MAL: IT WASN’T ON OUR MINDS

MALACHY O’ROURKE played down the significance of finally winning a ‘last eight’ All-ireland match.

Monaghan had previously lost four quarter-final clashes under O’rourke.

But the Farney boss (above) said: “That was never a big factor with the boys.

“The four quarterfinals we lost, twice we went in as Ulster champions against Tyrone who were waiting for us and twice we lost to Dublin who are at the height of their powers.

“People have made more of that than it ever meant to us.

“Some of our best football has been played in Croke Park, in the National League at times.

“The boys actually like playing at Croke Park. We have no fear of it at all.”

O’rourke praised the character of his side, who prevailed in wet and slippery conditions.

He said: “It was a very difficult day for playing football. After conceding an early goal we responded really well even though there were elements of our play that we’d want to tidy up.

“In the second-half, we coughed up a wee bit of ball, we weren’t clinical enough.

“Kildare got back level but the boys showed a lot of courage to kick a couple of points late on to get us through.”

Next up is Kerry in Clones next Sunday, a glamour game with all the Championship trimmings.

O’rourke said: “No doubt we’ll have to play the best football we’ve played all year, so that’s a big challenge. We’ll try to address that during the week.”