Ryan out to end Kildare’s five-year final wait

On the surface, it was nothing other than a facile win but beating Louth earlier this month meant so much more to Jason Ryan. The victory was a bullet dodged.

Aware of local history, he knew both Mick O’Dwyer and Dermot Earley Snr had lost their first Championship games as Kildare managers to the same opposition.

Since Micko’s first appearance in the county, only Pádraig Nolan has won his debut SFC match. The margin over Louth was a handsome 15 points but for Ryan it was sweet relief, doubly so as they won just two Division 1 games and were relegated.