COMMENT: Is Kildare's season Slip Sliding Away?

For those of a certain vintage Paul Simon was as popular on this side of the world as in his native United States in the late '70s. Renowned singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for his solo work along with his collaborations with Art Garfunkle.

Why pray, should Paul Simon be making his way into these columns I can hear you say?
Probably Simon's greatest hit of them all springs to mind after Kildare footballers latest set-back.

And the name of the song?
Slip Sliding Away.

It is very unlikely that Mr. Simon had Kildare football in mind when composing the lyrics of that famous song, however, it can aptly describe where Kildare find themselves having suffered their second defeat in a row against Meath on Saturday evening.

It was a display very reminiscent of the previous week's effort against Cavan when losing out by three points. This time that three point margin was pushed out to no less than fourteen points, and the difference between the two games was undoubtedly Meath.

Meath are a serious, very serious side, last season's beaten All-Ireland semi-finalists, they are in prime position for promotion from Allianz Football League Division 2 while they can look forward with confidence to the Leinster Championship and indeed the All-Ireland Series.

As for Kildare, two games remaining, the first in two weeks time away to Cork (Pairc Uí Rinn) to be followed by a final outing a week later back in Conleth's when Louth are the visitors, the hope being of course that Kildare still have something to play for at that stage.

On what we have witnessed in the last two games even that could fall into the doubtful category.

Kildare's problems are not simply in defence, not simply in midfield and not simply up front, it is a combination of each of those areas; the greatest being in the middle third of the pitch, as it was against Cavan the previous week.

Little or no clean fetching, little or no winning of the dirty breaking ball in that area; it is a problem known and acknowledged by the team management but knowing and attempting to find a solution are two separate issues.

And in fairness it is a problem that has not just reared its head this season, it was there last season also and what it does prove is that what a team can get away in Division 3 and in the Tailteann Cup will certainly not suffice in the hot bed that is Division 2 League football, and that's for sure.

Yes a lot of the walking wounded are returning and, while they are returning free of injury, they are certainly not returning match fit, lacking in pace, while physicality-wise the team is light years away from what, for instance, Meath bring to the table at the present. The task ahead is massive.

Manager Flanagan, in fairness, is fully aware of the short-comings of his squad. He insisted after last week's debacle they have two weeks to sort things out, as much as can be achieved in two weeks.

It is a short space of time but if things don't change and change drastically, then it won't be a case of Slip Sliding Away from Division 2 of the League, it could be more a case of Gone With The Wind!

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Meanwhile the hurlers continued their great run in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League with a massive win over Down, a game always pencilled in as one to win but having to travel up north, granted not to Ballycran, but still they got the job done, albeit without the services of Jack Sheridan, who was shown a red card late in the opening half.

Three goals from Naas man Cathal Dowling did the business for Kildare in what was another giant step for manager Brian Dowling, his backroom staff and all the players.

Retaining Division 1B status was always top of the agenda for 2026 and, while not quiet there yet, it would be a mighty upset if anything other than retaining that status was not achieved at this stage.

So why not get down to St Conleth's Park, on Sunday afternoon and give manager Dowling and his players the support they have not only earned but support they fully deserve as they build on what was achieved in 2025 with League and Joe McDonagh success.

Meanwhile the Kildare Ladies got back to winning ways when playing Meath, last season's beaten All-Ireland finalists and to do so hitting four goals was truly a brilliant achievement.

It breaths life into a season that looked, not unlike their male counterparts, another case of Slip Sliding Away, but this win will give them a tremendous boost and belief as they too strive to retain top divisional status, still a huge amount of work to do if that is to be achieved but nevertheless a mighty step in the right direction.

And while the Ladies are currently in the bottom three in Division 1, with four points, along with Armagh and Dublin they do have the best scoring difference which could be vital at the end of the day.

They have a couple of weeks off now and back in action on Sunday March 21 when they travel to Waterford to take on a side that lie third in the table behind Cork and Galway, so nothing easy there but that victory over Meath should give them plenty of confidence as they strive to build on Saturday's impressive showing.