HE MAY HAVE finally managed to get his hands on Leinster silverware last night yet Kieran McGeeney’s response was to look forward rather than bask in the glow of success.
Fashioning a three-point victory over Longford secured Kildare’s first provincial U21 title since 2008 and delivered the former Armagh great’s first championship title.
But for McGeeney the desire is to use this victory as a building block.
As he stood in the tunnel in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, he considered the assignments that are looming ahead.
A bulk of his U21’s are double-jobbing with the seniors and will be in the frame for Sunday’s trip to Newry to face Down in the league and Kildare are already guaranteed a berth in the Division 1 semi-finals on April 14th.
There is also the matter of an All-Ireland U21 semi-final on April 20th and next Saturday’s Connacht decider between Galway and Roscommon will reveal the identity of their opponents.
While bright young stars Paddy Brophy, who notched the vital goal from the penalty spot last night, and Daniel Flynn have other sporting endeavours to throw into the mix.
The pair were involved in AFL trials conducted by Tadhg Kennelly that were held in DCU in February. While it is also understood that they are to be involved with the European Legion who play an AIS-AFL Academy level two squad at Surrey Sportspark in London on Saturday.
Kildare’s U21 squad already have players with AFL experience as Paul Cribbin has returned from a stint with Collingwood while Sean Hurley was part of the AFL combine in Australia at the tail end of last year.
“It’s just a matter of trying to get balance,” outlined McGeeney. “Hopefully we can try and push on. I just think it’s great for the fellas. For me it’s not a big thing, my playing career is over. I’ll be the same boy tomorrow as I was today.
“I’m just delighted for the young fellas. They’re willing to learn and they work extremely hard.”
Longford’s Paddy Collum saves a shot from Kildare’s Padraig Fogarty.
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Kildare’s performance was a mixed bag last night. At times in the first-half they looked superb in full flow as they fed their attack a quality supply of possession and looked extremely threatening up front.
Shortly after the break they had stormed eight points clear. But they looked nervous in the finale and only kicked one point in the last 29 minutes of the game.
It was appropriate to reflect that this was a group, who for all the promise they have shown, are not well-versed in big-game experience.
“Longford had great hunger and desire,” reasoned McGeeney. “I’ve said before they’ve a great structure and they were always going to keep going until the end.
“On a big day teams are going to come at you and you’ll be nervous. They (Kildare) probably could have pushed on and got a lot more scores. But especially in the last two or three minutes, they kept cool.”
Dublin were anointed as the champions in this grade before the competition began yet Kildare have now vaulted to the front in Leinster. It is a significant development for the county.
“It’s funny, people didn’t mention much talent a few months ago when we were third favorites,” reflected McGeeney. “Nobody mentioned it. It’s amazing how it turns around and now we have talent.
“But I think skills are very easy to get across, the talents are hard to get. The likes of Canavan, the O’Se’s, Padraic Joyce, they had the talent in the drive to win ball and the courage they showed to get it.
“Those are talents and I think our boys showed them there last night. We’re just trying to put a greater culture in Kildare. It was Brian Murphy, Alan Barry, Noel Mooney this last five or six years. I’ve had some of them for a couple of years and some of them for just a couple of months.”
“I’m just delighted for them. If I can leave anything with that bunch of fellas then it’s an understanding of what it takes to win.”
None of those players started against the Dubs in the league last month so there will be a better showing from them if both teams meet in the Leinster semis in June. I still would fancy Dublin and Dublin always do better in later parts of the championship when tested properly in Leinster.
O’Byrne cup now U21 Leinster title, what a year ha ha
What a year so far…..
Dublin are the only real threat to the Lilies for the Leinster title.