Comment: Kildare fail to bloom, once again, in Headquarters

I'm, confident one Kildare fan insisted as he enjoyed an early beverage prior to heading into Croker on Sunday.
And why is that says I?
Croke Park suits us says he.
Do you think so says I.

Ah ye, says he, the big open pitch always suits us insists this buachail from south Kildare.
I'm afraid I had to burst his bubble before he reached the bottom of the 'G' in his pint.

Our record in Croke Park is probably worse than any other team that has played there in the last 15 or two years, says I.
In the last 22 appearances, says I, we have won three times and they weren't against teams that could be described as top teams.

You see for some reason or other the Lilies fail to bloom when they come to The Big Smoke.
Just two counties they have defeated since 2014, Wexford and twice they have got the better of Westmeath.
Now you can make that three wins out of 23.

Thanks be to God they have decided to take the Leinster semi-finals out of there, and that is not for one minute overlooking the challenge that Kildare face against Westmeath on Saturday week at Cedral St Conleth's Park.
Not for one minute over-looking the challenge Westmeath will bring.

I'm afraid our friend went down to the bottom of his pint glass a lot faster than was his original intention, before heading off to see if that record could be improved upon.

As for Sunday's game?
A bit like the curate's egg.
Good in spots.
A mix of positives and negatives.

Conceding a goal after four minutes certainly did nothing for the Kildare cause as dangerman, Jack Bryant went through the middle quicker than our friend went to the bottom of his pint glass.
Just the start The Lilies did not want.

But they stuck to it and looked to be heading to the dressing room possibly level or maybe a point down but then fell to a two-pointer, quickly followed by a point, after the hooter sounded, to be three down at the break.
Offaly, it has to be said, brought nothing to the table last Sunday than they brought to O'Connor Park two weeks previously.

In fact it is fair to say they brought exactly the same.
Lots of pace.
Lots of hard-work.
Lots of endeavour.
Lots of belief.

Still The Lilies remained firmly in the race and after going four down came back not just to level but take the lead.
Just as they did in Tullamore.

Ye, at no time could a fan supporting Kildare feel, we can win this, we can get over the line, we can walk out of Croke Par with a bit of silverware to show for their endeavours.
And when you look at the stats you can see why.

Stats, yes, at times they would do your head but when you see that Kildare had something like 38 shots on goal and ended up finding the target on just 18 occasions, you realise the stats done't lie.

A conversion rate of under 50 per cent will win very few games, very few if any at all.

Yet as the hooter sounded to bring proceedings to a close Kildare were within one kick, one two-pointer away from forcing extra time.

However, in the light of day, one has to say, Kildare did not deserve to force extra-time; in fact it is fair to say that the winning margin (or losing margin depending on your point of view) somewhat flatters The Lilies.
The lack of two-pointers, we have commented on before but the lack of even attempting two-pointers is even a bigger concern.

On the plus side, ten players in white shirts got their names on the score sheet, this particular stat can certainly be taken as a positive.

As can the display of high-fielding Callum Bolton be a positive, the problem was Kildare did not capitalise on the Sarsfields' man excellent individual display.

Harry O'Neill was another that can be more than happy, and a goal was his icing on his cake, no doubt the Clane man would have forgone the icing if Kildare had won.

So a lot of work between now and Saturday week when demoted Westmeath head to Cedral St Conleth's Park.

The Lakesiders have had a tough Division 2, losing six and drawing one but they did put up some high scores and lost most games by less than a handful of points; they will have no worries coming to Newbridge.

Still Kildare gained their promotion, the no. 1 objective and that should not be forgotten.

And while The Lilies failed to bloom in Croke Park, they can still flower in St Conleth's Park; three wins from three since the revamp, let's hope they can make it four from four and we see what happens after that.
Fingers crossed!

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