'We learned a lot from today with some positions' - Kildare ladies manager

Kildare ladies football manager Pat Sullivan identified Galway’s second goal ahead of the half-time whistle as a sucker punch blow to his team’s chances in Tuam Stadium.

“Overall disappointed with the result obviously, but you have to realise as well where you're coming from and who you're playing as well,” said Sullivan after Kildare's 3-12 to 1-7 loss to Galway on Sunday.

“Galway are a super, super side. They’ve been in the last couple of (All-Ireland) semi-finals, final there two years ago as well. They had no business being in Division 2 last year.

“We learned a lot from today with some positions, and some parts of that game we played really, really well. Probably one of the Achilles Heels in our downfall today was giving up our own possession in vital areas of the field, especially in the middle third, and we got punished. That's what happens in Division 1.

“We conceded a sloppy goal, and the goal just before half-time was a killer because we’d just got back into the game. There was only a score and a point in it and all of a sudden the game was 2-6 to 0-4 points, so it was a different perspective completely going into half-time.” Sullivan ran the rule over 23 players against Galway. Two of his subs were involved in Kildare’s goal, Mayah Doyle being fouled to allow Alannah Prizeman convert from the spot in the second half.

“In fairness, we got good momentum off our bench as which is positive for us, and other players put their hand up as well,” offered Sullivan.

“Mayah is a very young girl who's come out u20 last year, so a good talent to have come through. We're trying to blood her, get her the experience and she's learning. She's played the last three games now and is really, really learning. Aoife Murnane inside in the corner there trying to learn her trade as well.

“We're trying to blood players. The bigger point here is a Leinster Championship that we're looking ahead to. Obviously from a priority point of view, we have to make sure we stay in Division 1, so you're trying to pick up your points on the way and blood players and give them an opportunity.” 

Kildare will be in Dublin next in what is a clash of two sides at the bottom of the Division 1 table. Kildare picked up a point against Cork in round one, before losing to Armagh. The Dubs have yet to register a point after defeats to Kerry, Meath and Waterford.

“We have a massive game coming now against Dublin. They're getting players back as well from where they would have been a couple of weeks ago so they're getting stronger,” said Sullivan of Kildare’s round four game with their Leinster rivals.

“We know we have a challenge in two weeks' time but look, we'll get ready for it. We have a nice block of two weeks now to work and work on a couple of teams and get players together, so it’s great.

“It's hard week after week. There are a lot of college games going on as well and a lot of these players are playing Thursday night again in college, so just minding the load is the hardest part. We have to just look where we are by tonight and move on next week.”