Kilduff praises medical staff for quick recovery

The fact that Ciarán Kilduff’s name was even on the teamsheet at Oriel Park for Friday’s Daily Mail FAI Cup tie which pitted the holders against their regular cup opponents Shelbourne, caused a ripple of excitement amongst the home crowd.

So when the striker entered the fray, five weeks after fracturing a couple of vertebrae, with twenty minutes remaining the home fans were delighted to see the former UCD frontman return. Within a minute he almost scored with his first touch, but for a superb reaction save by Jack Brady. However, the striker wasn’t to be denied and he scored a flying scissors kick to divert Darren Meenan’s corner into the net.

Speaking to Extratime.ie reporter Tom O’Connor after the game, Kilduff was quick to praise the medical staff and management for his remarkable recovery as well as taking time to highlight the effect his FAI Cup specials have on Stephen Kenny.

“It was important for me to get on the pitch tonight and obviously to get a goal and to hit as sweet a strike as that, it’s a great relief. A lot of work went in behind the scenes with the medical team here and the manager in my ear keeping me positive. If you had told me five weeks ago that I’d be playing against Shels five weeks later I’d have bitten your hand off. Thankfully I’ve healed well and touch wood I continue to get stronger and stay fit.”

Speaking about the goal, the effusive goal getter claimed, “The gaffer called it my trademark there in the dressing room, I looked at it myself and thought “You’re being a bit generous there!”

The forward continued by admitting that it was a special feeling to score in the match before showering praise on his fellow striker, David Mc Millan, who has had an excellent season so far.

“It’s great competition we have between ourselves and he’s probably been carrying it on his own for a while. I know he did for the first half of last season too. There’s been so many times I’ve come on and done well when Dave’s started and vice versa he’s come on for me and done well. I think the manager’s got a great balance on that. I don’t think there’s any question but he gets what he wants out of both of us somehow. Tonight’s a night where I’ll come away satisfied but there’s been many nights where Dave has. There’s no pressure there, Dave’s been brilliant when I’ve been out and for a long time.”