Kildare v Wicklow preview: Anything other than a win is simply unthinkable

No back door.

No second chance.

In many ways we are back to the straight knock-out what we all grew up with, and loved.

But that has changed and like many other things in the new split season format, changed utterly.

Good thing or bad thing?

All depends on one's point of view.

However, a run in Leinster might alter one's opinion and drastically at that.

Kildare v Wicklow.

Division 2 team v a Division 3 team, Wicklow having been promoted from Division 4 this season.

In reality a team that operated in Division 4 of the NFL just weeks ago should not, by any stretch of the imagination, be capable of defeating a Division 2 team.

But things don't always pan out they way one thinks they should.

Wicklow, with new manager Oisin McConville now calling the shots, have enjoyed a really good league ending with promotion.

Kildare are a side that had a hugely disappointing league Division 2 campaign that saw them, at one stage, staring relegation in the face before digging themselves out with wins over Clare (a game The Lilies were three points behind a minute into time added on) and a Meath side that played like a team that had been picked up off the streets of Navan and asked if they would fancy a drive to Newbridge and take part in the final game before the reconstruction of St Conleth's Park. That, of course, was not the way it happened but if a fella walked in off the Main Street of Newbridge during that game, if he had asked a question along those lines, no would have blinked an eyelid, such was the incredible poor display from Colm O'Rourke's side.

Still, as Glenn Ryan, points out on the page opposite, two wins, the final two games, the last one being exceptionally stressful came at the right time both from a league point of view and the upcoming championship.

Wicklow defeated Niall Carew's Carlow, somewhat comfortably in the end two weeks ago, albeit after a slowish start.

They lost the Division 4 final to Sligo a week previously, a game they really should have won but while winning a league title after promotion is already in the bag, maybe not too much should be read into that, and with their game with Carlow just a week later, it can certainly be disregarded.

For Glenn Ryan and his charges this is where the buck stops.

Win and a probable semi-final date with Dublin; lose, well consequences for everyone involved, players, manager the lot.

Can Kildare win?

In short.

Yes.

But that comes with a caveat.

Team selection no. 1.

And while we are told that there are no major injury worries at the moment, at the same time an admittance that one or two have still to prove their fitness.

But even leaving team selection aside, if Kildare are to advance they will have to cut out the silly mistakes.

Mistakes we have seen over and over again throughout the league.

Mistakes that would not be tolerated at underage level.

Having said as Glenn Ryan has pointed out, they have done an enormous about of work in recent times; he has full faith in players and believes the players has in the management.

Now is the time to prove it. Anything but a win is simply unthinkable.