Kildare's Callum Bolton looks back on win over Fermanagh

Kildare midfielder, Callum Bolton, was a happy camper following The Lilies comprehensive and impressive win over Fermanagh in the opening round of the AFL, Division 3 at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbrige, on Saturday.

He spoke after the game to the local press and gave an insight to the preparations and he felt the game went.

“We did a training camp a week or so ago and did a lot of work in terms of getting together and playing as a team and getting to know each other well and I think you could see that out there this evening, compared to past performances, we were a lot more closer as a team and a lot more structured and I think that certainly helped us kicking on and good spell kicking four or five (points) on the trot and putting that bed.”

The Sarsfields man played under Kildare manager Brian Flanagan at U20 level so he is very familiar with what he (manager) wants and expects.

“It is very, very easy to play under Brian; he is very direct, very concise in what he says; in terms of playing with the four or five lads that were there (at U20) you know exactly who you are playing with and how they play so a lot easier in terms of getting the rhythm in the team and when it gets touogh, they (Fermanagh) had their spells there but after a few minutes we came together as a collective and it was a lot easier to play in the tough situations.”

It was a big game for Kildare, first game in the league and first under the new manger and that it is something Calum was fully aware of.

“Ye, it was a massive game for Kildare, first league game and keeping that score board ticking over was a big marker for us in terms of the camp; we were talking about Fermanagh and what happened last year in terms of falling away in the key moments so there there were a lot of scores today, putting the game to bed and that definitely helped us towards the end of the match.”

With a great attendance and the enthusiasm from the supporters that did not go unnoticed by Callum and indeed the rest of the players.

“Brilliant, a full stand it really helps; when it is hard out there and you are slogging around it is very, very easy to get back into it with the crowd behind us; the supporters are brilliant and it makes a huge difference.”

Asked about the new rules, the midfielder smiled, even laughed saying “there is some amount of running, at half time I was nearly getting sick, but it is a battle around the middle, every game we have played it has been 50/50 on kick-outs but once you come together in those moments and win those breaks, we were brilliant on those today and once you win those you can start kicking them over.”

So it is off to Sligo next week and the challenge is not lost on this young Kildare player.

“A massive challenge to see how our form is; a brilliant performance tonight but it means nothing if we go to Sligo and don't put in a performance.”

Of course Callum Bolton is a very busy player these days lining out for UCD in the Sigerson, they are back in action this week but he (Bolton) says that “Brian is very good at finding the right balance, it is a big game in the Sigerson but the manager communicates with the other team you are involved with and when you know the two managers are in communication that is a great help.”