final to Finn Harps. They were also quarter-finalists in both the 2003 and 2004 FAI Cups. Decline Between 2005 and 2009, Kildare County finished in the bottom half of League of Ireland First Division table every season. In 2008 Kildare County finished bottom of the table and were initially relegated to the A Championship after losing the promotion/relegation play-off to Mervue United. However they subsequently gained a reprieve after Cobh Ramblers were refused a First Division license and were relegated directly from the 2008 Premier Division to the A Championship. In 2009 Kildare County again finished bottom of the table and they subsequently withdrew from the league. The last fixture the club played was against Shelbourne on Saturday, 7 November 2009. In the week before the game the entire club board and the team manager Joe Somerville resigned, leaving the club's players unpaid. The players were owed a total of €21,650 and as a result were reluctant to take to the pitch. However Stephen McGuinness, the general secretary of the PFAI, persuaded the players to participate in the game. Meanwhile, fans had to run the ticket sales and canteen. County lost 5–1 and after fulfilling this last game, it was officially over. County were due to play Salthill Devon in a promotion/relegation play-off but as a result of their resignation this did not happen and Salthill Devon subsequently replaced Kildare County in the 2010 First Division. U21 Division In addition to playing in the League of Ireland First Division, Kildare County also entered a team in the League of Ireland U21 Division. In 2006, with a team managed by Thomas Donnelly, they reached the Enda McGuill Cup final, losing 1–0 to Cork City in the final. League placings Notable players League of Ireland XI representative Ger O'Brien Republic of Ireland U23 internationals Gareth Cronin Ger O'Brien Republic of Ireland U21 internationals Pádraig Amond Thomas Morgan Richie Purdy Republic of Ireland U18 internationals Lorcan Cronin Republic of Ireland U17 internationals Gareth Cronin Alan Keely Mark Kenny Alan McDermott Ger Robinson Top goalscorer Philip Gorman (27) Most appearances Philip Byrne: (124) Managers Honours First Division Cup Runners up: 2002–03: 1 Enda McGuill Cup Runners up: 2006: 1 Gallery References External links Kildare County F.C. on Facebook Association football clubs established in 2002 Association football clubs disestablished in 2009 Defunct League of Ireland clubs Association football clubs in County Kildare 2002 establishments in