On Saturday evening last, however, hurling was far from the minds of Kildare and Tipperary football players and supporters as these counties clashed in Division 2, Round 2 of the Allianz NFL.
A paltry turnout of 1,420, of which it seemed, 75 per c
ent were made up of travelling Kildare supporters, bore testament to the fact the home fans are more interested in the small ball game, or maybe in this case the red rose of Valentine's Day than the Lilies of Kildare.
The Chucca Chukka's (Tipperary natives living in Kildare) were as scarce as Fine Gael 'good luck' cards to their former nine month hero, George Lee.
One notable (Chucca Chukka) exception in attendance was Newbridge resident Michael Dillon who bravely wore the blue and gold, albeit well buried beneath his collar and scarf. But no doubt if the home side had beaten the odds the Chucca's would have emerged quicker than Ruby did on Tricky Trickster in Newbury earlier in the day.
After the mauling the Kildare boys received just six day prior to this outing, it was indeed a lucky break that Tipperary were next up. Not too much was learned here but one thing is for sure that whatever about Kildare's chances of progressing it will be something of a miracle if Tipp, on this display, don't return from where they came last season – back to Division 3.
This was a must win game. Stung by a fair bit of criticism from that opening day battering, Kildare were hit hard by injuries. Some long term. Some short time. And some only acquired during training last week.
Add in the missing two from the three minutes (or should that be two minutes or even one minute) of madness in Portlaoise, few would have complained if McGeeney had sent out smoke signals suggesting his decimated side was in trouble. But that's not the McGeeney way. And his players responded in kind.
That great warrior, Anthony Rainbow, was asked to lead the attack, and despite requiring 'medical care' prior to the game, did so, giving it his all until finally having to succumb to injury and leave the stage after some 46 minutes.
Another player who showed scant regard for his own well being on the night was Karl Ennis. Star of the Maynooth team that travelled so well in 2009, Ennis did his own impression of Chelsea 'keeper Petr Cech, wearing a skull cap to protect a number of staples inserted in a head wound picked up in training a few days earlier. And to cap it all (no pun intended) Ennis knocked over four points to help the cause.
Overall it was not a great game though, and that is probably putting it mildly. But on this occasion that is only secondary. The win is what was important. A confidence booster was sought and at the end of the day it was achieved.
The positives, and yes, there were not too many, but certainly a few. The display of midfielder Daryl Flynn was worth the journey. The big man made three fetches in the opening half that were good enough to adorn any stage. But apart from that his overall work load was magnificent, his tracking was top class, constantly popping up at both ends of the pitch.
Cast your mind back to last summer when Dermot Earley was (rightly) getting all the plaudits, but on more than one occasion the Sarsfields man was quick to point out the work that Flynner was doing, unnoticed and uncommented on. If these two lads can keep injury free they are without question the foundation that Kildare can build on in the months ahead.
Another welcome plus on the night was the fact that for the first time in five games Kildare started as they finished, with fifteen players on board, and just two yellow cards picked up.
But problems remain. The defence still looks somewhat ragged and disjointed and while it may have shown some improvement, there remains much to do.
Donegal are next up. A different class of fish, particularly up front, than our friends from The Premier. It's a game that could tell us a lot. But here's hoping.
* And finally we send congratulataions to Seamus and Lelia Aldridge who celebrate their golden wedding anniversary this week. Seamus, of course, is a former secretary and treasurer of the county board and former Leinster Council chairman.
tommy@leinsterleader.ie
