Comerford quits Kildare post

Former Kilkenny ace Andy Comerford has stepped down as Kildare hurling boss after a three-year stint.

Comerford made the decision after his side’s 10-point defeat to Westmeath in the Christy Ring Cup semi-final and the earlier NHL relegation from Division Two to Division Three.

The ex-Kilkenny captain revealed: "I had made up my mind after the Westmeath game, but obviously I wanted to speak to my fellow selectors and the Hurling Board before making any public comment.

"After we won the Division Three title, the Hurling Board asked me to stay on for another year. After a lot of deliberation, and weighing up the pros and cons, I agreed to do so. It was a very enjoyable and rewarding three years with Kildare and I learned a lot in my first experience as a manager.

"But in this year’s league, it was a bridge too far for us in Division Two, and really we were out of our depth at that level.

"We weren’t on a par with the likes of Down, Kerry, Carlow and Westmeath, and we were well behind Wexford, Laois and Clare."

However, after defeating Meath in last two year’s Division Three final, Comerford, who won three All-Ireland senior medals with Kilkenny, had been very optimistic about the future of Kildare hurling.

"I thought we might kick on to greater things, but unfortunately it was not be," remarked the O’Loughlin Gaels club man.

"Of course, we didn’t retain our place in Division Two, and then we came a cropper against a very good Westmeath team last Saturday. On the day, we just didn’t have as much ammunition as Westmeath."