AFTER PRESIDING OVER successive Allianz Football League relegations, Kildare boss Jason Ryan probably felt that he was due a break.
The former Wexford supremo has been the subject of intense scrutiny since the Lilywhites were dumped in Division 3 this year.
But Ryan’s players are obviously playing for him as they came from three points down to salvage a replay against Laois in last night’s Leinster quarter-final in Tullamore.
Tommy Moolick kicked the equalising point deep in stoppage time but Kildare survived a scare when Laois forward Paul Kingston kicked a late chance of a winner wide.
The sides will replay at O’Connor Park next Saturday evening and Ryan has enough experience of intercounty management to understand that the knives will be sharpened again if Kildare lose.
“Kildare is a football crazy county and when results haven’t been going their way, players and everybody involved gets an awful lot of flak,” he said.
“It’s great for them that they still have the mental strength and belief to stick at it until the very end.”
Ryan is targeting “a good championship run” this summer and victory next weekend would set up a Leinster semi-final with Dublin.
And the former Waterford player believes that Kildare are learning from recent experiences.
“One thing about the group is that they are becoming more aware of what works and what doesn’t work.
“They as a group realised at half time that certain things didn’t go according to plan and they coughed up too much possession.”
Despite playing with a strong wind, Kildare were just a point clear at the break.
But they were in big trouble approaching the finish before three late points ensured another local derby with neighbours Laois.
