Coulter injured in narrow Down victory

DIVISION 1B

Kildare 1-13 Down 3-8

Paddy O'Rourke's Down outfit were impressive in edging hosts Kildare by a point, but their second NFL Division 1B victory was marred by a knee injury to captain Benny Coulter.

Coulter was replaced in the first half just after scoring Down's first goal. A third-minute goal from Adrian Kelly helped Kildare go in at the break with a 1-6 to 1-4 advantage.

A Damien Rafferty penalty (45 minutes) and a Dan Hughes goal from a rebound (54) pushed Down 3-6 to 1-10 in front and, despite an eight-point haul from Kildare attacker John Doyle, the Mourne men held on.