Glenn Ryan hails Kildare grit in 'hugely important' comeback victory over Clare

Glen Ryan was delighted with his Kildare players' determination to complete a comeback win against Clare that he dubbed "hugely important".

Having lost their opening two Allianz Football League Division 2 fixtures, and with Dublin potential Leinster semi-final opponents, the Lilywhites could have been looking at a relegation battle and a tall order to make the All-Ireland series with a third defeat today.

That looked likely as they trailed by six points and lost Ben McCormack to a second yellow in the 50th minute.

But the visitors scored eight of the last nine points in Cusack Park, substitute Neil Flynn securing a 0-16 to 1-15 victory from a 75th-minute free.

"We probably found ourselves in a position we shouldn't have been in," manager Ryan told RTÉ Sport.

"But they worked hard to get themselves out of it and we're delighted to get the two points in the end.

"It was hugely important for us to get something out of today's game and we weren't hiding behind that fact.

"It was very good in that regard, that understanding the significance of the game and the position we found ourselves in, that the lads didn't back away from it and were able to show a lot of what makes them proud Kildare men."

Ryan insisted it was the players' application and, to a lesser extent, the breeze that had turned the tide in their favour.

"It's not what I say, or anybody else, it's what the players do on the pitch," he said.

"What they did in the second half is probably closer to what we would expect from them.

"From Clare's perspective it was a stiffish breeze that they found themselves kicking against. And in some ways we were able to throw caution to the wind and put them under a bit of pressure.

"When opportunities come your way you have to take them and