Small steps that place Kilkenny on the front foot

IN THE midst of the celebration, disappointment and anxiety that marked the last full weekend of this season's National Football League, one significant result probably got a bit overlooked.

Kilkenny's Division Four win over London in Ruislip was their first of the campaign and leaves them joint bottom of the table with one match remaining. This might seem somewhat underwhelming, but any progress for the county's footballers is cause for comment, given the structural difficulties of organising the big ball game in hurling's most exclusivist stronghold.

Now managed by Peter Dukelow, army officer from west Cork based in Wexford, Kilkenny have gathered five points in the last two League seasons more than 1994 All Ireland winners Down.

Long the subject of archetypal football jokes and the only county not to enter the senior championship, Kilkenny have weathered such indignities as a panel member some years ago organising a halftime sweep on how heavily the team would lose a League match.

The football scene does feature some extraordinarily committed individuals. Liam Cassin, for instance, is one player with the wherewithal for a distinguished inter county career in a different county.

Back in the mid 1980s, current hurling manager Nicky Brennan managed the footballers and success of sorts was attained, including an O'Byrne Cup victory over Kildare.

According to Dukelow, "Nicky was always a hurler, but in fairness, always had a gra for football. His club, Conaghy Shamrocks, has a tradition of football and he would never knock it" Brennan's talents were, however, inevitably needed elsewhere.

It has been observed that the definition of a genuine GAA man is a football activist in Kilkenny "you'll never find yourself on the back of a lorry".

The win in London was important to a team who were on the verge of getting nothing from a season during which a good deal of work was being done.

"They were very disappointed with their pre Christmas form," says Dukelow, "but they only stopped training for a week over the holiday. We were working indoor which was grand, the weather was so bad in January. The weights training was needed because most of the panel are hurlers and upper body strength isn't as important.

"Things began to come right and suspensions and injuries cleared up. I was convinced we were going to win (on Saturday last), although it was tight in the end."

Dukelow is realistic about the parameters of the county's ambition "We're light years behind other counties. Kilkenny is a hurling county and we obviously don't see ourselves competing with that. It's all you can do even working out a set panel and naming a team that goes out. Things that don't count in any other county do with us.

"The best we can hope to do is make sure it's organised and taken seriously. Progress is relative, but we're trying to be competitive. Our, main target is the Leinster junior championship this summer.

One of the many difficulties attendant on running the Kilkenny football team is the absence of leverage when it comes to resolving club county dilemmas in other words, none really exist.

"The hurling championship will be starting which has a big impact on us as the clubs need their players. So for us, while other counties are going up to three and four nights a week, we'll probably be dropping back.

"We're hoping to get the (foot ball) championship started in March and finish it mid May. At least let it be organised and let everyone know when the games are taking place. We can have a limited season for football and then flake away into the hurling."

There is some hope, says Dukelow, in the county that modest targets can be met. We know our limitations and there's no point in fine talk and I know talk was particularly fine at 11.30 on Saturday night but we would hope to perform well in the Leinster Junior championship. Next season in the League, I'd be hoping we pick it up a bit and make a good shot of it, maybe get seven or eight points. It's definitely come together.

"There was a very good atmosphere in London. We stayed over on the Friday, played the match on the Saturday and that evening there was a great get together. There'll definitely be a knock on effect. It'll be easier to talk to them for a couple of weeks."