2024: A league campaign that simply never ignited

The Allianz Football League season of 2024 was one to forget from a Kildare point of view; a season that saw The Lilies end up being demoted to Division 3 and while it is not the first time the all-whites mixed it with counties in this division, it was nevertheless a huge blow and the fact that it happened without registering a single point (or even a draw) just adds to the pain of a season best forgotten.

Of course one aspect of last season's action, has to some extent, gone somewhat under the radar.

With St Conleth's Park out of bounds due to the redevelopment it meant Kildare were 'homeless' and with four games fixed for 'home' it certainly was no help to Kildare as they played all those games at Netwatch Cullen Park.

A fine ground, no doubt, but it got to the stage before the league was done and dusted that Kildare fans, players, and no doubt management, simply did not want to see the inside of the home of Carlow football for some time again.

Glenn Ryan's side opened their campaign with Cavan visiting their (Kildare's) new home.

It was a game that was always going to be a tough ask, regardless where it was played, but Cavan arrived strong on 27 January and ended up taking home two valuable points on a score line of Cavan 0-16 Kildare 0-12.

A week later and The Lilies were on the road, well in fact of course they were on the road regardless who they were playing but a visit to Fermanagh certainly did nothing for the cause as they (Fermanagh) proved too strong recording a four point win — 2-10 to 0-12.

A couple of weeks later and it was back to Carlow and clash with Armagh.

Little did we know at that stage that Kieran McGeeney's side would go on and capture the Sam Maguire for only the second time in their history, the first back in 2002, a team captained by The Geezer, the man deemed surplus to Kildare requirements back in 2013.

It was a game The Orchard County showed their strength (and Kildare's weakness) winning impressively and comfortably 2-16 to 0-8.

Things were beginning to slide at this stage.

The next game was a trip to Pairc Tailteann in Navan where Colm O'Rourke's Royals took another two points from Kildare with three to spare 0-12 to 0-9.

A trip to Pairc Uí Chaoimh saw The Lilies play well at times in the first half but a late goal before the break proved crucial with The Rebels going on to win 2-15 to 3-9.

Time running out; games running out and with no points on the board a trip to Donegal proved another trip too far, in all respects as the home side were well in control, winning 1-18 to 1-10.

And so back where the league started, Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow with the visitors being Louth and while it was all to play for for a long while in that game in the end it was the boys in red who prevailed coming out on top with three points to spare 1-12 to 0-12.

And so ended a disastrous league, played seven, lost seven, scored 4-70 while conceding 7-98.

Things can only improve?