Cian O'Neill cut a relieved figure after Kildare survived a big scare from Wicklow in the first round of the Leinster SFC on Saturday night.

"We're just glad to get through that," the Kildare manager told the Irish Independent after his side's 0-15 to 1-10 victory at Netwatch Cullen Park.

"It was a match we should have sown up very early with our level of dominance and assertiveness all over the pitch.

"Our execution let us down. I think it was at 35-36pc. At this level, no matter what standard or division, any time you leave a team in with a chance they can come back and hurt you and that's what happened late on."

O'Neill acknowledged that major improvement will be required for the Lilywhites' provincial quarter-final against Longford on Sunday week.

"Longford are tough, they are sticky, they are for everyone whether that is through the front-door or the back-door. We'll have to have ourselves ready for that for sure," he added.

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