Kildare were hammered by Armagh this afternoon, in their Division 2 clash at their home venue of Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow.
The score of 0-08 to 2-16 leaves them bottom of the table with zero points after three games, with a points difference of -22.
The match itself was effectively over by half-time, with Armagh up by ten points, before Kieran McGeeney's cruised to victory in the second-half.
It's a loss that further increases the pressure on Kildare Glenn Ryan, and was their first game since players and management were criticised by county board chairman Mick Gorman at a meeting earlier in the month.
READ HERE: Ciarán Whelan Says Kildare Players Should Be 'P****d Off' By Chairman Comments
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Armagh continue their unbeaten run in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League as they pick up their third win of the campaign against Kildare.
FT Score:@KildareGAA 0-08@Armagh_GAA 2-16#GAANOW has the best of the action...👇👇 pic.twitter.com/6aB8sOl6vi
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 18, 2024
#AllianzLeagues Football Division 2 Table after Round 3
Donegal 2-16 v 0-08 Fermanagh
Cork 0-16 v 0-17 Cava
Kildare 0-08 v 2-16 Armagh#GAA #Football #Armagh #Cavan #Cork #Donegal #Fermanagh #Kildare #Louth #Meath #GAALeagueTables pic.twitter.com/qAvDZi528Y— GAA League Tables (@GAALeagueTables) February 18, 2024
"I spoke to the management (Kildare senior footballers Glenn Ryan) for a long time today (Monday) about the situation and the necessity that performances and results have to greatly improve," Gorman said on Feb 7.
"We are fully aware that results are not good enough, not good enough for the county and the players and the management are all fully aware of the situation..... it is not that everyone isn't fully focused on the thing but the results speak for themselves.
"All I can say is there has been a lot of talk about managers, management and players, I just hope it can be sorted out".
After the match,
Former Carlow manager Turlough O'Brien was highly critical of Kildare's tactics on RTÉ Radio One, calling them 'naive' from a tactical perspective.
They are a little bit clueless on the pitch. Kildare huffed and puffed and took the ball into traffic. They tried to go around outside and were not penetrating at all. They are a very one-dimensional team. They have to change it up because it seems they only have a 'Plan A'."
There was more anguish for Glenn Ryan after the game as he found himself in an argument with local reporters over Gorman's comments at the now-infamous county board meeting.
A journalist from the Leinster Leader did not accept Ryan's claim to reporters that Gorman's statements had been inaccurately reported, and he told the Kildare manager this.
After a tense exchange, Ryan lamented:
“I know you a long time and it’s a pity, when we’re at our lowest, you don’t get the support of people that you know a long time. And that’s disappointing.”
Kildare take on fifth placed Meath next Sunday at Páirc Tailteann.
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