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Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney. INPHO/James Crombie
Setback

Kieran McGeeney: 'It will be the biggest job I've had since I've come here'

The Kildare boss must try to lift his team after yesterday’s crushing defeat to Dublin.

KIERAN MCGEENEY BELIEVES he faces the biggest challenge of his reign as Kildare boss to pick his players up after yesterday’s heavy defeat against Dublin in the Leinster semi-final.

Kildare entered the match armed with high hopes but were crushed by 16 points as they suffered the county’s biggest championship loss to Dublin since 1897.

McGeeney admitted it was tough to absorb the defeat after Kildare had earlier this year also being convincingly beaten by Dublin when they lost out by 13 points.

“It’s going to be tough. It will be very hard to lift them. I could be very bravado here and give you loads of good headlines but there is not much point.

“It will be the biggest job I’ve had since I’ve come here. We’re pretty gutted. That’s twice they’ve tanked us, we just seemed to fall apart in the second half.

“They know they let themselves down and they’re much better players than that. They’re going to get torn apart in the next few days and so am I.

“I’m sure I’ve a lot of good friends out there who will give me a good going over in the next few days. That’s life, you just keep coming back.”

McGeeney also defended his young players with six Kildare U21′s in action on a demoralizing day for the county.

“We put a lot of weight on  a lot of young shoulders today and maybe it was too much. It seemed to fall apart for  them in the second half

“Last year I felt like the team had to change and I do feel those young fellas are the future of Kildare. Today they didn’t do themselves justice but they are good players and I would definitely stand over that.

“People can be a bit unfair too on them. Like I’m reading now that they’re the best players Kildare ever produced but I never heard that in January and then we started playing them and they did well enough. That’s sport, they have to be ready for that.

“It can be tough to take when you’re a young fella, reading in the paper that you’re no good or you’re cowardly or whatever. They’re just going to have to learn how to deal with that.”

Kildare’s John Doyle dejected late in the game
INPHO/James Crombie

Possession

McGeeney lamented Kildare’s use of possession and reckoned that wayward passes cost his side.

“We were just sloppy today with our passing and it cost us dearly. Either side of the half six points it just seemed to tear the stomach out of them.

“Cross-field balls around the middle of the field and just giving the ball away constantly.  You’re going to have to make the most of your chances when you play against Dublin, we didn’t. They’re very fit and very strong and they keep coming. I think you have to try and put them on the back foot.”

“I’ve heard over the last 12 months that I’m tactically naïve and perhaps I am. I would like to know what you do tactically to hold onto the ball, in terms of not fist-passing it away and kick-passing it away.

“Most games we play we create more scoring chances than your opponent which you’re supposed to devise in your tactics but that’s twice now against Dublin we’ve come up short. If it’s me that’ll soon be found out.”

Dublin have 16 points to spare over Kildare in Leinster semi-final

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