"I'm flabbergasted to be honest"- O'Neill questions refereeing decisions following Westmeath defeat

Kildare manager Cian O'Neill was left ruing a dismal 30 minute spell that ultimately cost his side a place in the Leinster final, and allowed Westmeath back into a game that they looked dead and buried in for a period.

Kildare were 1-9 to 0-6 up with 42 minutes played, but they contrived to let Westmeath back into the tie through a series of minor errors, while their opponents also conjured up a stirring comeback for the second year running in a Leinster semi-final.

O'Neill was clearly dejected in the immediate aftermath of the game, and he admitted that the players were also trending too.

"We're devastated in that dressing room," began O'Neill.

"It was a great opportunity for us, for both teams, but obviously we can only focus on ourselves. To step up to a Leinster final, it's been a while. For a large part of that second half we had that game in our own hands. Unfortunately we let it slip, and momentum went against us. [We committed] A few errors when the pressure came on and we let them back in. The goal was a sickner. From that perspective we're really devastated."

"Sometimes teams are just better than you and they put you under a lot of pressure, they force mistakes. I think during that period we actually made a lot of individual unforced errors and they cost us. I thought Niall was unlucky or the goal, I thought he was fouled twice. We had a chance to contain that situation and we didn't, and that's disappointing because we actually defended quite well in the last couple of games." "In fairness to the boys, they showed great resilience, great character towards the end to turn a three point deficit into one and have several chances to level. We missed a couple of frees, missed a couple of opportunities from play, and we ultimately paid the price. If you're not accurate, if you're not ruthless and if you're not precise in what you do it costs you."

O'Neill was visibly frustrated with referee Derek O'Mahoney for failing to award a free to Niall Kelly in the build-up to the Westmeath goal. That was a pivotal score in the game as it brought the Lake County men level, while also providing them with serious momentum.

The Kildare boss questioned the referee's handling of the big decisions on the day.

"We're very disappointed. You're going to have decisions go for you and go against you in matches. I'd always expect the big decisions to be the right decisions. Obviously, I might be wrong, and I'd like to see it again, but I thought Niall was fouled on the ground," remarked O'Neill.

Another contentious moment in the second half was when Cathal McNally had a goal ruled out, with referee O'Mahoney pulling Tommy Moolick up for a foul on Westmeath goalkeeper Darren Quinn in the build-up.

"The goal? I'm flabbergasted to be honest," stated O'Neill.

"They showed it on the big screen twice, which is unusual for Croke Park because if it's controversial they don't usually show it. The goalkeeper lost possession of the ball and Tommy got in there. The ball sprung loose and we pulled on it. For me it was a good legitimate goal and we didn't get it. As I said, the big decisions, you've got to get them right. I just think that was not the right call."

Away from the controversial refereeing decisions, it was ultimately that 28 minute period where Kildare failed to score that saw the game slip away from them. The manager talked up his side's ability to raise their game at the beginning of the second half, but he was left hugely disappointed by what followed.

"We talked in the dressing room about a big third quarter and coming out with real intention and desire. We did that, and went six points up. So it was really disappointing to let that slip, and the result is known at this stage that that's the outcome when you let big leads slip away like that."

Individual errors were what turned the game in O'Neill's opinion, and he admitted that Kildare struggling against the momentum that Westmeath created.

"I just think it was that period. We lost possession, we got turned over in the middle. We had a short kick-out that didn't work out. That's another tap over, and all of a sudden six becomes four. Obviously that goal was huge, of course that's a turning point in any game. It was that period, when they wrestled that six point lead back. It's momentum, and that's a huge thing. You can't quantify it."

Onto the qualifiers again so, following a fifth Leinster semi-final defeat in a row, but the Moorefield native is confident his side can bounce back.

"It's a big job for us all. For the players, for the management, for the backroom team. Obviously no one likes to lose, especially in big matches and in Croke Park. But there's a huge opportunity for us now in the back door. It's the only opportunity we have so you've got to grab it with both hands when it presents itself," said O'Neill.

Alan Smith surprisingly failed to make it off the bench on Sunday, and O'Neill explained that it was a tactical decision, rather than anything to do with the forward's fitness.

"We were just looking at the style of the game, and it wasn't how it was working out. We were looking at a little more movement a pace inside. Alan is so clinical, but when they played a permanent sweeper in there it's very difficult trying to get good ball in there. Some days you just have to try and cut your cloth really to suit what's in front of you," he explained.