'Hoarse' Fitzpatrick delighted with win against Kildare

Louth manager Peter Fitzpatrick cut a happy figure, albeit a hoarse one, after his side qualified for a first Leinster SFC semi-final since 1998.

Louth shocked favourites Kildare into submission at Pairc Tailteann, running out six-point winners courtesy of their strongest Championship performance for some time.

Fitzpatrick, whose voice had taken a battering, croaked: "The secret was hard work. To be honest I never seen a bunch of lads put in such an effort. I'm just speechless.

"I think that they deserve everything that they get. The amount of people that knocked Louth over the last number of years and we are back up there again."

Fitzpatrick felt that his side had been written off unfairly and were not given the credit they deserved for their first round win over Longford.

"We played Longford two weeks ago and people were giving out about our performance," he said.

"It was our first game in the Championship and I thought that had been a very tough and physical game.

"I don't think people realise that Longford weren't a bad team, and I was just delighted to get the result. I kept faith with the 15 players that started the game, and I knew we could play a lot better."

Louth set the early pace against Kildare, and their manager felt that it was important for his men to dictate the game in the opening stages.

"I don't think Kildare gave us enough respect for the game. I just felt as though from the minute the game started, Kildare was going to come at us.

"So instead of them coming at us, we decided to go at them. For the first 15 minutes we played very, very well.

"I just felt that Kildare were thinking of a Leinster final, and in fairness it's a very funny thing to do. It's a Championship game - to me it's a one-off - and I think it's a 50-50 game.

"I said it all along that this isn't a bad Louth team. It's a young team, and one game isn't going to do everything for us.

"I'm sure Wicklow and Westmeath are probably saying to themselves now - 'it's Louth, three teams who have a realistic chance of getting to a Leinster final.'

"I think it is a fantastic situation to be in."

Fitzpatrick reckoned that his side were tested hugely by the Lilywhites but responded strongly throughout, adding: "In the second half we were leading by five points, and Kildare got three unanswered points. I knew this team was a good team, and we kept going.

"All I can say is that if any side deserves something for the hard work that has been put in since last November - we do.

"We are going to start regrouping and do our best, and honour the Wee County, Louth. We have three weeks to get ourselves organised again, and we just have to keep going."

Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney described his side's display as 'disappointing' when speaking after the match.

"I suppose that would cover it. You would think when you score 1-16 in a game you would do pretty well. Defensively we leaked 1-22 - 25 points - it's just brutal," he admitted.

"They were attacking from corner back right up (the field). We didn't stem the tide.

"We got ourselves back into the game, and had to take a quick free 30 yards out and stick it in the corner of the net.

"That seemed to be the whole day for us, we were napping from the start until the finish."