Disappointed Dowling intimates willingness to stay on as Kildare hurling manager
Kildare manager Brian Dowling intimated after the game that he is very much open to carrying on the brilliant work he has achieved in his three seasons with Kildare
Kildare senior hurling manager, Brian Dowling, while disappointed with the margin of his side’s defeat at the hands of Offaly, on Sunday, nevertheless expressed how proud he was of his players, not just on Sunday but throughout this Leinster Senior Hurling Championship campaign.
“The same story in the Leinster Championship, very happy with our first half display in all games, except the Dublin one, but we made life difficult for ourselves with 14 men and then conceded a sloppy goal, something we didn’t want to happen but it did happen while disappointed with the score margin in the end but delighted with the first half display; we are leaving here disappointed, no points on the board and we wanted to get something there for today for the Kildare crowd.”
The manager said that he feels “it is playing the top teams that proved difficult, particularly in the second half of games, but admitted that while they are trying to get all the players up to the level, all at the same time, other teams can bring two or three players in every year, but we don’t have time for that, we have to get players in straight away, but the lads put everything into, certainly not from a lack of effort.”
As to the sending off the Kilkenny native said quoting former Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger “I didn’t see it, I genuinely didn’t see it but the Offaly player was on the ground and I didn’t see anyone complaining about it, so I assume it was a red card, the umpires are standing right behind you can’t be doing anything, it is disappointing but I would have loved to have seen 15 versus 15 in the second half and see could we take Offaly down the home stretch.”
The manger heaped praise on Offaly after the disappointment of last year, but fair play to them, they are a fine side, a very fine side, they played some brilliant, smashing hurlers, I came across a lot of them in a Leinster Colleges final against St Kieran’s so I know just how good they are, fair play for them coming out of Leinster (and qualifying for the All-Ireland Series).
“I don’t think many would have seen that coming, this time last year Kilkenny beat them by 15 points, steamrolled them in Nowlan Park and then turn around and draw with them this year and are now through and it shows if you have a bit of time (in the top level) we try and show every week, five matches in six weeks, very tough going.”
Ironically the manager said he felt “it is not the worst thing in the world for Kildare to go back to the Joe McDonagh, playing in Division 1B was absolutely crucial for the group, top class opposition in the league, look we can’t turn our noses up at the Joe McDonagh Cup, it took us a long time to get victory there, it is a brilliant competition and while we would prefer to be in the Leinster Championship, that group are a young group, the average age is 22, 23, they are good enough to come back, no one hands you a Joe McDonagh, you have to earn it you are back to scratch next year, a lot to look forward to for this group, I’m sure they will dust themselves down, get back to their club and drive it on again … they are good group but we have to be realistic, you are playing the top teams, they are all seasoned campaigners in Leinster, know all the tricks of the trade; look at Offaly they struggled last year but this year they are a different team, but lads are putting in so much, in the gym, outside the gym, ball walls, video analysis, there is so much that goes into it, disappointed when we can’t play for the full 70 minutes but I definitely believe in that group.
“Joe McDonagh is a great competition, you have to back to scratch and try to get back up but the sooner you get back up the better, you can see how hard it is, Antrim went down last year, didn’t come back up, so we have to get up as quick as we can and that starts again next year.”
Dowling intimated after the game he is very much open to carrying on the brilliant work he has achieved in his three seasons with Kildare while Co. Board chairman, Mick Mullen said that he, and the county board, are very anxious to see the Kilkenny native continue in his role.