Louth seal Division 2 status with win over Kildare

The Lilywhites end a sorry campaign on a low note. 

Conor Grimes of Louth stretches for the ball during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match against Kildare at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. Picture: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

LOUTH 1-12 KILDARE 0-12

Ryan Burns’ first-half goal was enough to give the Wee County a precious win at Netwatch Cullen Park that secures their Division 2 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 to clear and make sure of the win.

Even though there was a nervy ending, there was no doubting that Louth were deserving winners as Kildare finished out a dismal season with a seventh successive defeat. Glenn 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 but Kildare weren’t good to take advantage and the Louth celebrations at the end were in stark contrast to the feelings within the Kildare dressing room.

SCORERS: Louth - : S Mulroy 0-5 (4f, 1 45); R Burns 1-2; T Jackson 0-2; C Grimes 0-1, L Grey 0-1, C Downey 0-1.

Kildare - P Woodgate 0-5 (3fs, 1’ 45) A Masterson 0-3, K Feely 0-2s, D Kirwan 0-1, P McDermott 0-1, D Flynn 0-1.

LOUTH: N McConnell; D McKenny, D Campbell, P Lynch; C McKeever, A Williams, L Grey; T Durnin, S Mulroy; T Jackson, C Downey, C Murphy; R Burns, C Grimes, C Keenan. Subs: C Lennon for Murphy, 40; L Jackson for T Jackson, 65; N Sharkey for Burns, 70+2; D Corcoran for Keenan, 70+2.

KILDARE: M Donnellan; S Ryan, M O’Grady, R Burke; P McDermott, E Doyle, B Byrne; A Masterson, L Killian; A Beirne, S O’Sullivan, S Farrell; K Feely, D Flynn, P Woodgate. Subs: J Sargent for Doyle, 18; R Burke for Houlihan, 26; D Kirwan for O’Sullivan, 50; B Coffey for Flynn, 65; R Teahan, 67.

REFEREE: J McQuillan (Cavan).