Kildare 'reverting to type' the biggest disappointment of all

At least it is still in our own hands, said one very disappointed Kildare fan as we exited Tullamore on Sunday following back-to-back defeats, this one against local rivals Offaly.

Before manager Brian Flanagan uttered a word to the waiting press, one could see the disappointment, the pain, and possibly the shock on his face, maybe not so much the actual defeat per se, but the performance, the display.

It would seem little, if anything, has been learned with a display that was akin to what we witnessed two weeks previously in Ennis.

In fact, I would suggest, that last week's display against Offaly was worse in many respects.

While the result was always a possibility, defeating Offaly the last thirteen times we played them had to come to an end some time, but it was, called it what you like, but there was little passion, little urgency; absolutely no penetration but probably the most concerning aspect of the display was the way the team has fallen back into bad habits.

By that I mean, a tendency to play the ball across the pitch, or even backwards was something that has got us where we are today.

Over the past number of years playing across the pitch had to be one of the most frustrating aspects of Kildare's play and it seemed, thankfully, to have been taken out of the game. But no, it is back, and back big time.

Time and time again a player in possession seemed to have, as his first option, turn back, or go cross field rather than forward.

The new game, and it is a new game, is all about pace, all about getting the ball forward at pace, getting good ball into the forward division, but alas that was not the Kildare way on Sunday.

The phrase “reverting to type” springs to mind.

It is something that needs an immediate response if The Lilies are to progress, to defeat Antrim, to gain promotion and get out of this division that is Division 3 of the AFL.

We have said it before, on numerous occasions, the most important competition for Kildare in 2025 is the Allianz Football League.

We can all dream about the Leinster Championship, the All-Ireland series and (whisper it) the Tailteann Cup but realistically, and looking to the future, getting back to Division 2, initially at least, has to be the no. 1 priority.

It would be a major set-back for Brian Flanagan and his management team if that was not achieved, and achieved this year.

Brian Flanagan knows it, his management team knows it and the supporters know it.

Anything other than promotion and we are back where we started a few short months ago.

Looking, and listening to manager Flanagan after Sunday's game suggested, to me, that he was somewhat shell-shocked.
Not by the defeat I would suggest, but by the performance.

The lack of pace.

The lack of urgency.

The lack of scoring threat.

The lack of penetration.

They were missing.

Offaly played like a hungry team.

Kildare certainly did not.

Just like the previous game against Clare, Kildare woke up somewhat in the second half, despite going in at the break a mere one point behind, something which was somewhat puzzling one has to say.

They did, as they did in Clare, up their game, drew level, took the lead and looked like they had the better of their opponents.

But then bang.

Gone.

Offaly never panicked.

Kept more to less to their game plan, found a way, on more than a few occasions, through the middle of the Kildare defence.

A goal, regained them the lead.

An immediate inspirational point and one could sense the entire team lift their performance with a belief that they could end their losing streak to Kildare that had stretched to 13 games.

Four wins, two losses and a scoring aggregate that could yet, and hopefully, get us over the promotion line but not with another performance like we saw against Offaly or against Clare.

Offaly played like a local derby game should be played, gave it everything, fought to the better end, when things were not going their way they dug deep until they got it right.

At the moment The Lilies are playing like a team lacking in confidence, lacking in belief, they have one more game to put that right.

Losing to Antrim on Sunday next is not, and should not be an option.

This could be the most important game Kildare will play in the entire season of 2025 and that is the way it should be approached.

Anything else and it is a case of tearing up the script and start again.

And nobody wants that.

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