Sweeney keen to make up for lost time
While Kildare lost to Galway in the penultimate round in 2000, Sweeney thought he would have plenty of opportunities to get to a final.
Years of frustration have followed but the 29-year-old is back where he wants to be, even though he is likely to make his contribution as a substitute, despite some good performances this year.
The Moorefield man admits that the Lilies just weren’t good enough until now to make a concerted challenge.
“Every year I’ve played I’ve been trying to get here and it hasn’t worked that way apart from my first year on the panel, which was 10 years ago” said Sweeney.
“It’s obviously very hard to get to it. We realise that and we’re going to try everything to go one step further. You wouldn’t come back if you didn’t think you could contest these sort of games. You always think you can.
“Looking back from where we were to where we are now, we probably weren’t really up to scratch. Even though you think you are, we probably weren’t.
“We’re in a great position now to kick on now. I’m sure every team left in the competition think they’ve a right chance and we’re no different.”
Sweeney began the year as a certain starter but was one of many to suffer against Louth and was dropped.
Although he won back his place after a brilliant display off the bench in the drawn encounter against Antrim, he lost it subsequently following the qualifier victory against Derry. The development of former U21 star Eoghan O’Flaherty means he must bide his time on the bench.
“You’d like to be playing from the start but I trust the management team with all my heart. Whatever they say is right for the team is right for the team. I’m just happy to be able to come on, to get the chances. When you look at the sideline, and the lads on the bench beside you, there’s some super footballers. To get in ahead of them is a big achievement.”
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