‘The Kerry team are a phenomenal bunch of lads’ says Kildare boss

KILDARE manager Davy Burke has been a huge admirer of the talent coming through Kerry’s underage structure in recent years, and knows there’s a tough task ahead against the Kingdom in Saturday’s Eirgrid All-Ireland Under 20 Football semi-final.

Fresh from a comfortable win over Dublin, after a testing start last Friday in the Leinster decider, in Tullamore it’s about quickly refocussing the minds to face Kerry this Saturday at the Gaelic Grounds.

There’s no doubt the Lilywhites enjoyed their provincial win in the maiden year of this competition. Instagram stories showing the celebrations continuing long into the night, with many heading asleep at 6am; but once Sunday morning hit those celebrations were put to bed – with a strong focus on keeping the journey going this weekend.

“These are a great bunch of lads since we began training on January 2,” Burke said.

“I’ve been very lucky that these lads are really good footballers, naturally talented footballers, and we’ve maybe added a slight bit of structure to them and added a small bit of honesty, hard work and emphasis on the tackle. You could see that against Dublin, they were ravenous in the tackle.

“It’s going to be our fifth week on the bounce. We’ve absolutely no excuses. We came through again against Dublin unscathed. We lost Stephen Comerford in the semi-final against Offaly to a dead-leg, but he will be a fresh player for us next weekend.

“That Kerry team are a phenomenal bunch of lads. What is it three or four Minor All-Ireland’s in-a-row? They are all still there. Jack O’Connor a top-class manager also and the amount of All-Ireland’s he has.

We are working hard every day and Kerry are a phenomenal outfit.

We will turn up and be good and honest like we always are.”

There’s no doubt but the Lilywhites have been on a crest of a wave recently. Since crashing out of the Leinster Senior Championship to Carlow it’s been a case of #KildareRising rather than their opponents that day, with Cian O’Neill’s side now facing into the Super 8s.

The Senior and Minor hurlers and Junior Footballers have both claimed Championship silverware this

Summer – the

Under 21 hurlers face Kerry also this Saturday in Limerick, while the minor footballers are aiming to reach a Leinster final tonight [Wednesday] – taking on Wicklow in a replay

Heady times for GAA in the Shortgrass County, and this momentum is certainly rubbing off on all concerned.

“There’s a massive buzz in Kildare,” Burke said.

“Make no bones about it, that win for the Seniors against Mayo and the Newbridge or nowhere thing – it means a huge amount to us as proud Kildare people. From what I was told Newbridge against Mayo was something people will remember for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately I was in Navan watching Dublin playing Meath and I missed that one.

“It’s down to the administrators like Ger Donnelly [Kildare Chairman] – across the board the coaches and the GDAs are giving us great support. Pádraig Carbury is also on a good run with his minor team. They are doing great work in Kildare and you can see it reflected in the results at the minute.”

Burke’s viewings of Kerry have been confined to TG4 so far and he’s been impressed with what he’s seen.

“I seen them in the Munster final against Cork on T G 4, as we were playing our semi-final at the same time. Unfortunately I won’t get to see them live now, but we will watch the DVDs and analyse them.

“Kerry are there, Kerry will play and it’s come play us, come meet us! That’s what we will intend to do. We’ll just take it one step at a time. We’ll let Mayo and Derry go at each other on the other side and turn our attention and focus to Kerry next week.

“It’s a massive challenge and a very formidable side, but we’ve knuckled down and we’ll have a right crack

at it.”