Comment: Not for the first time Louth dash Kildare's hopes

Over the years Louth have dealt Kildare some real hammer blows, the worse probably back in Micko's time when, after reaching the Allianz League Final, losing to Dublin by a point, Kildare headed north to take on the Wee County in the Leinster Championship.

Drogheda was the venue on that forgetful day as Micko's lads were sent packing, albeit in a somewhat controversial manner.
A few season later and the same think happened, this time at St Conleth's Park, the first televised game outside of provincial and All-Ireland finals and the boys in red came out on top again against the late Dermot Earley managed side.

There have been other times as well so heading up to St Mary's of Ardee, a lovely ground that brings one back to the days of the grass banks, and all that went with them in those times. The pitch was in pristine condition, top class and one that the grounds man can certainly hold his head up with pride as the ever-friendly folk of Louth made the visiting fans very welcome indeed.

That welcome however, did not carry over on to the pristine pitch and that's for sure.

It was obvious from early on that the improvement the Kildare fans were hoping for following that heavy defeat by Derry two weeks previously in St Conleth's Park, was simply not there.

As team manager Glenn Ryan said “the basics, we just did not get the basics right, again.”
And in fairness to him he was on the money.

The handling of some of the Kildare players was simply appalling at times; five times, at least, Kildare players were rightly whistled up for over-carrying. The amount of ball given away, never mind being turned-over just was not at the standard required at this level. In fact it would not be acceptable at any level, in any division of the Allianz Football League

In the opening half alone Kildare handed their opponents 2-4 with mistakes; both goals could have been avoided; both coming after Kildare had been penalised for over-carrying or miss-handling that saw their opponents gain, no being handed possession.

Confidence once again came up in conversation with the management in the post match 'chat.'
Or more to the point a lack of confidence, that was evident from very early on.

An injury in the warm-up for Ryan Houlihan certainly did nothing for the cause, the Moorefield man was thought to be right having missed the Derry game with a hamstring; he has a history of his injury which has to be a major concern.

It meant that a player, in this case Kevin Flynn — not sure what the reasoning of dropping the Celbridge man in the first place was — but having been informed on the way to the game that he would not be starting, then just minutes before the throw-in was fired back into the fray, hardly does a lot for that so called confidence but in this instance anyway, nothing could be done about that.

Just 12 points on the day; no goal, in fact it is something like 12 months now since Kildare last found an opponent's net in the League.

And to top that is the fact that Kildare are now the only county in the entire four divisions that has not raised a green flag in this the fifth round of the League — in all divisions.

There is just one other county with a worse scoring record that Kildare at present, that being Waterford in Division 4 but even they have scored two goals.

So worries all over the place; not just in defence but all over the field and unless and until that is sorted (yes easier said than done) The Lilies will continue to struggle and with just two games left time is in short supply and that's for sure.
Don't be surprised if the outcome of Kildare's fate comes down to the final game of the league when Meath are the visitors to St Conleth's Park.

That will be a day of nostalgia in many ways as it is the final game before the bulldozers move in 24 hours later to commence the redevelopment of the grounds.

A spanking redevelopment that includes a 3,000 all seater new stand; improved terrace at the Kilcullen end; the demolition of the Birds' Nest; a new pitch that will have Croke Park size length and just a few metres short of same in the width, along with floodlights.

If all that is not enough to lift players, management and fans then I don't know where we are going.

In the meantime keep the faith; without it we have nothing!