Kildare's Robinson catches the eye for New York

Kildare GAA supporters watching on as New York took on Galway on Sunday evening in the opening round of the Connacht Championship would have been forgiven for wondering what might have been.

Although Galway recorded a comfortable win in the end, the nippy New York number 13 caught the eye on more than one occasion.

He was of course Clogherinkoe clubman Jack Robinson, and he ended the game with five points.

While a number of key Kildare forwards like Darragh Kirwan, Ben McCormack, Jimmy Hyland and Daniel Flynn have missed large chunks of the season so far, here was Robinson looking fit and sharp and causing one of the genuine All-Ireland contenders all sorts of problems.

Kildare manager Brian Flanagan spoke to Robinson, along with other Kildare players out of the country, when he took over the job and it is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility that we see Robinson in a white jersey again but for the moment life has handed him the great opportunity of living in, and playing football for, New York.

Before any talk of whether or not he returns to the Kildare set up next year or beyond, Robinson could even up playing against his native county. New York have a passage through to the Tailteann Cup knockout stages and their next Championship game will be in Ireland in June.

Kildare, who begin their Leinster Championship against Westmeath in Cedral St Conleths Park on Saturday evening, still have hopes of avoiding the Tailteann Cup but will have to reach a provincial decider to do so.