Doyle: our luck is turning
May 10, 2012
Kildare's John Doyle
The Lilywhites have been arguably the unluckiest team in the country in recent years, with poor refereeing decisions contributing greatly to their misfortunate, but after their recent Allianz Football League Division 2 success - which represented Kieran McGeeney's first piece of silverware as manager - Doyle feels their luck is turning.
"I don't think (McGeeney) has really changed much," the Kildare captain said at the launch of the Leinster championships this week.
"You might look back and say, 'why didn't it work other years?'. But we probably got a bit of luck and he has introduced a few young lads that have added a different dimension. A few injuries have cleared up too.
"Throughout the league we probably had different occasions where we had a bit of luck and you need that in any sport. That night in Navan (against Meath) we were probably a little bit lucky to get away with a win and we kept it going for the rest of the league."
While many expect Kildare to be strong contenders for this year's Leinster title, the long-serving Allenwood star isn't looking beyond Offaly in the first round.
"Every year there will be tags put on different teams. Realistically you don't get too involved in it and you worry about the challenge that's in front of you," he continued.
"People outside, like journalists and supporters, will have their own spin on it. We have learned to our detriment in the past that if you start looking ahead of yourself you are in trouble. The most important game for us is Offaly. If we get over that we'll look at the next challenge.
"Football is strange. You ask people to call it and the majority of people would say, 'Kildare will win that'. But you have to win it on the day. Rory McIlroy can sink 99 out of 100 putts, but on that one day he can miss it.
"We have to go out and perform. It's a local derby and Offaly have always raised their game for Kildare. We'll be happy if at the final whistle we have one point to spare -- that's all it has to be. Offaly have nothing to lose with no one giving them a chance. That's the position we'd love to be in." Tweet
