McGeeney keen to stay on

Kieran McGeeney is keen on staying on as Kildare manager for a seventh season next year.

It’s likely the decision will be his own as there doesn’t appear to be a groundswell of opposition to him continuing in the role despite the defeat by Tyrone, their earliest departure from the Championship in his six-year reign.

Speaking about making the breakthrough, he said: “It’s not easy, but even in our own days it took playing 10 years for Armagh before you won anything. It was just before you were ready to quit when things seemed to change.

“Things can change in a heartbeat and you can go on to win a few things. It’s about keeping knocking on the door and never giving up. That’s what sport’s about.”

McGeeney indicated he is prepared for another stab at Championship silverware.

“You prepare yourself for victory – that’s what sports people do. That’s why victory is an anti-climax for most athletes because they prepare for it. That’s why defeat is down there somewhere – we find it hard to deal with.

“You don’t prepare for that, you don’t get ready for it, you don’t even think about it and when it comes it cuts the legs from underneath you. It’s hard to take but that’s sport. You lift yourself up, dust yourself down and try to go again.

“I’m obviously very disappointed and I’m more disappointed for the fellas. They put in huge effort, we made a lot of changes this year with a lot of young fellas coming in and that had to happen for the team.

“ On days like today it’s hard for the senior players. You’d like to see them winning those kinds of titles, but it seems to be eluding them.”

Veteran Johnny Doyle, though not drawn on his own future, said the Armagh man has to be kept in place as manager.

“I think it’s imperative that the management led by Kieran stay on. I can’t overstate how much Kieran has done for this county. He puts his life into it and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you see success at underage because Kieran drives the whole thing.”