Kildare manager Cian O'Neill heaped praised on his players following last night's memorable 0-21 to 0-19 All-Ireland SFC qualifier victory over Mayo.

"I'm thrilled for the players," the Lilywhites boss outlined to RTÉ Sport shortly after the final whistle was sounded in Newbridge.

"These guys have been through a lot this year. Everyone of them, everyone of us.

"But we never stopped working hard. Even when we got the big blow in Tullamore a few weeks back, it knocked us but the lads just got back to work very soon after.

"To do what they did in Derry and then Longford and then come here today against a brilliant Mayo team and management team.

"It was an unbelievable battle. We stuck to our guns and stuck to our game plan and I'm just delighted that the lads held out in the end.

"This was always about the players. It was never about anything else and by Jesus they deserve it."

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