Conor Grimes, Louth, and Eoin Doyle, Kildare, in Allianz Football League action. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Allianz Football League Division Two
Louth 1-12 Kildare 0-12
By Ger McNally at Netwatch Cullen Park
Ryan Burns’ first half goal was enough to give the Wee County a precious win at Netwatch Cullen Park that secures their Division Two status for next year.
Getting close to the finish line, there was a sense of anxiousness as the closed in on the win they needed to avoid relegation. That led to some nervous late moments with Kildare launching balls in towards their goalmouths, but Ger Brennan’s men did enough.
Even though there was a nervy ending, there was no doubting that Louth were deserving winners as Kildare finished out a dismal league season with a seventh successive defeat. Glen Ryan’s team end the season with no points, five points behind the team in sixth place, and go into the Championship at an extremely low ebb.
Kildare had a strong wind behind them in the first half, but failed to make the most of it. Paddy McDermott and Aaron Masterson scored to make it 0-2 to 0-1, but their defence was cut open in the 14th minute when Conall McKeever cut through their defence and found Burns who came in along the end line and shot past Mark Donnellan.
Sam Mulroy pointed a free in the 21st minute but Kildare then pushed on to a rare purple patch with three points in a row to level the scores and the teams were tied at the break, 1-3 to 0-6.
Paddy Woodgate opened the scoring early in the second half, but that was the last time the Lilywhites led and once Louth scored the next four points they had the game in the palm of their hand.
Masterson landed third point of the game but too often, Kildare attacks came to nothing and Conor Grimes and Tom Jackson led fine Louth moves to leave them four clear with 18 minutes to go.
It was the tension of the occasion that got to Louth more than anything in the closing stages and they were desperate to hear the final whistle with the news that Fermanagh were winning elsewhere filtering through, Kildare weren’t good to take advantage, and Louth celebrated at the end.
Scorers for Louth: S Mulroy 0-5 (4fs, 1 45); R Burns 1-2; T Jackson 0-2; C Grimes 0-1, L Grey 0-1, C Downey 0-1.
Scorers for Kildare: P Woodgate 0-5 (3fs, 1’ 45) A Masterson 0-3, K Feely 0-2 (2fs), D Kirwan 0-1, P McDermott 0-1, D Flynn 0-1.
Louth: Niall McConnell; Donal McKenny, Dermot Campbell, Peter Lynch; Conall McKeever, Anthony Williams, Leonard Grey; Tommy Durnin, Sam Mulroy; Tom Jackson, Ciaran Downey, Ciaran Murphy; Ryan Burns, Conor Grimes, Ciaran Keenan.
Subs: Craig Lennon for Murphy, 40; Liam Jackson for T Jackson, 65; Niall Sharkey for Burns, 70+2; Dan Corcoran for Keenan, 70+2.
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Shea Ryan, Mick O’Grady, Ryan Burke; Paddy McDermott, Eoin Doyle, Brian Byrne; Aaron Masterson, Luke Killian; Alex Beirne, Shane O’Sullivan, Shane Farrell; Kevin Feely, Daniel Flynn, Paddy Woodgate.
Subs: Jack Sargent for Doyle, 18; Ryan Burke for Houlihan, 26; Darragh Kirwan for O’Sullivan, 50; Barry Coffey for Flynn, 65; Rian Teahan, 67.
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).