'Mind-blowing' - Kildare boss awestruck by breakthrough

Kildare manager Brian Dowling admitted the prospect of the county playing in next year's Leinster Championship is "mind-blowing".
The Lilywhites opened a new chapter in the sport by winning the Joe McDonagh Cup for the first time this afternoon, the culmination of a long journey in the county.
Investment in structures and coaching at youth level has seen a rapid improvement in the senior side.
Having won the Christy Ring Cup to enter this level, and then been beaten by Kerry in their opening match, it was unthinkable they would coast the final minutes of a final with Laois at Croke Park to break down barriers.
But that is how the day materialised for Dowling's side through a 10-point victory, something he struggled to come to terms with.
He told RTÉ Sport: "I'm absolutely blown away by this, I have no words, I just can't believe it.
"It's just unbelievable what that group of players have done.
"This year we challenged them and we said it might be possible to get through to a final.
"There was some amount of hard work in the background.
"At half-time we challenged them again, we didn't think the first half was good and by God the second half performance, even after giving away a goal straight away, was unbelievable.
"Credit to the players, I'm so happy for them now."
Victory over today's opposition earlier in the year was the inspiration to taking the historic step, according to Dowling.
Having defeated them in the round-robin, it showed the Kildare panel what was possible.
Dowling explained: "We had to beat Laois to get here and that was the thing, I think beating Laois gave us huge confidence. I'd much rather go into a final beating the team you're facing than losing and we needed that confidence coming in here.
"The players had that belief, I know there's people saying Kildare probably built it up too much in the last two weeks. We had an open night on Tuesday night and closed up shop after that. Full focus was on this game, the lads were so focused on this since we got to this final and just couldn't wait to get out here.
"What better place to come out and show your hurling?
"I think we did that, especially in the second half."
Dublin await Kildare next weekend in Newbridge in an occasion undoubtedly set to capture the imagination in the county.
It will be difficult to bring the players back down to earth after the euphoria of winning the Joe McDonagh, something Dowling has to consider now.
"We can't believe we're out again next Saturday so I don't know what's going to happen there.
"Even to think we're in the Leinster Championship next year, it's mind-blowing. I'm so happy for the people of Kildare. Hopefully there's loads of youngsters looking in and they'll be the next lads there playing for Kildare again."
Kildare's Man of the Match Cian Boran was struggling for words after his side's fantastic Joe McDonagh Cup victory over Laois...
Kildare 2-26 Laois 1-19 #RTEgaa
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Kildare's man of the match Cian Boran looked at their loss to the Kingdom back in April as the turning point for their season.
He explained: "I'd say all 15 lads walked straight into the dressing room after that game when the full-time whistle went. We were fairly mad, it was really disappointing.
"But it kind of gave us a bit of a bite then for the rest of the championship. We didn't want to lose again now after that Kerry game. It stood to us so I'm kind of happy it happened, it showed us a bit of grit."
Laois coach Tommy Fitzgerald was left distraught by how they wilted in the second period.
They were favourites to come out on top in the decider and it has looked within the grasp for the first half, only for Kildare to take control.
Fitzgerald stated: "We're just after leaving the dressing room there, and we're all devastated. We didn't come up here to be beaten, by that margin especially.
"It's still very, very raw. I'm extremely disappointed.
"We had a lot of work done the last couple of weeks, and we thought we had our homework done. And maybe in the first half, I think we had 11 wides in the first half, we probably should have been a couple of points ahead.
"And we got the goal straight from the throw-in, and we looked well-placed. But in fairness to Kildare I suppose they got on top of our puck-outs in the second half, and that was probably the biggest difference.
"We struggled to win our own puck-outs, and they put a few scores on top of that."
Fitzgerald took time to praise Kildare for their breakthrough success, as well as former manager Darren Gleeson with the assistance provided to him over the course of the year.
"Kildare are a very good side, they're very well-coached. I thought their conditioning was top-class as well," Fitzgerald said.
"They definitely finished stronger than us, and they had athletes all over the pitch, and it probably came into play as well.
"Sometimes in hurling things are put in perspective. I'd just like to wish Darren Gleeson well. He should have been here today, and when I did take over, he was a fantastic help to me, a pure gentleman.

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