David Herity reacts to Kildare's loss to Offaly and second of Joe McDonagh campaign
“When you are taking on a top-class team like Offaly you need all your players, everyone, you need everything going your way; you need your subs making a major impact, which they did in the second half.”
The words of Kildare manager David Herity following his side's second defeat in a row in the Joe McDonagh Cup on Sunday.
The former Kilkenny All-Ireland winner added that “I am immensely proud of the lads the way they performed in the second half; got it back to eight points and I felt we could have got another goal, or even two to really make a game of it; we were on the front foot for a lot of that second half but our shot proficiency was just terrible.”
The manager said hat we (Kildare) had 40 shots as against 40 by Offaly so we were creating the chances but our finishing was way below where it should be at this level, but the red made it so difficult for us; we lost Cathal Dowling early but with the games coming so quickly these injuries are mounting up but it's the nature of the competition, we knew what the story was; but it is just good we had the bench, the likes of Drew Costello coming on getting a point; Sean (Christanseen) Divo (Paul Divilly) so a lot of lads coming on but it is going to be a full panel again next week; there will be changes made with the injuries we have.”
Asked if he would like to have a break of a week or so the manager said “Kerry will be here in six days, sure what else would you want to be doing ; the sun is splitting the stones out there, Hawkfield is looking immaculate, we are taking on the best hurlers around at this level, Kerry are a team that have been in the final for the past few years, where else do you want to be tested.
“Do we want to be back playing at a lower grade? no we don't; we want to test ourselves every single week and we have another opportunity on Saturday; lads should be relishing the chance; I can't wait to get back here on Saturday; get back in Tuesday night; Thursday night and then Saturday; I know we have a break after that but that is where we are; that is where we want to be; that is where we have fought so hard to be last year and I can't wait for next Saturday.”
The manager said that his group of players have been outstanding; they never turned on one another; they put their heads down; kept fighting; stuck to the game plan; you keep going and hoping you will get the break that we have not got over the past two games but next weekend we just go with it again but I thought the way the lads fought in that second half; a lot of positives there, but you have just got to work; you can't feel sorry for yourself; you sink or swim at this level but you have to improve and you have to learn and we will.”