**By Cian O’Connell **

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Having improved considerably in recent years at minor and Under 21, Kildare are now striving to make a significant impact at senior level.

Cian O’Neill is thoroughly enjoying guiding Kildare, who are integrating young players into their panel.

Successive Allianz Football League promotions provides encouragement and O’Neill, such a highly regarded coaching figure, acknowledges that Kildare are developing. “In fairness the Kildare supporters have been very patient because there was a lot of barren years from 2000 on to 2007/2008,” O’Neill says.

“Then had some good years when they were competitive in the qualifiers, obviously 2010 really close to bridging that gap to an All-Ireland final. There has been good years in terms of being competitive, but never quite good enough to get over the line to win a title, a Leinster not to mind the All-Ireland. It's my job to make that team more competitive again and try to bridge that gap.”

The signs are encouraging for Kildare, and there is no shortage of talent in the Lilywhites ranks according to O’Neill. “We've a great young squad coming through, we've a great support team, backroom and management.

“Everybody is working really hard, pulling in the right direction. I think you need that bit of luck as well. Last year we won our first qualifier and there were six permutations you could have got, playing Mayo in Mayo would have been the sixth choice you would have wanted. That's what we got and that was a tough task.

“This year we fully intend to go through the front door as long as we can. This year hopefully a bit of luck and high performance we'll get back to those levels for those four or five years where Kildare were knocking at the Quarter-Finals every single year and beyond.”

“I think that's my job, that's our job as a group to really give that back to the supporters because they're a fantastic bunch and Division 2 showed how good they can be when they see that the team are really trying hard and putting in a big shift.”

Kildare have also been boosted by the form of Kevin Feely, who was effective throughout their promotion winning campaign in the League.

“He's been fantastic on and off the pitch so much so that we've selected him as our vice captain because he's shown tremendous leadership,” O’Neill says.

“Not just on the pitch but in team meetings because we've a lot of younger guys in this year, 11 players in the squad between this year's and last year's Under 21's.

“So we need senior players and they don't need to be old to be senior. I'd regard Kevin as a senior player, he's just 24 years of age, simply because of the experience and leadership he has shown.”

O’Neill, who now works in Cork IT, previously coached the Limerick, Mayo, and Kerry footballers, and Tipperary hurlers, is delighted to be managing on the inter-county stage.

“I really enjoy it,” O’Neill admits. “For me the key thing is just working with athletes, with players, with teams and in whatever capacity that may be. I never had this longing or dream. It was something I'm interested in.

“Management is my role in work, my passion was with sport, it makes sense for me. But when this journey comes to an end, it could be a local team in Cork where I live or it could be the college team in CIT. I think it's either in you or it's not. That's why I'm still involved 12 years later with inter-county teams.”

Being involved with Kildare means O’Neill has being afforded an opportunity to ‘reconnect’ with the GAA scene in the county. “I've really enjoyed the Kildare journey because it gives me the opportunity having been away from the county for nearly 22 years now, almost to reconnect with family and friends and with the GAA in the county,” O’Neill states.

“It's always been very strong. I relish the challenge. I love working with the guys and I'm particularly excited working with the younger guys this year. All in all we're in a good space, I'm really enjoying it.”