McGeeney will need a good draw

The only game which an Ulster side didn't win yesterday still brought some good cheer to the province with Kieran McGeeney's Kildare overcoming an improving Limerick in the qualifiers to book their place in the last 12.
McGeeney has had a tough season in his first year in charge with Kildare relegated in the league and beaten on their first day out in Leinster.
However, they bounced back beating Cavan with a last minute goal last week before beating Limerick yesterday by three points.
The big plus for Geezer has been the return to form of John Doyle who has been scoring for fun in the last two games.
McGeeney showed a bit of the courage he was renowned for on the field when he made switches for the Cavan game bringing in some of the successful Under 21 side and leaving out Lilywhite stalwart Anthony Rainbow.
The Armagh man is definitely looking to the future and reaching the last 12 of the championship might be just enough to ensure that he returns to serve another year in his three year reign.
I think that unless the Gods smile on Kildare in the draw they have gone as far they can this year but getting to the last 12 means that McGeeney should not be joining the managerial merry go round with the cull of county managers now in full swing as teams crash out of contention.

Geezer punctured

Watched Kieran McGeeney tonight and heart went out to him.
He took it right on the chin for the performance today although I think his players owe him big time.
Several guys simply gave up today when it didn't go their way.
McGeeney looked lost for words to explain what happened but took the heat for what was one of the most inept displays I have seen from a championship side in a while.
I know from experience in club management that there are days when you feel like going home and reaching for the revolver and a bottle of vodka.
I could never understand after a particularly bad performance how some players never seemed to let it bother them.
We lost a game one night in Antrim town where we had never been beaten before after blowing a lead and I felt like slapping a player who asked me was I going back to the club for a drink!
He seemed shocked when I said 'I don't celebrate humiliations'.
I reckon McGeeney who puts his all into anything he takes on is feeling a lot worse than that.
He is a determined intelligent man and like big Arnie he'll be back!

Micko still box office

You just have to take your hat to Micko following Wicklow's success today against Kildare.
And the win was well deserved, they played the Lilywhites off the park for large parts of the game, spurned an almost cerrtain goal chance early in the second half yet still went on to win in some style.
There have been critics of O'Dwyer's training methods over the years but his results are undeniable and one thing I will say about his teams they play good open football based around good movement, passing and the basic skills.
I was surprised by how poor Kildare were on the day.
They did miss chances which on another day might have lifted the team but Kildare looked like a team which had completely lost its way playing without confidence or any sort of self belief.
Their forwards are poor and it seemed that everyone was waiting on a moment's inspiration from John Doyle.
Wicklow on the other hand fought for everything.
They got back in numbers to defend when it was needed denying Kildare any space to operate in and when they moved forward there always seemed to be someone getting into space or making runs.
Kieran McGeeney has an uphill task to turn this round by the qualifiers.
Some of the Under 21s played well but he must be worried about the way Killian Brennan and Dermot Early looked pedestrian at times as they were completely out fought at mid field.
Kildare completely lacked the type of commitment and battle of their manager and I'm sure that McGeeney is hurting tonight at the ease with with his players seemed to collapse.
O'Dwyer now comes up against another side he managed in Leinster but Laois should be a different proposition to the poor Kildare he faced today but his presence will ensure an interest in a game which in another year wouldn't stir the heart.
He is still box office!

Micko makes for a little magic

You have to give it to Mick O'Dwyer almost 72 years of age and taking Wicklow into another Leinster campaign.
Where does he get his energy and enthusiasm?
After reading his autobiography recently Blessed and Obsessed there is no doubt he is in love with the game of Gaelic football.
While he has had much sparser material to work with in Leinster, you can never write him off and he had some great days with Kildare and Laois bringing Leinster titles to counties which hadn't even seen one passing through on the bus for a very long time.
Wicklow are in Division 4 football and as I know only too well from experience you aren't down there with my home county unless you are genuinely bad.
But that's the thing with Micko, simply because he's managing a team you can't write them off completely and the Garden County men must have got something out of their Tommy Murphy success last season.
It's ironic in a way that Micko is also up against a manager who has no championship experience as a manager in Kieran McGeeney.
Geezer has 'enjoyed' a baptism of fire with his Lilywhites coming up short in Division 1 and being relegated at the end of his first league campaign in charge.
All the pressure has to be on the former Armagh man to get a run in Leinster while O'Dwyer has nothing to lose.
You would still have to take Kildare to win given the gulf between the sides but Kildare lack firepower and O'Dwyer has come up with the goods throughout his life.
Certainly makes for a bit of interest in what otherwise would be regarded as a shoe in for Kildare.

Football manager who needs it?

Who would be a football manager?
Last year Sligo won the Connacht championship for the first time since 1975, this season under a new manager Tommy Jordan they have been relegated to Division 4.
It must be a nightmare for Jordan, no new manager sets out to get relegated, ask Kieran McGeeney who has started his term in office with Kildare on the way down.
However, Jordan is climbing a mountain as a defeat in the first round of the Connacht championship against Mayo who have been motoring well, then Sligo will be immediately condemned to the Tommy Murphy a fate worse than death.
No one needs to tell Jordan how big a task he has ahead but to top off what has been a bad week for Sligo football, he has been given a vote of confidence by the county chairman.
Wonder what odds I would get at the bookies that Jordan will not be in charge next season unless Mayo are rolled over.

Tough at the top for McGeeney

Football manangement is a tough old game as Armagh captain Kieran McGeeney is finding out down in Kildare.
A late point by Laois' Beano McDonald, who had just returned from injury, sent McGeeney's side out of Division One at the weekend.
Now defender Brian Flanagan has been ruled out of the Lilywhites' championship match with Mick O'Dwyer's Wicklow on May 18.
McGeeney has had a baptism of fire.
Although his side played credibly in the top flight the Lilywhites are no longer a serious contender for honours in the championship.
There is also the little matter of former county captain and Kildare legend Glen Ryan enjoying some success at the moment with the county's Under 21 side.
All of this will put further pressure on McGeeney as he faces into his first championship outing against the man who took Kildare to an All Ireland with Ryan as his captain.