By Cian O'Connell
The celebrations were furious. In injury time the deal was finally sealed as Kildare returned to the summit of the eastern game.
Karl O'Dwyer dinked a pass into Eddie McCormack, who rifled over a point into the Hill 16 end. It was the injury time grace note to decorate a glorious Leinster Championship Final win over Meath at Croke Park.
A 42 year wait for provincial success was terminated with Lilywhite supporters pouring on to the field. The jubilance was emotional and real. Kildare had threatened in the 90s, but this was a day when they truly delivered.
On the sideline Mick O'Dwyer had added another chapter to a glorious and silverware laden story. As thousands gathered on the field, captain Glenn Ryan was steered up the Hogan Stand steps.
Since Kildare's previous Leinster victory in 1956, Louth, Dublin, Offaly, Meath, and Longford all had triumphed. Kildare watched and wondered, but this was an occasion that mattered deeply.
Two Round Towers clubmen embraced when former Leinster Council Vice Chairman presented Glenn Ryan with the Delaney Cup.
Martin Lynch and Glenn Ryan sing the Curragh of Kildare at Croke Park in 1998.
"Tá an brón agus an briseadh croí thart", Ryan remarked after accepting the trophy. Fitting words because Kildare had endured their fair share of harrowing defeats at GAA headquarters.
"Ladies and gentleman, the people of Kildare, the long wait is over. It has been 42 years since a Kildare man has had the honour to stand up here so I'm going to take my time to go through everybody."
Ryan, though, found the words to acknowledge the journey Kildare embarked on.
"This whole plan started in 1990 with the arrival of Mick O'Dwyer," Ryan added. "A lot of people are to be congratulated and to be thanked. Many, many people have played with Kildare and worn the white jersey with great distinction, who have come away with nothing, but today all these people are honoured. We have won this today in honour of those men."
That was the type of attitude and application which served Kildare well under O'Dwyer. Losing to Dublin in the 1991 Allianz Football League final and Leinster deciders of 1992 and 1993 afforded Kildare experience on the grand stage.
Valuable lessons were also learned during the compelling three game Leinster semi-final epic against Meath in 1997 which Ryan referenced.
Brian Murphy netted a crucial goal for Kildare against Meath in the 1998 Leinster SFC Final.
"Meath have played an enormous part in our success," Ryan admitted. "We have learned an awful lot from Meath last year. I just hope we can accept defeats in the future the same way they have."
It was a glorious spell for the game in Kildare, still fondly recalled a couple of decades later. Brian Murphy's goal proved the decisive score in the win over Meath with Kildare respected and relevant again.
O'Dwyer's role in the adventure will never be underestimated. A connection was forged.
"The man is unbelievable, the man started this whole thing off," Ryan gushed.
"He gave us the energy and the will and the determination. To see that man with the enthusiasm he still has after 40 or 50 years in this game. To see him travel that road from Waterville five, six, seven times a week."
That was amongst the long list of factors which helped contribute to Kildare's rise. The 1998 Leinster showpiece was simply one of those cherished and treasured Lilywhite afternoons.
