Consolidating their place in Division 1 is the main target for Kildare boss Cian O'Neill as the countdown to the start of this year's Allianz Football Leagues gathers momentum.

The Lilywhites secured promotion to the top flight 12 months ago and will make the short trip to Croke Park to take on holders Dublin on the opening weekend.

"You have a very passionate, demanding Kildare fan base for a county that has had very little success in the last 90 years," O'Neill remarked in conversation with The Irish Independent at yesterday's launch of the 2018 Allianz Football Leagues. "But they love their football and they love being at matches and shouting the team on.

"But to maintain our position in Division 1, to show that we can compete with those teams - I don't think we're at the level yet where we can say we should be in Division 1 finals. I'm not saying that's unattainable either. But you have to be realistic.

"It would be nice to maintain that. And the players would grow in confidence then, because they have been able to compete then (on) two, three, four days out of seven with the top teams."

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