Getting kickouts right could be key for Kildare

For those of us sceptical about the stock placed by managers in league performances when championship rolls around, we need only look at Kildare this weekend.

Shane Connolly was one of the better goalkeepers in the last few championship seasons, but when Kildare got cleaned out in their league clash with Dublin at Croke Park in March, his time was up. It mattered little Kildare’s outfield players never really contested any of his kickouts in the second half, Connolly has paid a high price for not being able to vary his game to stem the Dublin dominance around the middle.

Six days later against Mayo, Kildare had U21 goalkeeper Mark Donnellan as number one choice and while Connolly retains the respect of management, Donnellan kickouts are more varied and more accurate. League lessons have been informing championship selections.