Hurlers need to bounce back fast

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2A Kildare v Kerry Sunday, February 18 Newbridge, 2pm

IT would be most unwise for anybody to ever underestimate Kildare.

John Meyler’s second coming in the Kingdom hot-seat ended with a defeat in Newbridge and Eamonn Kelly’s first attempt at winning the Christy Ring Cup in 2014 ended with a shock defeat in the final to the same opposition (4-18 to 2-22).

Whatever about anything else Kildare simply don’t fear the Kingdom. Kerry may be considered the more heavyweight of the pair – and not just because of their All Ireland success of 1891 – but that hasn’t stopped Kildare from inflicting costly defeats on the green and gold in the last decade.

If Kerry aren’t nervous about their trip to St Conleth’s Park this weekend then they really should be. Kildare have more than enough about them to inflict a second defeat in as many rounds upon Fintan O’Connor’s men.

Kildare may have suffered a pair of defeats in their opening fixtures, but they were accompanied by relatively encouraging performances. They would have been disappointed to have lost to freshly promoted Meath at home in their first game, but they were competitive in that game for long stretches.

Despite finishing with fourteen men and despite missing a number of crucial frees, a penalty goal for Meath’s Jack Regan stood between them and a share of the spoils – it was 1-16 to 0-16 at the finish.

Then in their second game they performed creditably against the division’s favourites for promotion – Westmeath – away from home. In Mullingar Joe Quaid’s men stayed competitive throughout with a battling performance.

A goal by Martin Fitzgerald in the first half kept then in touch at the break – 1-10 to 1-6 – and a goal in the second half by Shane Ryan brought them to within in a point of their hosts with twenty five minutes to go. A six point defeat – 1-20 to 2-11– all things considered, was none too shabby.

Kildare’s standing in the league table at this point – zero points from two games played – probably says more about who they’ve had to play than how they’ve played. Had they played London – as Kerry have – they too would have points on the board.

Kerry’s defeat to Carlow, coming so soon after the thumping great victory they had over London, is a major reality check for a young squad. It all looked so rosy in the wake of those victories over London and Cork.

Did complacency play a part in the defeat to Carlow? Possibly it did and maybe it’s better that it did as complacency can easily be rectified. Other questions were raised about Kerry’s physicality after the defeat to a sturdy Carlow side and those issues will be that much harder to overcome.

The potential – even likely – return to the fold of Mikey Boyle this weekend should boost Kerry in that regard, but on the flip side Kerry could be without some of their more physically imposing players.

Tom Murnane is doubtful, as are midfield pair Brandon Barrett and Dáithí Griffin. Now not all of those players will miss out – Murnane is being given a fifty percent chance of featuring – but it will make it that much harder for Kerry to get what they need to out of the game.

Kerry are a relatively inexperienced side with a large number of younger players being given their head. Set-backs are inevitable and understandable. There is quality there – we’ve seen it after all – it’s just about getting it out on a consistent basis.

Kerry have little choice this weekend but to bounce back. If they don’t they can kiss their chances of promotion goodbye even at this early stage. A victory over Carlow would have put them in a great position to push for promotion. Defeat, meanwhile, has left them vulnerable.

It’s not a position anybody with an interest in Kerry hurling would have hoped for before the Carlow match, but it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. It’s in games like these we really get to see the mettle of side. If this young side can turn it around for the trip to Newbridge then they really can make a renewed push for promotion.

Kildare are probably favourites for this game – Newbridge isn’t an easy place to go, it’s that most clichéd of things, a tight ground where the home team has the capacity to impose themselves on their opposition.

If Kildare can dominate physically then Kerry will find it very hard to get something out of this game. That said necessity is the mother of all invention. Kerry desperately need to get something out of this game and it wasn’t that long ago that they were playing some very impressive stuff.

Get back to that level and they can triumph this weekend. It won’t be easy, but under Fintan O’Connor Kerry have proven more than capable of putting in big performances when their backs are to the wall.

The potential – even likely – return of Mikey Boyle this weekend should boost Kerry in that regard

Verdict: Kildare