years. At this rate we will be Kings of September in 2052.

That's no biggy

Would think Sherry's an obvious one to promote, has pace and a superb attitude, I get he's had a difficult year, but we don't have 30 better prospects, that's for sure

[Very close to what our championship team will be]

Just 2 changes from the Kildare team humiliated by Dublin's 3rd team with Ollie Lyons coming in for Mark Hyland and Kevin Feely in for Fionn Dowling. Very close to what our championship team will be but I will be travelling up without any hope.

Fair statement if championship was being played now, but I hope the likes of Peter Kelly, Shea Ryan, Mark Sherry, Eoghan O'Flaherty (if he's convinced to return) and Sean Hurley (if he gets his act together, which I admit is a big 'if') will be pushing come summer.

Leinster final preview in February?

Only if you have a time machine set to 1998.

Are Meath fielding their first team?

The faithful on the Kildare forums are suicidal. It was a poor performance but all sense of perspective has been lost. 2 weeks time in Navan is what matters so I will reserve judgement till then. First time in Newbridge where I can remember being out numbered by the opposition support.

Over-reaction is unreal. It's a challenge match, in effect. Don't remember Dublin panicking when they put out a decent team and lost to Longford this time last year.
I would reassess where we are after seven league games.

Our five-year rope-a-dope plan all set to pay off this summer.