Kildare manager Jason Ryan expects yesterday's close O'Byrne Cup final encounter with Dublin to stand them in good-stead ahead of their Allianz Football League Division 2 campaign.

The Lilywhites put Dublin to the pin of their collar in Newbridge but finished up on the wrong end of the 0-24 to 0-19 scoreline after extra-time.

"We were very disappointed with losing, no one enters any game hoping to lose or what not," Ryan remarked at the launch of the Allianz Football Leagues in Croke Park today.

"We certainly went into it hopeful of getting a positive result but we really needed a competitive game. We didn't really have to be at our best to come through with victories so that game against Dublin was a real test for us. Please God, it will turn out to be good preparation for our Down game on Sunday."

Kildare will be looking to hit the ground running in Division 2 and their manager revealed that their lengthy injury list is clearing up just in time.

"Thankfully none of the injuries seem to be so serious that they're going to miss the entire National League. We'd be hopeful that the majority of the panel will get a taste of the action during the National League.

"It's a bit of a contrast on last year where we had five, six or seven guys who didn't really participate at all in the League and it definitely hindered our progression in the championship and also was, I suppose, a big factor in our relegation from Division 1."

Momentum will be key, according to the Lilywhites boss, as he looked ahead to the summer time.

"In any sport, whether it be team or individual sports, momentum is so important. That allows you to build on things that worked and continue them.

"If you can win games and learn some things along the way that weren't working it's great because unfortunately when you do lose games you can become overly analytical and get a bit carried away with it.

"Kildare is certainly a county where expectations rise very quickly. If you lose one or two games all of  a sudden it can be overly dramatic at times."

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