Kildare not left looking back in anger after Leinster success
Kildare U20 manager Niall Cronin Photo: ©INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon
The lyrics to the Oasis song belted out of the Kildare dressing room but for once, as Niall Cronin came out to meet the Kildare media, he wasn’t left looking back in anger.
Kildare teams through have been on the wrong end of the results in too many big games down through the years.
Niall Cronin has suffered more than most.
In four years as Kildare minor manager he lost two Leinster finals and two semi-finals. That hurt somebody who pours his heart and soul into trying to develop young players for Kildare GAA. He might have thought his day would never come to lead Kildare to provincial glory. When his day in the sun on Wednesday evening finally arrived he was quick to pass the praise on to the players and his backroom team.
“I only facilitate this group,” said Cronin.
“The lads in there have put in ferocious work on the training pitch in terms of analysis, in terms of preparation, in terms of planning, in terms of strength and conditioning. There's no shortage of time that these lads are putting in. I'm delighted but I just love Kildare GAA, I love Kildare, I love being from this county and if I can give anything back I will. It's been an honour to be in this position for five years with the minors and going on to the 20s.
“I knew I was never going to wear a white jersey so from a young age I probably took a liking to management and managers and I was fascinated with management in general but it's the group of lads that I have with me that have really gone to another level this year. I'm delighted for them, absolutely delighted for them,” said Cronin.
Kildare u20 Leinster Champions pic.twitter.com/wQVq2KEnZp
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Many of the players on the field shared those disappointments with Cronin during their time as minors but they kept coming back for more so Cronin was thrilled that they final got their reward.
“Obviously I'm biased but if ever a group deserved that, they did.
“The last couple of years a lot of those lads have gone through a lot of hardship by fine margins. Maybe at times here tonight it looked like it was going to be a case of déjà vu again but look the resilience, they've shown that all year really. Knock after knock,” said Cronin, who then referenced the injured players not able to make the squad.
“Obviously TJ (Nolan) is the big one. Joey (Cunningham), Donnacha Kinch, Senan Murphy. This group is very different to the group three years ago at a minor level. They've kept that determination, kept that resilience and I'm really, really, really happy for them. Hopefully it's only the start for them,” he added.
After such a team display, the manager was rightfully reluctant to single out individuals but he couldn’t help but heap praise on man of the match Ronan Kelly, who has combined leading the Kildare attack with studying for his Leaving Cert.
“I think we have maybe eight or nine under 18s and under 19s. Lads starting are underage again next year, and then lads coming in as well. There’s a good few Leaving Cert students and I know Colm (Moran) has a college exam in the morning as well, and he's obviously had a very busy time of things the last few weeks.
“I think there's a good balance in that all, parents mightn't like me saying that but I do think you know there is a release in coming into an environment that gets you away from that as long as you can balance it. The mentality these lads have I've no doubt they're balancing it and they're doing all that we're asking of them,” said Cronin.
While forward stars like Kelly, Moran and Jimmy Lynch grab most of the headlines there was some heroic defending too. None more than deep in injury time when Kildare were defending a one point lead and Liam Kelly made a superb block before Rob Murray won a free by bravely going down on the loose ball. Earlier in the half, Ben Ryan produced a stunning block to save a certain point. It was those moments as much as any score that won the game.
“The scores are going to get the headlines, they always do but when you have the firepower that Louth have, you have to stop that come hell or high water and the boys were prepared to do that and throw their bodies on the line in the last few minutes when the stakes are high,” said Cronin.
With an All-Ireland semi-final to come next Wednesday evening there won’t be too much time for back slapping before preparations begin again.
“It is hard because we will have to get studying now on Tyrone fairly quickly. We played them earlier on in the year, the same day as the National League game for the seniors, and there's no coincidence they came out of Ulster, and that's no easy task at any level in any year. There's a lot of work to be done in the next few evenings, it is a pity it's a seven day turnaround but if you offered me a seven day turnaround and to be playing Tyrone at 8am this morning, I’d have taken hand and all off you,” said Cronin.
The music inside in the dressing room had moved on to the dance classics Freed From Desire and Music Sounds Better With You but it was the Oasis lyrics that lingered in the mind as the joyful Cronin wrapped up his media duties before heading back inside to be with his players.
