Glenn Ryan: 'I go with regrets but I certainly won’t go after falling out with people'

TIME TO MOVE ON: Kildare manager Glenn Ryan steps down after their loss to neighbours Laois after a three year term.Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Tailteann Cup: Laois 2-11 Kildare 0-12

A first Championship defeat to local rivals Laois since 2005 was enough to end Glenn Ryan’s time as Kildare manager. The game completed the third year in charge of the team for the former legendary player but it was no surprise to see him step down in the immediate aftermath of the end of a disastrous year.

Kildare lost all seven Allianz League games in Division 2 and although they regained some form in the Tailteann Cup group stages, albeit against some weaker teams, many of their old failings were on display again in Tullamore as Laois booked a semi-final date with Antrim.

“The year has obviously been very disappointing, it’s not what we envisaged for the year at all,” said Ryan shortly after informing the playing squad of his decision.

“I spoke to the players, and the county board who have been hugely supportive. I go with regrets but I certainly won’t go after falling out with people, particularly after times were particularly difficult.

“My intention taking in this job was to make Kildare football better. I really thought I was going to be in a position where we could move it forward, and we haven’t. At this stage when things stop, or regress, there’s no point trying to swim against the tide. I, and my management team, given this the best shot I could but it’s time to try something else,” said Ryan.

There were some promising signs during his first two years in charge but tenure ends with one of the worse Kildare seasons in recent memory.

“We started the year down five players who played in the Championship last year. We lost the likes of Ben McCormack and Jimmy Hyland along the way through injury and ultimately we were short of the quality that we had through the other years but Kildare have a strong base and I still feel that despite all that we should have been able to perform better than we did this year. 

"That’s up to the management team, to get the best out of your players no matter what you have available to you and I don’t think I got the best out of these lads” said Ryan.

Kildare led 0-3 to 0-2 at the time that Shea Ryan fouled James Kelly inside the square in the 19th minute, leading to a penalty and black card to the Kildare full back. Ironically enough, Kildare’s best spell came in the time when they were down to 14 men and they scored the next four points.

However, Laois then scored the next six points either side of the half time break and by the time Evan O’Carroll scored their second goal in the 59th minute the game was as good as won.

“Mark Barry gave out to me in the first half when I didn’t pass to him and that was in my head when I seen (Eoin) Lowry ahead of me but it was head down, strike through it and thankfully it went in,” said O’Carroll when describing his goal.

"It was a great performance from us, as whole panel and backroom team. We knew we were coming in against a good Kildare side who breezed through the group stages. 

"We knew we were up against it but the boys had us fine tuned but we knew what we were coming in against and I think our performance showed that. We’ll enjoy today the focus will turn very quickly to recovery and making sure we get ourselves right to play Antrim. They are a good side and had a great result yesterday so we know what we will be up against when we play them,” added the Laois captain.

Scorers for Laois: M Barry 1-2 (1-0 P, 0-1f), K Roche 0-4 (4f), E O’Carroll (1-1), E Lowry, N Dunne, P Kingston, C Heffernan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kildare: S Farrell (0-6 (4f)), D Kirwan (0-3), N Kelly, K Feely, A Beirne (0-1 each)

LAOIS: K Roche; B Dempsey, J Kelly, M Timmons; S Lacey, B Byrne, S Fingleton; D Larkin, C Heffernan; M Barry, E O’Carroll, K Swayne; E Lowry, N Dunne, P Kingston. 

Subs: R Murphy for Swayne (59); M Dempsey for Lowry (65); K Lillis for Heffernan (69); E Buggie for Dunne (72); B Daly for O'Carroll (73).

KILDARE: M Donnellan; M O'Grady, S Ryan, R Burke; T Archbold, B Byrne, J Sargent; A Masterson, K Flynn; S Farrell 0-6 (3fs, 1’45), D Kirwan 0-3, P McDermott; P Woodgate, N Kelly 0-1, K Feely 0-1. 

Subs: R Houlihan for Burke (43); A Beirne 0-1for Masterson (44); L Killian for Archbold (54); E Doyle for Ryan (54); D Swords for Farrell (70).

Referee: T Murphy (Galway)