Ryan steps down as Laois end Kildare Tailteann Cup run

Glenn Ryan has stepped down as manager of the Kildare senior footballers following his side’s Tailteann Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Laois this afternoon.

The Lilywhites went down on a scoreline of 2-11 to 0-12 at O’Connor Park, Tullamore to end their championship season.

Ryan was in his third year in the Kildare hotseat and endured a difficult campaign which saw the Leinster side lose all seven games in Division 2 of the National League, meaning they will drop to Division 3 for the 2025 season.

In the Leinster Championship, having edged past Wicklow by a point in Portlaoise, 0-16 to 1-12, they were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Louth in Croke Park by a scoreline of 0-17 to 0-13.

A statement from the Kildare Count Board read: “Kildare GAA can confirm that Glenn Ryan has stepped down as Kildare Senior Football Manager following today’s defeat to Laois in the Tailteann Cup.

“We would like to thank Glenn and his management team for their commitment and dedication to Kildare GAA over the past three years.”

On the pitch in Tullamore, goals in either half from Mark Barry and Evan O’Carroll helped Laois inflict their first Championship win over their neighbours since 2005 to send them into the semi-finals.

The joy among the Laois contingent as they congregated in the centre of the Tullamore pitch after the final whistle was in stark contrast to the emotions in the Kildare camp when, after speaking to his players in the dressing room, Ryan confirmed that he had stepped down.

Scores were hard to come by in the early exchanges but Kildare, aided by a stiff breeze, got the first two inside the opening 12 minutes.

They were 0-03 to 0-02 ahead when James Kelly was allowed to waltz through the Kildare defence in the 19th minute but just before he shot he was tripped from behind by Shea Ryan, resulting in a penalty and a black card to Ryan.

Mark Barry stepped up and sent Mark Donnellan the wrong way with his penalty but ironically enough, Kildare enjoyed their best spell while down to 14 men and scored the next four points.

But back to their full complement of players, Kildare struggled again and Laois scored the last two points after the half time break, and the first four after the restart.

The game was as good as wrapped up in the 59th minute when Laois captain O’Carroll capitalised on Ryan Houlihan misreading the bounce of a ball and raced clear to score.

Laois could have got another goal a minute later but in a goalmouth scramble, centre back Brian Byrne made a superb save to tip a Paul Kingston shot around the post. Goalkeeper Killian Roche, who had earlier kicked an incredible free from fully 65 metres, had no problem in pointing the 45.

Not long after, Paddy Woodgate struck the foot of the post. A goal at that stage would have halved the deficit and maybe give Kildare hope but they were second best on the day and it’s disappointing end to the management spell of one of the county’s greatest ever players.

That won’t concern Laois however, and they will march on to a Tailteann Cup semi final against Antrim with a spring in their step.

Laois: Killian Roche 0-04 (2f, 1’45); Ben Dempsey, James Kelly, Mark Timmons; Seamus Lacey, Brian Byrne, Simon Fingleton; Damon Larkin, Conor Heffernan 0-01; Mark Barry 1-02 (1-00pen, 0-01f), Evan O’Carroll 1-01, Kevin Swayne; Eoin Lowry 0-01, Niall Dunne 0-01, Paul Kingston.

Subs: Rioghan Murphy for Swayne, 59; Mikie Dempsey for Lowry, 65; Kieran Lillis for Heffernan, 69; Eoin Buggie for Dunne, 72; Brian Daly for O’Carroll, 73.

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O’Grady, Shea Ryan, Ryan Burke; Tony Archbold, Brian Byrne, Jack Sargent; Aaron Materson, Kevin Flynn; Shane Farrell 0-06 (3f, 1 ’45), Darragh Kirwan 0-03, Paddy McDermott; Paddy Woodgate, Niall Kelly 0-01, Kevin Feely 0-01.

Subs: Ryan Houlihan for Burke, 43; Alex Beirne 0-01 for Masterson, 44; Luke Killian for Archbold, 54; Eoin Doyle for Ryan, 54; Darragh Swords for Farrell, 70.

Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).