Injuries a concern for Daniels after one sided win

Sallins have gotten used to winning comfortably enough in their march through Kildare, but Saturday’s hammering of Carlow’s Grange was a new level again and their manager, Blessington native Jonathan Daniels had some sympathy for his opponents, while acknowledging that bar sizing up his squad depth, there was very little for him to learn from the one-sided encounter.

“Tough on Grange coming over today after playing a county final last Sunday and haven’t to turn around six days later to come to Newbridge to play. I said to the boys before the game that we gave every team (all year) the same respect, we gave Grange the exact same respect today as well and I think that consistency of how we’re playing at the moment would make you happy but we just move on now, we’ve got a huge challenge in two weeks’ time.” 

In terms of squad depth, he was pleased with the opportunity to give some unheralded panel members some game time, and they didn’t let him down.

“You could see the boys that came in are well able to play at this level. Depth isn’t just for now it’s for the future as well. It’s to reward lads who are trailing really hard. You’d see them Thursday night in the wind and rain. Boys that haven’t played championship out in the rain pushing the boys that have. If you can reward those boys, it’s important for them but it’s also important for squad depth.” 

Lorcan McKenna was an impressive newcomer off the bench while Daniels also singled out Seán Conway for praise.

“It is like for like, Seán Conway came in around the middle as well. He won the first or second kickout when he came in as well. We’re just trying to build that squad depth. We’ve got a really good group of lads. They’re young, they’re under-23, they’ve got a competition coming up next week as well, we’ve got to manage as well. But we want to manage both. We want to make sure we give every competition the respect it deserves, and it will be game time for boys on the panel next week.” 

The only collateral damage on the day was on the injury front.

“Luke Kelly came off with a head injury. We would be really concerned with that. Daragh Mangan came off with a hamstring injury, that wasn’t a tactical decision. Both of them would be huge concerns. Colm Dalton should be fine, he got a head knock, so we’ll just have to see how he is during the week.” 

Looking ahead he is wary of the next challenge away to Meath’s Kilbride.

“Any Meath team is going to be very well drilled; it’s going to be a good side. Any team that wins down in Meath, you’re probably going to win the hard way, so no matter what Meath venue it’s going to be tough, but we’ll prepare ourselves as best as possible.”