McGeeney enjoying learning curve

ONE year older in management and hopefully wiser; that’s how former Armagh great Kieran McGeeney sees himself ahead of his second Leinster championship at the helm of the Kildare footballers.

And, while there’s no limit to his ambitions, the realist in him puts him on guard ahead of tomorrow’s clash in Portlaoise (4pm), all the more so on having become acquainted with Offaly’s perceived sense of superiority over their near neighbours. From a team perspective, McGeeney was ‘happy enough’ with the way things turned out in the qualifier series last year after their shock defeat to Wicklow. The side went all the way to an All-Ireland quarter-final with Cork following wins over Cavan, Limerick and Fermanagh – the furthest since Mick O’Dwyer brought them to the final in 1998. But personally, it was a different matter.

“It was a new thing for me. I’m only a year there. The longer you put your heart into something, the more it means to you – so, a defeat this year would probably be harder to take than last year,” he said.