“You couldn’t write it better than that"- Retiring Doran going out on a high with Kildare hurlers

“You couldn’t write it better than that,” beamed John Doran after the full-back helped Kildare to claim the Christy Ring Cup in Croke Park on Saturday afternoon. The dominant defender was superb for the Lilywhites as they trounced London 3-19 to 1-11 in a real show of class, with Doran even saving a Kevin O’Loughlin shot off the line as London chased the game in the second half.

Doran confirmed after the game that he would be retiring at the end of this year, and the Leixlip man was obviously soaking it all in as he stood on the sideline with his daughter to watch captain Brian Byrne lifting the trophy. Of course, the London game will not be his last as Kildare face into a playoff with Antrim next week for a place in the Joe McDonagh Cup next year.

“I’ll have to go next week with the next game but this is the final swansong,” Doran told KildareNow after the game.

A group of young fans from Doran’s club unfurled a ‘Thank you John’ following his 13 years of service to Kildare hurling through good times and bad, and it was fitting for the former Christy Ring All-Star to cap his career with a trophy.

“You just couldn’t write it,” smiled Doran.

“To finish your career after 13 years in Croke Park with a trophy… you couldn’t write it.”

The full-back line were superb throughout, and the partnership that Doran has formed with Cian Forde and Paul Sullivan either side of him has been one of the strongest aspects of Kildare’s team throughout the championship.

“Probably everything came at us there,” said Doran of the London challenge in the second half.

“It was good though – I thought we were in control, the three of us in the full-back line. The last time we were here in the final it was a goal every few minutes on both sides, so this was a bit more settled.”

The outgoing Doran also paid tribute to the young players who have contributed so handsomely to Kildare’s success, noting in particular the impact of James Burke, Jack Sheridan and Shane Ryan in the forwards as they shot 3-10 between them in Saturday’s win.

“This year in particular, and over the last three years with the injection of youth, what they’ve brought to it is unbelievable. There was no settling in for them – they just came straight in and took off and there was no adjusting for them. It took other lads in the panel three or four years to settle in, but the likes of Jack, James and Shane just took off and it was great for all of us to see it.”