Rainbow: We’re ready to rock
That’s the message from former Lilywhite Anthony Rainbow as the county face into a Leinster semi-final against a Dublin side that has won six of the last nine provincial titles.
McGeeney is halfway through his fourth Kildare season but has nothing to show for it, despite the spell being regarded a success.
Both the manager and his players have spoken about ending that run this year but Rainbow, who only retired last August after an incredible 18 seasons, won’t be too perturbed if they don’t.
“I don’t think there really is an onus on silverware,” remarked Rainbow. “There’s always ambition there to win a Leinster title or an All-Ireland title and the way this team has progressed over the last three or four years it’s important what Kieran has done.
“If you look back to Kildare before he came in, I think we had won two or three qualifiers in that five or six-year period beforehand.
“Now we haven’t lost a qualifying game and the conditioning and speed he has got into the players and the way he has them playing is a credit to him and his management team.”
Rainbow, though, is adamant McGeeney is “on the verge of something very good” with Kildare.
“We haven’t beaten a Cork or Tyrone over the last three or four years and this could be the year, that we will possibly start with Dublin on Sunday,” suggested Rainbow.
“The team has grown in belief over the last few years and that’s getting stronger and stronger each year. That goes down to what Kieran has instilled in the players.
“Dublin would be in the top three or four and I guarantee Kildare aren’t that far off. A lot of people seem to forget we were in an All-Ireland semi-final last year and a quarter-final the two years before that. Not too many teams in the country can boast that.”
The Suncroft man also gets the impression McGeeney won’t leave Kildare until they achieve something big.
“I think Kieran has built up a very, very good side there over the past three or four years and he won’t want to let that side go either, he’s put too much time and effort into this team.”
Rainbow acknowledges there is huge positivity around the team right now. Given the close connections he maintains with the camp, he’s not afraid to indulge in some of it either.
Asked about whether Kildare have moved on from last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Down, he said: “I think we have. In our first year with Kieran, we got to an All-Ireland quarter-final and last year we got to a semi-final so who is to say we won’t get to an All-Ireland final this year and even win it?
“You can see that progress and mental strength getting better and better every year.”
Rainbow doesn’t buy into the idea Kildare could mistake Sunday’s semi-final as the real Leinster decider.
“No, I don’t think that will happen to Kildare. This team is a well focused side and if we do beat Dublin on Sunday then they’ll concentrate on the next team, whether it’s Carlow or Wexford.”
Rainbow’s also an advocate of John Doyle remaining in his central role where he has been named for Sunday.
“John Doyle has been a revelation in midfield over the last two games, so why change him? It’s not up to me, it’s Kieran’s choice, but Johnny’s been playing super stuff at the moment and he seems to love the freedom of that centre field role he’s been playing.
“He finds space better than any other player playing in that position at the moment.
“To be honest, I can’t really see them moving him from midfield for Sunday’s game.”
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