Kildare on the verge of a quick return under O’Neill

Kildare

could have the honour of becoming the first promoted team from Division Three, if they win their match in

Clonmel

on Saturday afternoon.

The county was plunged into gloom last year between relegation from Division Two and championship hammerings at the hands of Dublin and Kerry. New manager Cian O’Neill has remedied the first problem with until the surprising home defeat by Sligo - an uneventful run through the division, which leaves them on the verge of a quick return.

One of the most promising of the young players is former minor captain Mark Sherry who made his championship debut off the bench in last year's rare bright spot, the crushing defeat of Cork in Thurles.

“It was up and down obviously. The Dublin game was a massive down point because we had ambitions of coming into it ok and competing but we just fell away.

“Then coming back and winning against Cork was an amazing feeling with everyone coming onto the pitch and the crowd there chanting.

“Personally that was very good. We played with purpose and kept the ball well and everything but Cork were probably a bit flat. They only started playing in the last 10 or 15 minutes and that’s when they gave us a bit of a scare, but we were far enough ahead to hold off.”

He is very optimistic about the future under O’Neill and the prospect of promotion.

“Hopefully – that would be a plus but Cian is implementing the way he wants to play and there’s a whole new buzz about it.

“There’s lads standing up and he’s picked a great squad. He hasn’t just picked names; he’s picked a great squad of players and a balance. It would be a plus to get promoted obviously, but he’s building on this and he’s going to create something special.”