COMMENT: The inevitability of Kildare's end was... well, inevitable

Sun shining, packed stadium, pitch in tip-top condition, a great occasion as the All-Ireland champions title was on the line due to the fact they lost their opening game, in Killarney, against high-flying Donegal, well they were flying high then.

Yet, there was something missing.

Hard to put one’s finger on it.

Maybe, even before a ball was kicked in anger.

There was an inevitability about it all.

Not for the first time at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, Kildare fans were out-numbered.

Sad and all as it is to say.

Kerry came out to an enormous cheer.

Kildare arrived and if one had turned one’s back to the pitch for any reason, they would not have known The Lilies had arrived.

Jack O’Connor, Cian O’Neill & Co were taking no chances though.

No room for error here.

Defeat and the season was over.

Within ten minutes Kildare’s season was on life-support.

Six down and yet to score.

There was an inevitability about it.

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And so it panned out, even if Jack Robinson, practically on one leg due to injury, did his utmost to drag Kildare into it with five excellent top class points in the opening half.

A gap of eight and while Kildare would have the benefit of the stiffish breeze in the second half, there was still that feeling of inevitability about it.

And so it panned out. The Kingdom widened the gap.

Kildare cut it back to eight with a doubler from Darragh Kirwan. Kerry replied with a couple of goals.

Game over. Ball burst. The inevitability of it all came to pass.

Kerry march on in their quest to make it back-to-back titles. They won’t be far away. More bodies to return.

And what of The Lilies? A desperately disappointing season.

Relegation being the lowest point of a season that hit one trough after another.

Maybe we should have read the early signs.

Eight points up in the O’Byrne Cup final Before collapsing at the hands of Westmeath.

It was passed off. Sure it’s only the O’Byrne Cup.

Recovery was swift though. A draw (away to Tyrone), a win over Offaly (at home), three points in the league bag after just two games.

We were on our way. We were alright, but not in the direction we were hoping to travel.

Defeats came thick and fast. Losses piled up quicker than losing dockets on the floor of Paddy Power’s office in downtown Newbridge, or Naas, or wherever.

Relegation. Incredible. We didn’t see it coming. Well not early on anyway.

Leinster Championship. A win over Laois. Nothing to be getting excited about. A win nevertheless.

However there was to be no back-to-backs. Westmeath took care of that. Even if it required extra-time. There was an inevitability about it all.

Galway away. The inevitability of it all.

Kerry at home. The inevitability of it all.

Inquest underway. Conversations have begun.

Kicked off a bit previous. Probably should never have been allowed.

Not when the team was still alive, albeit on life-support.

Manager Flanagan was not hiding his disappointment after Kerry.

Was unhappy with the comments at the county board gathering.

Understandable but there was a bit of the inevitability about it.

Grassroots have been talking of late. Rumblings have been rumbling. And not just in the last few weeks.

Mid-way through a four-season appointment.

The Lilies remain stagnant.

In the same position when the present regime came to power.

One step forward. One step back.

Manager remains committed. Fully committed. Full belief in his squad.

Some might say in disbelief. One has to say he is far from being in denial.

He has a plan. He believes. He has said it throughout the season. Work in progress.

Hard to see the progress after a season such as we have witnessed.

Still one gets the impression. This man is going nowhere. Fast.

Have no doubt there will be changes.

Changes in approach? Hopefully.

Changes in panel personnel? Undoubtedly.

Changes in the managerial set-up? Possibly.

Changes in pre-season? No doubt.

Changes aplenty.

There is an inevitability about it.

Have no doubt!