Lilywhites call on ROG for free-taking pointers

Leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for this weekend’s clash with Donegal, Kildare employed the services of Ireland out-half Ronan O’Gara for some free-taking advice yesterday.

According to the Irish Independent this morning, O’Gara and Ireland kicking coach Mark Tainton were on hand to give some tips to the Lilywhites’ free-takers Johnny Doyle and Eoghan O’Flaherty at Carton House in Maynooth, where there is a pitch with a surface very similar to the one at Croke Park.

The session was arranged by Kildare boss Kieran McGeeney, who has links with the Irish team and arranged a similar meeting last year.

Despite some seriously impressive displays during the qualifiers to date, McGeeney’s side have come under fire for a supposed wastefulness in front of goals and have racked up plenty of wides despite also registering high scoring tallies.

Doyle has had little problems with dead balls in the championship to date (2-17 of the 2-21 he has scored have been from frees or penalties), but he did experience some difficulty during the league and tends to leave the longer-distance frees and 45s to O’Flaherty, who can generate quite a bit of power and is comfortable on either foot.

Judging by their displays to date, Donegal will do all within their power to limit Kildare’s attacking threat, meaning that free-taking could prove vital in Croke Park on Saturday and who knows, maybe the pointers provided to Doyle and O’Flaherty by the great man himself will make the difference.