London manager Shane Kelly hasn’t had the easiest of starts to his reign as he prepares his charges to face Kildare in a must-win Christy Ring Cup clash on Saturday.

The sides meet in Ruislip (1pm) with both sides going into the game having lost their opening two matches to Meath and Roscommon.

Ironically the sides met in the Christy Ring Cup final last year, but now the loser is heading for a relegation play-off.

Kelly has had to deal with a number of changes to his squad and the absence of the likes of his captain Brian Regan through injury, but he told the Irish Post that there is still a lot be positive about.

“It hasn’t been easy. Any side would miss a player of Brian’s quality and to lose him in the manner we did was particularly hard. We have had 30 players involved in the campaign so far as well and that is never easy,” said Kelly

“But there are positive signs there too. Roscommon have won two games on the bounce in this competition, but up until the second sending off in our game, that match was in the balance.

“That’s the frustration for me and the coaching staff. Kildare have had their problems this year as well. It seems a long time ago since we were both contesting that final last year. But we are at home and if we play anywhere near our capability, we can finish on a high.”

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