Forde carries hopes of Model county

LEINSTER SFC/Wexford v Kildare: Gavin Cummiskey talks to the Wexford player most likely to unhorse a potentially vulnerable Kildare tomorrow.

Mattie Forde is the only household name in Wexford football. But he's hoping to bring the identities of his county team-mates to national prominence by inspiring victory over Kildare this Sunday at Croke Park.

You can be sure that after watching Wexford's Leinster championship first round victory over Louth last month, Lilywhites manager Pauric Nolan will look to put the shackles on Forde from the start.

There are potential cracks in Kildare, what with Anthony Rainbow and Glenn Ryan slipping to the bench, but that could also mean Nolan has found others to walk in their aging shoes.

Wexford proved from their respectable showing in the national league campaign this year that they are not completely reliant on their captain's scoring prowess. However, his eight-point haul against Louth showed it's still vitally important.

The big stage is undoubtedly where Forde belongs, but with it comes the more intense spotlight. Wexford have made all the right sounds this year in Division One of the league (the massacre of Galway in Tuam standing out) but Forde knows failure at this stage will merely confirm what everyone already thinks about them.

"Yeah, the championship is what it's all about," says Forde. "No disrespect to Kerry but nobody remembers who won the league. Louth was a big stumbling block but we are not happy with that. We want to beat Kildare and go as far as we can."

New manager Pat Roe gets most of the credit for getting them this far: "Since the very first night of training (in late November) he had us playing football. As expected, the increased ball-work has produced results."

The majority of this side have some unfinished business at headquarters after the disappointing 12-point defeat to Laois at the poorly attended triple-header last season.

Then a below-average Derry side came down to Wexford Park and left with the spoils. The two defeats certainly didn't reflect the good work that was done in the league.

"Against Laois last year, we let ourselves down," admits Forde. "It was a poor performance and we want to get back there and make up for it but it is different now. There'll be much more people there on Sunday but the crowd will not overawe us. We had a good league campaign and the victory over Louth was our first in the championship for five years."

So progress is being made but to beat Kildare they will need several factors to turn in their favour. For starters Paddy Colfer is going to have to rule midfield like he did against Louth. Killian Brennan and Dermot Earley may have something to say about that. Also, the absence of the suspended David Fogarty means there will be less assistance coming from the half-forward line.

"In the modern-day game the middle third is where teams need to come out on top. He (Colfer) has been doing that all year, especially against Sligo and Galway. David will be a big loss."

But what about the added pressure that comes with playing in Croke Park? The county hurlers are well used to it but it is an alien arena to Forde and co.

"Ah, I don't know about all the talk of pressure. I don't think about it once the game starts and the team don't seem to mind too much either. Every footballer wants to play in front of the big crowds at Croke Park.

"We have improved our all-round game this year. We have cut out the mistakes and the team spirit is second to none. Everyone in the county has been talking about football since we beat Louth. We want to get the respect of the people in the county. The respect of the hurling people."