In it to win it, Bolton targets sustained Tailteann Cup challenge for Kildare

He may be one of the new kids on the block but after two years involved with the Kildare senior panel, former U20 star, Callum Bolton, is now seen as one of the leaders on Brian Flanagan’s squad as evidenced by his attendance to represent the Lilywhites at the Launch of the 2025 Tailteann Cup in Croke Park on Tuesday.

Speaking to the Kildare Nationalist at the Launch the Sarsfields man said he believed that Kildare are in a good place as they face into their second Tailteann Cup campaign, the Group Stages of which begins with a home game against Leitrim in Cedral St Conleth’s Park on Saturday evening at 5pm and continues with an away game with Tipperary before concluding with a game against Sligo at a neutral venue.

“I think we're in a good place overall, given our goals at the start of year. We aimed for promotion and we got that. The League Final was almost a bonus; we didn't achieve that but it wasn't the end of the world. Given our performances in the Westmeath and Louth games I think we're in a very good place regardless of the results and where we stand for next few months”.

The classy midfielder believes that Brian Flanagan’s squad can take learnings from the two defeats to Offaly in the Alliance League and Louth in the Leinster Football Championship semi-final.

“There are massive learnings from every game you lose, especially with the Louth and Offaly games,” he told us. 

“I suppose in the last five minutes in the Louth game it was a draw game and we were definitely up there and ready to win the match. We just didn't pull it through in the end. Maybe that's down to inexperience, maybe that's down to just getting used to getting used to the new team and the new setup and everything,” he explained.

“It fills us all the confidence given that we know we're right up there with the top teams and should have a great chance being in the Leinster Final next year,” he added.

How does he assess his team’s opponents in the 2025 Tailteann Cup 2025 Group Stages, Leitrim, Tipperary and Sligo, we wondered? 

“We played Leitrim last year but I supposed they have a very different squad now. Sligo gave us a good game in the League and, look, Tipp are no team to be walked over either. It's a good group and it's a tough group,” he opined. “We'll be definitely looking to get minutes into everyone in the three games and take a lot of learnings as we have. It'll be great preparation for the games coming up and, I suppose, as a setup we will be raring to go for it,” he promised.

In relation to his team’s ambitions for the Tailteann Cup of 2025, Callum Bolton had this to say, “I say 100% looking to win it. There's no doubt in my mind that we won't win it. We have to set those goals at the start the campaign and we have to achieve them and we're doing everything we can to do it,” he said. 

“Obviously there is silverware involved and the main goal is to get that Sam Maguire qualification for next year so that's a real good motivator for us and we have our eyes on that,” the Kildare midfielder emphasised.

The Sarsfields man went straight out of the U20 grade to senior level but he is enjoying his time with that senior set up. 

“It's brilliant,” he enthused. 

“It's my second full year in now. Brian (Flanagan) and all the setup together are brilliant. We've a great group of lads there, we've lads that are great friends and there are lads that are still getting to know each other. We have really gelled this group. The Backroom Team and the S&C, everything has just been brilliant and Flanno (Brian Flanagan) has done a great job on that and you can see the work going on behind the scenes coming out on the pitch.” 

Although there’s been no silverware as yet this year for Callum Bolton it has been a reasonably successful one so far for the Sarsfields man with an appearance in the Sigerson Cup Final with UCD, promotion to Division 2 and an appearance in the Division 3 League Final and a Leinster SFC semi-final with Kildare. Is the more to come, we asked in conclusion? 

“Hopefully,” he quickly retorted. 

“It's down to the kind of the teams I have been on. I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with UCD, involved in such a good team like Kildare. We've had great campaigns. All I can do is what is best for the team.”