Kildare’s apparent inability to turn underage success into senior success was lamented at last week’s county board meeting.

The Lilywhites have enjoyed many notable underage wins in recent years and last month completed a Leinster U20 and minor championship double but, much to their frustration, this success hasn’t manifested itself at senior level.  

“As supporters we have given the team a chance, but it is not working,” Kilcock delegate Brendan Nurney is reported as saying by Kildare Live.

“Am I missing something here? Am I the only one that can see this is not working?

"Brian Flanagan has been in the manager’s role for just two years now; we have gone from Division 3, to Division 2 and now back to Division 3 again. Maybe I’m the only one that sees this is not working, at present, but it is simply not working."

Rathcoffey’s John Flood added: “I asked at a county board meeting some 10 years ago, ‘was all the talented footballers born in other counties rather than in Kildare’. There are as many talented footballers born in Kildare as anywhere else, but what happens them?’

“Did Westmeath get lucky in getting a good manager, because they weren’t so good last year. I have a dream that I might see Kildare winning an All-Ireland, but I am running out of time.

“The transition between minor and U20 to senior seems to be where it is all falling down. If it takes a high-powered committee to get the right person so be it, set it up, Louth got the right person, Westmeath got the right person, Donegal have the right person; they are no better footballers than us but we have to ask the question why.”

County chairman Mick Mullen promised an end-of-year review, but urged clubs to get behind Brian Flanagan’s men in the meantime. Kildare host All-Ireland champions Kerry in a do-or-die clash at Cedral St Conleth’s Park on Saturday.

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