Sullivan already raring to go for 2026 after strong first year with Kildare
Kildare manager Pat Sullivan laid his ambitions for 2026 as he implores his side to sit among the top four in Division and strive to reach a Leinster final next year
“We are on two different journeys. Kerry are up the same road about six or seven years. They have been in the last three All-Ireland finals and that is the difference that showed today, small margins,” Kildare manager Pat Sullivan said after the game.
“There was probably luck we didn’t get. In fairness to Kevin Phelan (referee), he did a brilliant job on the game overall, but I question that penalty. It was very, very harsh on our side and that changed the game. Plus we had missed a golden opportunity when we were four points up for a goal ourselves. If we had buried that, I think it would have been a different story.”
The Kildare boss was diplomatic on the referee's performance and, while being disappointed, was largely positive on what the team had shown in the last game of his first year in charge.
“I have to be honest, I was so proud of them in the second half. They could have just said ‘we are going to be beaten out the gate here’, but they didn’t and we were very unlucky for Alannah Prizeman’s goal (effort). Small margins again,” Sullivan recalled.
“I am disappointed, absolutely gutted for the group, but we have gone a long way in a very short period of time so I can’t wait to get this group back up and going in November.”
The Waterford-native took over with the Kildare ladies newly- promoted to Division 1 and fresh off needing a last-minute penalty from Neasa Dooley to stay in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship altogether last year.
He added, “You see Laois are trying to get back up. Donegal who turned them (Kildare) over in the Semi-Final last year are back in the relegation final now. Two completely opposite ends of it. It just shows how far they have come, but we can't just stay here.”
“You can stay here for a year or two and all of a sudden you’ll be back down. We have got to make sure next year that we are getting to Leinster finals, into the top three and four in the league, then you open the door to be a different team. A team that is feared. We can't just be near and close to being.
“We have got to knock on the door and get through.”