Kildare clubs turn back on McGeeney

Kildare clubs have sensationally voted against re-instating Kieran McGeeney as manager of their senior football team at their county board meeting last night.

Despite pleas from the playing squad and the county board, the clubs decided to seek an alternative management team by a solitary vote, 29 to 28.

McGeeney has been in charge of Kildare since 2008 and led the county to five successive All-Ireland quarter-finals before that run was halted with a defeat to Tyrone in the qualifiers this summer.

The former All-Ireland winning captain had revived the footballing fortunes of the county but a lack of silverware was a stick often used to beat him with. He reached one Leinster final, in 2009, but lost to Dublin. Kildare reached an All-Ireland semi-final the following year but lost narrowly to Down.

McGeeney also re-established the county as a Division 1 team this year, as well as leading the under 21’s to a Leinster title.

However, that wasn’t enough for the clubs of Kildare and there were growing murmurs of dissatisfaction in the build-up to meeting. Indeed, there was such a fear of a heated debate showing the county in a bad light that local media were asked to leave the meeting before the matter was discussed.

Delegates talked over the issue for over an hour and a half before being asked to vote. That vote ultimately went against McGeeney and Kildare will now begin their search for their first new manager since 2008.

And some of the squad wasted no time in voicing their discontent with the decision to not back McGeeney.

Kildare panellist Emmet Bolton said on twitter; “58 club delegates who have never seen us train went into a room tonight and decided what was best for us. They totally disregarded our opinions over the last couple of weeks. A disgraceful way to treat a man who put so much heart and effort into Kildare football.”

His fellow county player Hughie Lynch was also less than impressed, saying, “So much for player power #gutted.”

Meanwhile, Limerick chairman Oliver Mann said he is deeply disappointed for the minor players and management after the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) ruled against their contesting of the extra-time All-Ireland semi-final loss to Galway.

Mann has promised the county will bounce back from the latest in a series of blows for their hurling teams. Having taken a case to the Central Hearings Committee and Central Appeals Committee, Limerick exhausted the appeal against the result after Hawk-Eye incorrectly called a wide against a first minute point by Barry Nash.

“I’m very, very disappointed but my personal feelings on the issue don’t matter,” said Mann. “I’m just extremely disappointed for the players and the managers. This was a unique situation and it was unchartered waters but we just have to move on. Our attitude was while there was life, there was hope and we hoped we would secure justice for our minors but we couldn’t. We are very proud of the players and the management.”

“We haven’t got a whole pile of luck in recent years,” said Mann. “We’ll keep fighting the good fight. There’s a lot being done right in Limerick hurling at the moment and we will break through.”

Meanwhile, Galway minor captain Darragh Dolan insists controversy hasn’t placed extra pressure on his team for Sunday’s final against Waterford. “We made our statement in the semi-final in how we got through the game,” claimed Dolan. “A lot of people wrote us off and no one saw past Limerick. But I think we proved ourselves so I don’t think we feel any pressure like that.”