Hill 16 drenched in white and Kevin Feely in the Hogan Stand cap Kildare's day in Croker

A sea of white on the hill and Kevin Feely in the Hogan Stand were just two of the lasting images from Kildare’s Tailteann Cup final day in Croke Park.

The Lilywhite hill was a reminder of the kind of fervent fandom Kildare was known for during some of our more lauded footballing years. The press box provided a great view and a nice breeze to ease the harsh conditions, but the best craic was clearly in the terraces with supporters of the eventual Tailteann Cup champions making their voices heard. They also made a considerable effort to help out the umpires every time a Limerick effort at the posts drifted wide, which happened under disappointing circumstances on a couple of occasions for the losing side.

Jarlath Burns, as he always does, delivered a rousing speech in tribute to a brilliant year in the county for both hurling and football. There may be no consensus on the Uachtarán’s “hands on” approach, but there can be no doubt that he is well able to produce a passionate recap of any team’s journey to glory.

Burns handed the Tailteann Cup trophy and the microphone to Kevin Feely and there could be no better player to represent Kildare on a national stage than the Athy man. An impressive footballer, speaker, and gentleman overall, Feely delivered a hearty tribute to the men and women of Kildare GAA who have gotten them to this point. In particular their new boss Brian Flanagan who received warm praise and fond applause while the camera panned over to the manager who appeared touched by his captain’s words.

Feely’s clubmate David Hyland is another long-serving member of the Kildare panel and he paid tribute to those close to him after the Cup win. He said: “My Mam, Dad, whole family, friends, and my partner have all done a lot to get me where I am today and lift that trophy. I have been playing football since I was four. I have been relying on lifts since I was 12 and in development squads going over to Hawkfield so me being here is a representation of my family as much as it is for myself personally.”

The opening minutes of the Tailteann Cup final were lacklustre to say the last with Limerick breezing through on goal and being given far more time to take aim at the posts than they were affording their opponents.

Tommie Childs’ goal for Limerick gave them a three-point advantage but it was their last score for over 10 minutes as The Lilies came to life. The change of pace was a welcome one for the Leinster Leader end of the press box with us seated directly in front of a Limerick fan who seemingly only knew four letter words, and that could not be printed here.

Darragh Kirwan hit 0-5 (two two-pointers) of his 0-8 during this spell as Kildare powered into a seven-point lead. The future of Kirwan no longer warrants discussion beyond that he is a top forward with bags of quality who just needs to stay fit.

The Naas man is undoubtedly doing everything he can to make that happen and hopefully his body co-operates to let him lead Kildare forward from the front.

Neither team impressed on the opposition kickout with Kildare winning the first ball, but losing second ball scraps if the initial restart was not fetched cleanly.

The Lilies then topped Limerick’s spell of 11 minutes without a score by going 15 without one of their own as they dropped out of this game completely. This inconsistency of performance within games has to be a concern for Brian Flanagan who saw both the strongest and poorest aspects of his young team in this game. Every game of football will ebb and flow, but you simply cannot drop out of a game for such a long period of time at what will be a higher level next year, whether that is in Division 2 or the Sam Maguire.

In their retreat, Kildare lacked a stinginess to their defensive output and conceded three points in as many minutes, seeing their lead almost halved and the trailing side were back to within two in the 31st minute of this game.
Dalton, Beirne, and Sinkey pointed for Kildare before the break with one going the other direction to give them a four-point lead into half-time.

It was nip and tuck after half-time with Limerick showing their teeth. Kildare and heartbreak have long since been synonymous with one another and, when Killian Ryan hit the net for Limerick in the 47th minute, there were plenty of Lilies that thought they were set for more. The goal put Limerick two ahead, but this Kildare team was seemingly not a part of the anxious many and for that they must receive huge praise.

The Lilies levelled through a Brian McLoughlin two-pointer with the Clane man having yet another important substitute contribution.

Kildare were incredibly impressive in the closing minutes to kick on and take the remainder of this game by the scruff of the neck. Their conditioning told in the sauna-esque conditions and Tommy Gill, Kevin Feely, Darragh Kirwan, McLouglin and Colm Dalton all pointed with one going the other way to leave The Lilies four clear with two to go.

It was a super final effort from Kildare, but, after a James Naughton free, they still needed the blessed hand of Brian Byrne to divert Rory O’Brien’s effort over the crossbar to secure a dramatic Tailteann Cup final win.

It was a game about winning for Kildare, lifting silverware in white, and boy did they do it and deserved it too.

Cill Dara Abú!

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