Comment: Kildare hurlers turn on the style while footballers turn off the tap
Tommy Callaghan recounts a busy weekend in the Kildare sporting calendar with a first ever Joe McDonagh Cup win for the hurlers before disappointing losses on Sunday
First things first. Hats off to Brian Dowling's hurlers who got their Joe McDonagh campaign back on track with an excellent display to defeat Westmeath on Saturday.
If a week is a long time in politics than the same can be said of hurling as Kildare looked a different side to the one that lost to Kerry the previous week, by a single point. That day they lacked composure, lacked aggression and lacked scoring power.
Fast forward seven days and we witnessed a different side of the boys in white. They tore into their opponents (who only two seasons ago were dining at the top table of the Liam McCarthy Cup) like their lives depended on it, hitting points from all angles and all distances, led at the break 2-16 to 1-12, they had to withstand a mighty effort from The Lakesiders before kicking on again to win by an impressive six points.
A really heart-warming display and one that certainly manager Dowling was over the moon with.
The hurlers now have a two week break before travelling to Carlow, another big challenge with the hosts who, along with Laois, are expected to make it through to the decider, but one never knows, and if Kildare can repeat last week's performance they would certainly give most sides a run for their money.
And so on Sunday it was off to Tullamore, and an opportunity to book a place in the Leinster final, but even more importantly, an opportunity to join the elite sixteen teams in the hunt for Sam.
It was a game that saw Kildare, in this writer's opinion, put on their best performance since Brian Flanagan took charge, that despite not turning on the scoring tap as the chances came their way.
Strange, some might suggest, but the more one looks back on it, the more one analysis it, the more one thinks about it, this is one game that Kildare will look back
on and say how the hell did we not win it.
Even talking to some Louth supporters after the game, many wondered “how did we win that” but win it they did.
Louth have given Kildare a lot of problems down the years, going all the way back to 1991 and that famous win in the Leinster Championship in Drogheda, Micko's first game in the Championship. But, of course, there have been others; last season twice, once in the league, the other in the Leinster semi-final; we won't mention any of the others.
It is an indication of how much Brian Flanagan has shaken up this squad that only four players lined out in Sunday's game that started in the semi-final last season.
That is some turn-around and it one that should not be forgotten.
This is practically a new team that Flanagan is building and on Sunday's display, and despite the result, the team has certainly made progress.
Of course losing is a big blow, and then as we traveled home only to tune into the radio and listen to The Royals knocking out The Dubs, their (Dublin) first defeat in fifteen years.
It was the first time in over twenty years that the Boys in Blue had to travel beyond The Pale for a Leinster semi-final and it will be interesting to see how Dessie Farrell's boys respond now in the All-Ireland series.
It is not beyond the bounds of possibilities that this could be Farrell's final year, unless he can turn their season around.
And who is waiting in the wings?
Yes, Ger Brennan, former Dublin centre back (and Moorefield manager) is building up his reputation nicely and a win over Meath would certainly be a major addition to his CV.
As for The Lilies they carved out their opportunities last week in Tullamore. They probably carved out more goal chances than in any two, at least, games combined this season.
Yes, it is one thing carving out the chances, it is an entirely other thing, taking the fruits of those chances.
As for the lack of two-pointers, well this is something we have talked, and wrote about, practically since the season began with that friendly against Galway that marked the first game under lights at the redeveloped Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge.
It is a worry but one has to feel it is a problem that can be rectified, and indeed one that has to be rectified, and the sooner the better with the Tailteann Cup just around the corner.
So what is the cause of this malfunction one asks oneself?
Is it a lack of confidence?
Is it a lack of belief?
Is it simply players waiting to get closer to goal before pulling the trigger?
We have seen other teams take two-pointers once the opportunity presents itself.
Just look at Louth for instance.
Sam Mulroy's two-pointer free in the opening half, against the strong breeze and some 55 to 60m out, went sailing between the posts, another 10m and the orange flag would still have been waved.
Mulroy's second two-pointer from open play, was again taken with supreme confidence once the opportunity came along.
And as for the hammer blow that was Tommy Durnin's effort; one felt as he was lining it up that he would have little chance of landing it, thus handing the initiative back to Kildare who were chasing the game and just a point adrift as the hooter was not far from hooting.
But over it went.
And with it Kildare's hopes of advancing to the Leinster final and all that entails, heading south to The Tailteann instead of north to Sam.
But as manager Brian Flanagan said after the game “we are not where we want to be (as in the Tailteann Cup) but we are hear for a reason and now we have to embrace it.”
How right he is.
Despite being a secondary competition the Tailteann Cup is an avenue to the All-Ireland series if one can win it and that would be a great boost for the start of 2026 if one of those elusive sixteen spots was secured before the start of what will be a most difficult journey in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League.
So a major opportunity.
An opportunity not to spurned.
There is a lot of inexperience in this Kildare team, but having said that, this season, in the long term, can stand to the team.
Many players in white have experienced senior inter-county action for the first time this year and it is, without doubt, a big, big step up when players are asked to perform for the first time.
This Louth team have been together for a number of years, as Flanagan said after the game, “they know one another so well, they are ahead of us at the moment and that is probably why they won.”
How right he is but having said that, and despite the set-back, despite the defeat, this is only the first season of what is expected to be a four year journey.
Keep the faith.
The best is yet to come.
Hopefully.
In the meantime ... enjoy Punchestown!