Kildare need more time, says Doyle

July 14, 2017

Kildare's John Doyle.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

Johnny Doyle feels Kildare lack the experience to dethrone Dublin in Sunday's Leinster SFC final.

The Lilywhites are appearing in their first provincial decider in eight years and Doyle reckons it could take another year or two for them to get their hands on the Delaney Cup.

"They certainly have the talent there that I hope can put a challenge up to Dublin and really go at them and have a good go," the Kildare legend said on RTE.

"They're a young team and I think it might be just a year or so too soon for some of these guys. A lot of our main players are on 23, 24 years of age.

"It's a huge battle but that's the great thing about sport. There's always the David and Goliath story and you'd love one on Sunday, but it's a monumental challenge in front of Kildare."

Cian O'Neill's charges were highly impressive in their semi-final defeat of Meath, but Dublin's 31-point annihilation of Westmeath a week later quickly dampened expectations in the Shortgrass County.

"After the Meath game we were certainly coming away with a pep in our step after two good performances and we were sort of getting excited about this Kildare team," Doyle recalled.

"With two quick promotions they've ticked a lot of boxes, but we were brought down to earth after that Westmeath display that Dublin put in. The most loyal Kildare supporter came crashing down to earth after that.

"It's a difficult one, you have to strip away all that's going on in your heart and what you'd love for the team and for Kildare supporters. The Leinster championship needs someone to challenge Dublin, now whether Kildare are fit to do that remains to be seen."


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