New Kildare coach Davy Burke adds 'a new dimension' says manager Brian Flanagan

Not alone should Kildare manager, Brian Flanagan, be applauded for thinking outside the box, so to speak, but he shows he will leave no stone uncovered as he bids to bring The Lilies to the top table of inter-county football.

The decision, to bring Davy Burke on board as a coach and selector, announced last week and up for ratification at this evening's meeting of Kildare Co. Board gathering, has been met with much approval and much anticipation by players, past and present, and fans alike.

Asked, in an interview with the Leinster Leader, if bringing in Davy Burke was a sign that he, Flanagan, felt they were missing something last year, he replied:

“Not necessarily, I think it is more than every year you look to step on to another level and you look to move up in terms what you are doing and what you are bringing to it, we will always do that, it will be no different after next season, and indeed the season after, whether it has gone, good, back or indifferent, you look at your set-up and ask yourself 'how can we improve, how can we manage ourselves further and how can we best prepare for the season ahead'.”

For me, added Flanagan, “it was not that we needed to do anything when you look back at the last year, we got the promotion, won the Tailteann Cup we have Division 2 of the AFL and the Sam Maguire to look forward to next year, but we, as a management, don't want to rest on our laurels, we don't want to sit back and say, 'we have had a good first year and see how next year unfolds,' we want to push the bar on again and we want the players to do likewise but first and foremost by adding Davy it has brought a new dimension, we are all excited what he will bring on the coaching field and certainly it ticks that mindset on another level.

“I met with Davy a few weeks ago, I have know Davy for something like the last ten years in terms of football and everything else, we have always kept in touch and chatted through things at different points but when he became available and I sensed interest there, like I said, it was just a no-brainer to try and get him on board; he has been successful with this group, at every level, club, college and county, he has operated in Division 1 for two of the last three seasons and his teams have played against and beaten most of our Division 2 team opposition teams that we will play next year.

“He is a Kildare man, has had huge success and really just delighted to have him on board and really can't really wait to get going.”

So what exactly will Davy Burke's role be?

“He will be a coach, he will work alongside Aidan O'Rourke and Damian (Hendy) on the field; he will be a selector as well; to get down to the finer details as to who will oversee what parts we will work out over the next couple of weeks but that is something that will evolve, but Davy will have a full remit on the coaching field in terms of opposition analysis, in terms in helping me in management and everything else; I will definitely lean on his experience over the last couple of years, so he will be invaluable in an awful lot of ways.”

Any other changes on the management team?

“No, I certainly don't expect so” he replied.

Now that there will be effectively five selectors, including the manager, Aidan O'Rourke (head coach and selector); Damian Hendy (coach and selector), Daryl Flynn (selector) and now Davy Bourke, is there a case of too many cooks so to speak, recalling an incident at the All-Ireland hurling final earlier this year when it seemed when a decision was badly needed by the Cork management, they seemed to take an age, in a group chat, to come to a decision?

“I don't see any issue there, it is one thing having five fellas involved in your immediate coaching and selector team but on match day, for instance, we had two on the line last year for the majority of games.

“That is the way you work it” said Brian Flanagan, adding “you make sure you have your eye in the sky, you make sure you have your goalkeeping coach positioned in the right area, you get feedback then through the ear-piece from two or three different vantage points and we always make sure we have a coach positioned alongside our stats team, so from that point of view when quick decisions have to be made on the line, they are made, that won't be diluted or overly complicated next year, we will still have two, three at max, on the sideline, there won't be any issue there.”

Looking ahead to the local championship, as the group stages are about to be completed, the Johnstownbridge man said:

“We are coming to the business end of the championship, there is a good bit of jeopardy coming into games now so, an exciting time in the club championship, I think it has been very good championship, all three of them.

“I think we have had some cracking games so far, and there are always players who step-up, some we have been keeping an eye on for the last couple of years; others who may surprise you where they are getting to; so will definitely give another ten or fifteen or so lads an opportunity when we kick off first; we don't expect to lose too many from last year's squad so we are in a lucky position that way; some elements of change are always healthy and anyone who is showing the form at the level expected will certainly get an opportunity.”

So all-in-all, much to look forward to on the local scene and then in no time the county action will kick into action once again.
Bring it on!

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