Kildare fans will rightly rejoice after their win over Mayo, but they must use the victory as a springboard for even greater things after a year of mismanagement, according to Bernard Flynn.
The former Meath star was speaking on 2fm's Game on and believes that Lilies boss Cian O'Neill "found himself" as a manager in the last week.
"O'Neill must be commended for what he did last Monday when sticking to his guns on the Newbridge venue saga," said Flynn.
"That was just part of the reason I think why Kildare finally rose up and were counted against Mayo.
"A couple of weeks ago, Tomás Ó Sé wrote an article, many would say a most critical article, on his time working with O'Neil in Kerry.
"O'Neill may have finally reflected on that article this week.
"Go back to last year. In the first round of the league, Kildare scored 3-16 and were awesome against Meath and then come the championship they scored 2-16 against the same opposition. They hit 1-17 against Dublin in the Leinster final and for 55 minutes pushed the Dubs all the way - outside of Mayo they gave them the hardest game of the year.
"Since then, I believe the management have been mismanaging this team and the players have not been doing the business that they are there to do.
"They were a disgrace against Carlow (Leinster quarter-final), a shambles."
"Kildare have savage talent and are a big, strong, physical team. I have questioned the attitude of their players. Do they have the real desire, raw ambition, the savage dedication? Did they want it bad enough?
"On Saturday evening, they showed the necessary wherewithal, their talent shone. What won the game for Kildare was their absolute brilliant attitude and the minsdset of all involved.
"Cian O'Neil managed that and as a result found himself as a manager."
The two-time All-Ireland winner now believes it is imperative that the Leinster side kick on.
"It's not worth a damn if they don't beat Fermanagh," he added in relation to next weekend's Round 4 qualifier against the Ernesiders.
"Kildare have to push on now and their upturn is brilliant for Leinster football.
"Look, they have the players - Kelly, Hyland, Cribbin, Feely, Brophy and Moolick - and their bench isn't bad either."
