If Kildare were given the Newbridge or nowhere option right now, they might choose nowhere.
Following Kildare's 13-point victory over Laois on Sunday, Jack O'Connor made the curious admission that playing at their home venue of St Conleth's Park does not suit his team.
Going into Sunday's game against Laois, a relegation playoff looked the more likely fate for Kildare. That likelihood owed much to Kildare losing by three points at home to Clare last weekend. The game was Clare's first ever win in Newbridge.
However, Kildare's high margin of victory against Laois in Portlaoise saw them top division 2 south. They will face Meath in the promotion playoffs.
Jack O'Connor: Newbridge doesn't suit Kildare
"Well, we were very disappointed after last week," O'Connor told RTÉ Radio 1.
"We just have a bit of a thing about Newbridge. We don't think the tightness of the pitch suits us. We want to kick the ball. That's what I've been working on for the last two years, since I came up here.
"Against a very defensive Clare team in Newbridge the last day, it was hard to kick the ball, particularly into the wind.
"Fine pitch here in O'Moore Park, sunny day, and we targeted getting the ball in earlier. We kicked 2-18, which is a good score."
O'Connor said that Kildare had made it "a small bit awkward" on themselves with the concession of a bizarre goal in the first half.
"Overall, delighted, because this morning we were facing a relegation game and now we're in a promotion game," he added.
Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
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