Former Mayo footballer Lee Keegan has claimed that he'd find it hard to see Kildare winning the Tailteann Cup because of their form and their potential lack of desire to win the second-tier competition.
Kildare were narrowly defeated by Wicklow in their Leinster opening game and suffered a four-point loss to Louth, sealing their spot in the Tailteann Cup for 2024. This loss also marked their eighth defeat in nine games for the year, with seven of those games lacking a goal from Kildare.
Kildare are fancied to win the Tailteann Cup because of the level of competition they will face in it. However, Keegan states that the current Kildare team may lack motivation to win it. The Mayo Star also states that Kildare deserves to be where they are.
"Kildare look like a shell of a team, to be brutally honest. They deserve to be in the Tailteann Cup," he said.
"They've lost seven league games; they got out of jail against Wicklow. I'd worry about them, even in that. Will there be a fall in players? Will they lose interest?
"The Tailteann Cup has been great, but just looking at Kildare, I don't know if the players will want to compete in it.
"Look at them [against Louth]. The biggest game of the year, with a potential place for Sam Maguire there. And you go out and perform like that."
2024 Tailteann Cup Draw.
Dates, times and venues to be confirmed by the CCCC.#GAABelong#cildaraabu#kildare#upthelilywhites pic.twitter.com/0JtcPBp6cq— Kildare GAA (@KildareGAA) April 30, 2024
Keegan even adds that matters have gotten so bad that he struggles to put faith in a Kildare Tailteann Cup triumph if they were to overcome all before them this year.
"I don't know how you picked that team up. Meath were able to adapt to the Tailteann Cup and come out of it, and now they're competing at a better level. I don't think Kildare could do that," he added.
"Looking at what Kildare have done this year? There's not a lot of positivity, and all they're getting is slated week in, week out.
"I'd question the mentality of that group at the moment. I wouldn't even trust Kildare in the Tailteann Cup."
2024 Tailteann Cup draw
Group 1: Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, and Waterford.
Group 2: Sligo, Antrim, Wexford, and Tipperary.
Group 3: Fermanagh, Laois, Wicklow, and Carlow.
Group 4: Down, Offaly, Limerick, London.
Round 1
11-12.05.2024 (Sat/Sun)
Seed 1 v Seed 3
Seed 2 v Seed 4
Seed 1 & 2 will have home venue.
Round 2
18-19.05.2024 (Sat/Sun)
Seed 3 v Seed 2
Seed 4 vs. Seed 1
Seed 3 & 4 will have home venue.
Round 3
01-02.06.2024 (Sat/Sun)
Seed 1 v Seed 2
Seed 3 v Seed 4
Games will be played at neutral venues.
Full fixture details will be confirmed by the C.C.C.C. in due course.
