Kildare GAA Co. Board Chairman: 'results not good enough'

At the February meeting of Kildare Co. Board, the first gathering of club delegates in 2024, the issue of Kildare's poor start in the Allianz Football League was raised, initially by the Co. Chairman Mick Gorman.

The St Laurence's club man opened saying: "I spoke to the managerment (Kildare senior footballers Glenn Ryan) for a long time today (Monday) about the situation and the necessity that performances and results have to greatly improve; we are fully aware that results are not good enough, not good enough for the county and the players and the management are all fully aware of the situation"

The Chairman added that "it is not that everyone isn't fully focused on the thing but the results speak for themselve."

Rathcoffey delegate, John Flood said he felt it is a very healthy thing to open up the discussion; in the past we were asked not to comment in such circumstances and I think it is only with duscussion that we can identify the problem.

However he added that "even if we identify the problem at this time of the year is it of any great benefit, can we make changes and the answer to that is probably no."

Mr Flood added that at this stage it is good that the management (of the team) is fully aware of what the feeling is within the county because criticism from the meeting tonight, while constructive critisism is good it is important the feelings of the officers of the county board that they are not happy are known to the team management.

"You couldn't be happy" said the chairman, adding "nobody could be happy."

Long time Sallins delegate Tom Cross posed the question: "What is the problem"?

"How is it that all those young fellas can go out with their clubs and you swear they had fire in their bellies but when they go and play with the county that fire doesn't seem to appear.

"Is there something being done that is not right or is their something not being done that should be done?"

Chairman: "All I can say is there has been a lot of talk about managers, management and players, I just hope it can be sorted out."

Mr Cross added "I think Mr Chairman, that one thing that I have noticed, and I have had the pleasure of travelling around the country looking at football games, looking at different teams, and I think Kildare seem to be very gentle in the way they approach their games; there is no physical contact, as we say fire and brimstone in their game."

The Sallins man added that he tought "if my poor dad was still alive he would be saying the same thing what he said back years ago that 'since 1935 the ploughman that used to play the game is no longer there, they are now all collar and tie' definitely there is no fire in their bellies; with their clubs some of those would half kill you but yet when they go out with the county they don't seem to have the same initiative or the same desire."

Mr Cross added "maybe somewhere along the way a little bit of deep thinking and a little bit of looking into the hearts might be needed."