Comment: Another day of what might have been for Kildare
It was tight.
It was controversial.
It was disappointing.
Extremely disappointing.
It is a while since Kildare fans exited a game feeling so deflated, depressed and disillusioned.
And despite an extremely disappointing performance from the match official, have no doubt, the winning of Saturday's clash with Monaghan was more than winnable for Kildare.
The team played well, probably the best game we have seen them over the last two years but the fact they failed to get over the line still leaves us — and not for the first time — wondering what if.
Three gilt-edged goal chances and another half chance.
All failing to find the onion sack.
And for various and varied reasons it has to be said.
One can only wonder in near if in training players are not coached (yes coached) to keep the ball low in goal scoring situations, and as close to the ground as is possible.
Take a look at the Monaghan goal; take a look at five or six of the Down goals scored against Laois; low or as we use to say in times gone by 'daisy-cutters.'
Of course it is easy to sit in the stand and ask how was this or that ball not buried.
But you are talking here of top of the range football.
A place in an All-Ireland quarter-final at stake.
No Mickey Mouse game.
Yet something that is told and coached to players from a very early age, when a goal chance presents itself, keep the ball down, down low, making it as difficult as possible for any keeper, regardless of his expertise, to get down to.
One has to hand it to Monaghan.
A county that has been, in some people's view, fighting above their weight for a fair few years at this stage. Monaghan have now been operating in Division 1 of the Allianz Football League for nine years and will be there once again come 2024.
On more than one occasion they have survived on the last day of the league; just like they did in 2022 and indeed 2023.
Remember that day last season after Mayo had given The Lilies a bit of a trimming in Carrick-on-Shannon, despite that Kildare were still hanging in as they waited for the result of the Monaghan v Dublin game.
It was deep into injury time. the sides were level, Monaghan needing a win to survive when a free from Jack McCarron saw them defeat Dublin, not only to see Dessie Farrell's side being relegated but in the process do the same to Kildare.
They showed that day how they can dig in, remain in the game right up to the end and more times than not escape.
Exactly what they did on Saturday in O'Connor Park, Tullamore.
Their 'style' of play is not pretty but it works and they now take on The Geezer's Armagh in the quarter-final.
For Kildare it is nothing but utter heart-break.
The season is over, a season that manager Glenn Ryan admitted has been “very disappointing.”
How right he is.
Fortunate to retain Division 2 status; pushing The Dubs to the pin of the collars in Leinster; before collapsing against the same opposition in Kilkenny; defeating Roscommon by a point and then losing to Monaghan, a loss that will hurt for many a long day to come.
Yes the match official was poor in the extreme.
Many questioned why a so inexperience whistler should have been given this gig. The other three refs in the pre-quarter games were all experience men with either All-Ireland or All-Ireland semi-final experience yet here is a man whose biggest game to date is an All-Ireland minor final.
Manager Ryan certainly did not mince his words and while he may be called to account for his views one has to ask who was responsible for making this appointment in the first place?
Referees are human, they make mistakes but there is a major difference between making a mistake and looking out of your depth.
The Sligo Chairman of the referees appointment body (CAC) also has a case to answer I would suggest.
Having said that, and as said already, the winning of the game was in Kildare's own hands.
Not once.
Not twice.
But three times.
(And a few more times besides).
So where to now?
Will the so-called 'dream team' continue for another year?
Too early to say.
But is certainly time for a real hard look back on not just the season of 2023 but also the season of 2022.
As usual a review will be held by those in authority.
Some players may decide to step away, but hopefully not too many.
This team, without a doubt, has under-achieved.
This team are a better squad than the results suggest.
This team have proved they are not too far away.
How far away ... we just don't know.
If they had reached the last eight we might have gotten a better idea of exactly where we stand.
For now, we lick our wounds; look forward to the club champion-
ships and see how things pan out
On a very sad note the death of Ray Cribbin on Sunday morning brings everything into perspective. Husband of Jackie and father of Paul and Keith (who have given great service to Kildare) and daughter Rachel.
Ray had been ill for some time, a great Johnstownbridge and Kildare GAA man who loved the game. We send our condolences at this very sad time to the family.
Ray will be laid to rest this afternoon (Tuesday June 27) following Mass in the Church of the Holy Family, Kilshanroe at 1:30 pm followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
May he Rest In Peace.