Mac Lochlainn puts trust in Lilywhites’ attacking options

Kildare corner-back Aindriú Mac Lochlainn has hit out at critics of his county’s attack. Despite scoring 0-19 in their opening victory against Offaly, it was The Sunday Game in particular that complained about a lack of killer instinct and an inability to get goals.

“I find it a bit farcical. I don’t know what games they’re watching,” said Mac Lochlainn. “I can nearly say that every player, including those that don’t start, they’re the most natural, hard-working of forwards. Lads can take frees off the ground and out of their hands, with both feet, lads are willing to work hard, to make runs for other players. I don’t know where it comes from, genuinely I don’t.”

Mac Lochlainn’s frustration is supported by the stats. Between 2009 and the Offaly game, his county appeared in 21 championship matches, scoring 23 goals, a figure not skewed by any rout. Across 2009 and 2010, they averaged 1.2 goals and 15 points per game, or 18.6 per championship outing, which made them the highest scoring team in the country.