Sullivan 'gutted' after Kildare's relegation is confirmed with Kerry defeat

Speaking after the game, Kildare manager Pat Sullivan said: “It is (gut-wrenching). Overall our performance has been really good in the league. I’d park that one result against Galway, and Galway are way down the line compared to where we are, but we had the Dublin game which we could have won very easily.

“Since that Galway game in Round 3, we have put in massive performances. A massive performance against Meath, massive performance against Waterford and the same today and look at where we are. That (Kerry) group, out of the last five years, has been to four finals; three Division 1 and one Division 2 and to do what we did there today with the difference being inches (was impressive). We are gutted, but we have to take a step back and look at the bigger picture of where we are in our development.”

The Lilies’ were mixing it well throughout their Division 1 campaign with late equalisers against Cork on the opening day and last time out against Waterford proving vital in taking precious points away from them.

Discussing the mood in the camp after a competitive but ultimately disappointing campaign, Sullivan said: “The mood is funny. We are very disappointed, gutted, of course we are, but overall they know in the back of their mind where they were this time last year when we played Kerry down in Kerry. We were ripped asunder and then in the quarter-final they brought us back to level and then beat us by nine points.

“We are probably looking at being a development squad compared to where we are at now. We are now a really good senior football team, but we now need to step over the line. We have been knocking on the door with all the top teams in the league. We are one step away getting through and that’s what we need to do. The next four weeks are going to be really important for us because Meath are going to be hot-favourites when we play them in the Leinster Championship and then onto Dublin the following week. We have to continue doing what we are doing but improve another five to 10%.”

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When asked what that extra five to 10% might be, Sullivan replied: “There are moments in the game where time-management within the game would help us. At times we probably, when we were on top, gave away the ball and got punished on the other side. If we can hold onto the ball a bit longer and be a bit more clinical when we have opportunities, that’ll take us very close to where we want to be.

“Our fitness level is super, the S&C guys have done a superb job. Now for us, the confidence is there, we have no problems with ability, it will be just gaining those small margins over the next four weeks and it’s like everything that a Leinster Championship will take a mind of its own as well.”

Chance conversion was a major topic of conversation in the opening weeks of the season, but The Lilies have rectified that to some extent with impressive tallies of 4-8 against Meath), 1-13 on Waterford and now 2-9 facing Kerry.

Sullivan explained, “Our conversion rate was really up there. We were really good in that first half, we scored 1-7 from 13 attacks so excellent in that half. When we go, we have to make sure we hurt them and we did, especially with that wind in the second half. We were probably unlucky not to get another goal on the board as well.

“When you look at that, when we were under a full press in the second half, we found pockets to get out against a big, strong team with height and ability. Overall it would have been phenomenal for us to stay in Division 1 but we have to look at where we are and where we are going. I’m very happy from a performance point of view and the next four weeks are going to be vital to us for this whole year ahead. Getting to a Leinster final gives you better opportunities for later in the Championship.”