Kildare 'fought to the bitter end' says Brian Dowling after Championship clash with Galway
The Kildare manager spoke to local media after his side came up short against Galway in Round 3 of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
“I suppose we had this feeling again after the Wexford game, it was very similar. You know, happy enough with how we competed but disappointed that we didn't get anything out of it. At half time we were in a brilliant position. I thought our first 35 minutes were probably the best we've played since I've been involved. Just everything we asked the lads to do, they did as the letter of the law,” the words of Brian Dowling after his side’s defeat to Galway in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship at Cedral St Conleth’s Park.
“Look, when you're playing a team as good as Galway, you know, they're bringing brilliant lads off the bench, Thomas Monaghan comes on there and he scores 1-4. You know, that's what you're dealing with and they just upped it big time. We fought to the bitter end but I suppose just the classic Galway told through there at the end.”
Kildare maintained their fearless attitude when facing the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship table-toppers and led by 12 points with 10 minutes to go in the first half following a blistering start.
Dowling added, “I said it during the week to the lads that we're going to throw everything at Galway and see what happens. We're not going to stand up and admire them and just look at them hurling because they'll drill balls around, they'll run off the shoulder. They're a class team, you have to get in their face and you have to try and upset them. You know, everyone was right for us in the first half and in the second half, we dropped balls we would normally secure.
“Just again, just the effort they put in, the work rate in the first half of our team was brilliant. Our shooting position was great. If you thought me coming up we'd get 1-22, I'd be delighted. We probably needed another goal or two to get over the line but look, delighted with the effort and the attitude of the lads. Just disappointed again that we still have no points after three games.”
The Kilkenny native welcomed one back one of his first team players in this Round 3 clash in the form of Cathal Dowling who was last seen scoring a hat-trick for The Lilywhites in their crucial win over down in Division 1B on March 1 and made second half substitute appearance.
“We've seen what Galway have done to other teams this year. We went toe-to-toe with them. We definitely had them worried there at half-time. We got Cathal Dowling back in today and we are down four starters from the Joe McDonagh Cup last year as well. What the lads are doing there, I think, is incredible. The effort they're putting in, I can't ask for any more. The backroom team can't ask for any more,” Dowling explained.
“We're probably trying to close such a gap in such a close space of time and compete against top teams. We're just trying to do so much. That's credit to the players. They're just doing everything they can. It's incredibly harsh when you look at the league table and you see zero points next to our name.”
The Lilies face Kilkenny next time out Saturday, May 16 in UPMC Nowlan Park at 6pm. The teams face off for the second time this year after their January meeting in the Walsh Shield final. Kildare put it up to The Cats that day and a special occasion awaits when the sides meet in Championship action.
“When I took this job, I didn't think I'd be heading down to Nowlan Park taking on Kilkenny. I said it after the Walsh Cup game. I'm a true Kilkenny man. I'll always be a Kilkenny man. For 70 minutes, I'm a Kildare man. I don't know whether my family will be supporting me or Kilkenny. I'm not sure what jersey my young lads will be wearing,” Dowling laughed.
“We need to get points on the board. For that 70 minutes, it's all clear for me. I'll do everything I can to make sure that we try and get something out of that result in Nowlan Park.”
The Kildare boss concluded with an injury update with Cian Boran recovering from having his appendix removed, David Qualter recovering from knee surgery with another scheduled for eight weeks time and James Burke who did the warm-up for Galway and could make the 26-man squad for Kilkenny.