Hurlers need to bounce back
David Qualter's frees have been hugely important for Kildare Photo: Sean Brilly
Where to now for Kildare hurling? Last week’s preview of the crucial Kerry opener may have seemed harsh to some, in which we asked whether Kildare were ready to make the step up to ‘senior hurling.’ A sliding doors moment we called that one, a huge opportunity for the Lilywhites to record their first ever McDonagh Cup win against a team they destroyed by seventeen points in the League.
But no, unfortunately the hurlers are beginning to take on traits the footballers have been renowned for over the years and the manner of their late collapse to the Kingdom was resonant, though perhaps less dramatic, of their second half no-show against Down in the League final.
The stakes and quality of opposition go up over the next few weeks, though Saturday’s opponents Westmeath appear to have slid into something of a transition period after finishing bottom of Division 1B of the Allianz League. Kildare passed them on the way up. Westmeath did beat Carlow to remove the duck-egg from their league record but that was in Round Seven with Carlow already safe.
The Lake County were comfortably beaten by Laois last weekend and from talking to some of their local media they don’t have particularly high hopes for this campaign.
In theory, then, opportunity knocks again for Kildare, and perhaps they will have learned enough from the Kerry defeat to rise again. They’ll need to raise their standards considerably and their inside forward line in particular will need to find their form. You can’t operate with the likes of Jack Sheridan and James Burke held scoreless and hope to excel at this level.
It’s a question of pride and desire now. Hopefully Kildare have it.
