Frustrated Nolan takes time out

Kildare manager Pádraig Nolan is unhappy that a Sligo official was appointed as linesman for Saturday's qualifier between the counties, which Kildare lost by a point. The situation arose when one of the original linesmen didn't arrive before the match started.

"It's very frustrating that you do everything as professionally as you can and have this sort of thing happening. There was one contentious line ball that people swore to me was ours but it was given to Sligo. These situations shouldn't arise."

As the home province supervises qualifier matches, Connacht secretary John Prenty was in charge and defended the appointment. "The appointed linesman didn't turn up. We waited and delayed the start of the match but had to go ahead so we appointed the fourth official, who is always from the home county. We had no choice in the matter.

"The home official stepped in and did an excellent job."

Nolan, meanwhile, is taking some time out to think about his future at the end of his three-year appointment.

"I wouldn't make any comment on it at this stage," he said yesterday. "I'm six years on the go non-stop - three years with Offaly before I started in Kildare. I don't know how the county board is feeling about it but there's no point in my making a rushed decision at this stage."

Over those six years he has experienced a significant increase in the pressure of inter-county management.

"Hugely. You're about the 10th media man to ring me about what I'm doing. It's getting like soccer in England. It's 24/7 and you're always thinking and planning. Your first thought in the morning is 'what about football?'

"I'll give you an example of the extremes involved in management. Karl Ennis had a very bad dead leg between the Westmeath and Laois matches and was only 50-50. I checked what sort of treatment he needed and what sort of exercise was recommended and I was told that he should cycle 'as hard as he can'. So I spent three nights that week doing 14-mile cycles."

The three years with Kildare have been eventful. Two years ago in Nolan's first season in charge the county reached the Leinster final and last year the under-21s, whom he also managed, reached the All-Ireland semi-final. This year has been disappointing with a crushing defeat by Laois followed by the surprise loss in Sligo.

Nolan disagrees with the characterisation of his side as hot favourites at the weekend.

"Kildare are always being talked up unreasonably. You can gauge the health of football in a county by looking at four things: the colleges, clubs, underage and finally the seniors. We've had so little success in recent years.

"The last colleges win was when Clane won the All-Ireland B in 1988. Four players came from that team, Martin Lynch, Ken Doyle, Eddie McCormack and John Finn.

"Look at Laois, who have succeeded at all those levels. They've won at minor, Portlaoise are Leinster club champions and Knockbeg won a colleges All-Ireland."

Meanwhile the Donegal County Board were late last night considering the future of manager Brian McEniff at this month's scheduled meeting. McEniff is believed to be considering stepping down.

"We've heard nothing about Brian's intentions one way or the other," said county PRO Séamus O'Donnell yesterday.

A year ago McEniff, who has during five spells in charge of the county's footballers led Donegal to five Ulster titles as well as its only All-Ireland, appeared to be contemplating calling it a day on his latest term of office after last year's defeat by Fermanagh but he decided to persevere for another year.