KILDARE O'Dwyer was introduced to an adoring public before the 1990 county final and was quickly seen as the saviour of Kildare football. Quite a compliment given that the Lilywhites had been in a slump for much of the previous decade with their lowest moment coming the previous year when they fell to Kilkenny in the O'Byrne Cup. Only a name like O'Dwyer's could have created such enthusiasm in such a short space of time and it's the reason so many turned out for a lowly league game in October against Leitrim.

However, O'Dwyer had little time to work with his new squad and it showed against a Connacht side that were at a much later stage of their development, a cycle that saw them capture a Connacht crown in 1994.

Names like Declan Darcy, Mickey Quinn and Liam Conlon showed on the team sheet that day as the visitors to St Conleth's Park ran out winners.

But O'Dwyer reversed Kildare's fortunes and in '91 the sides met to decide who would advance to the playoffs. On a Spring day in Navan, O'Dwyer's side sealed a comfortable win and advanced to the quarter-finals in the process. With names like Glenn Ryan and current Kildare manager John Crofton amongst the backs, Kildare were assured in defence but it was that day many began to rue the loss of Shay Fahy and Larry Tompkins to Cork. Up to that point they had been seen as diamonds in the dirt in Kildare but O'Dwyer quickly brought on the younger players and even beat his native county, Kerry, in the quarter-finals. After the defeat of Donegal in the last four, Kildare found themselves in an unprecedented league final, where they were pipped by Dublin.

Hopes were high for the championship, however, a last-minute Stefan White goal in Drogheda saw Louth claim a sensational win in the first round. It took seven more years for Kildare to win the provincial title many foresaw that season.

LAOIS O'Dwyer never liked the O'Byrne Cup, and it was no different in Laois, where on 5 January, 2003 his latest acquisition fell by 0-10 to 013 at home to Longford. Following defeat in O'Moore Park that day, O'Dwyer predictably claimed there was "still work to be done".

Everyone knew it. Longford looked the better side for long spells and were fully deserving of their win. Despite the beginning of a new era, the home side looked lethargic and disinterested. Their full-back line looked out of it for long spells and except for some fine saves from goalkeeper Fergal Byron, the margin of defeat should have been even greater.

Despite playing with a stiff breeze in the opening period, Longford only led by four points at half-time but such was their superiority, they never looked in danger of throwing away that advantage. Slow start, but it didn't matter. Later that year, O'Dwyer brought the county their first Leinster title since 1946. They disposed of Dublin in the semi-final and then beat his old side, Kildare, on the way to provincial glory. Laois eventually lost 0-15 to 0-13 in the All Ireland quarter-final and would contest the next two Leinster finals, losing a replay to Westmeath and to Dublin by the narrowest of margins in '05.