Brian Flanagan issues Kildare injury update and looks back at Leitrim win

“You had the perfect day for football, so there was no reason not to be taking on those kinds of (long-range) shots or playing fast, front-foot football. Our lads did that and that efficiency, conversion piece that we were discussing quite a bit throughout the league came together today. It is something that we want to be consistent on now going forward. We have what we want to hit, we go out and we execute and we execute with confidence everyday,” Kildare manager Brian Flanagan said after their Tailteann Cup opener win over Leitrim.

The Lilies' 0-36 tally is sure to catch the eye, but the increase in efficiency and decrease in cheek-puffing wides was perhaps even more important.

Flanagan added, “I thought the lads were very efficient throughout the whole game and managed it really well. There was that eight-minute period in the middle of the first half where we lost one or two kickouts and had four or five attacks that we didn’t get anything from, but other than that I’d have to give huge credit to the players. I thought they applied themselves really well and were professional in how they went about things. The bench came in and had an impact as well.”

Another of the notable elements from the win was the return of several familiar, and fan favourite, faces with Jimmy Hyland getting a first Championship start in three years and Daniel Flynn returning off the bench, amongst others.

The Kildare squad appears in good shape with even notable absentees only thought to be out for a brief stretch.

Flanagan explained, “Callum Bolton and Colm Dalton, these lads will be back in the next week or two and will be pushing hard. What is more important is that the fellas who have the jersey right now are delivering and putting their name in the hat for next week and game’s that, please God, come after that. I think that is the beauty at this time of year and going into a new competition, lads are getting opportunities and it should be to the betterment of us in a month’s time and onwards. We want a competitive squad and I think we are getting there.”

Darragh Swords started at wing-forward for The Lilies and was pleased at full-time after he registered an impressive 0-6.

He said, “I definitely won’t complain. A lot of things went right for me today and it was nice conditions, so I’ll definitely take that.”

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