Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney urged the Kildare management team to "ignore the noise" after his side recorded a very lop-sided win over the Lilywhites in Carlow on Sunday.
Two goals in the opening 20 minutes from Conor Turbitt and Rory Grugan set the platform for a handy victory for the nominal away team, who only pushed out the margin in the second half.
The two sides now occupy opposite poles in Division 2, with Armagh top following three wins from three, and Kildare bottom and in dire trouble.
Kildare manager Glenn Ryan and his high profile backroom team have shipped heavy criticism in recent weeks, including from at their own county board, and the volume is only likely to dial up on that following another wretched performance.
McGeeney, who managed Kildare during an often dramatic five-year stint between 2009 and 2013, empathised with the beleaguered management team.
"It's tough on Kildare. It's hard for me, I still have a lot of love for Kildare," McGeeney told RTÉ Sport after the game.
"Lot of friends on the sideline there and I know they're getting a lot of noise. I've been there and I was probably only one game away from it myself.
"You wouldn't meet any better men for Kildare than Johnny (Doyle) and Glenn (Ryan) and (Anthony) Rainbow and Ronan (Sweeney) and those sorts of fellas.
"It's just one of those days, when you're on the receiving end of it. I've been there myself. Hopefully, they'll stick at it and push on.
"One thing you learn very early in inter-county football is to ignore the noise. You can't do much about it. Everyone has great plans when they're on the sideline. And very few when they're on the pitch.
"Every fan has the right to an opinion. And that's part of the game. We love to talk and everything else. But sometimes it gets very personal.
"If they can find me four men that have given more to the Lillywhites, I'd like to see them."
As for his own team, McGeeney acknowledged things are going well early on in Division 2, though stressed the importance of balance.
"It's been a good push this year. Great to see Cullyanna winning the All-Ireland. It was really good having Aidan (Nugent) and Jason (Duffy) and Ross (McQuillan) back in there.
"It's good, we have Oisín (O'Neill) and Rian (O'Neill) coming back into the squad, and Andrew Murnin was back in today. Few new fellas, Peter McGrane putting his hand up, Oisín Conaty doing well for us.
"But it's a great strong squad when you're winning and you're all useless when you're losing. So, it's just that balance."
