Wee County send Kildare into Tailteann Cup

Leinster SFC semi-final

Louth 0-17

Kildare 0-13

The Leinster senior football championship campaign came to an abrupt end for Kildare on Sunday when, in front of what must be one of the smallest attendance at a provincial semi-final (at least for the opening game) Louth repeated their league win, this time with three points to spare.

Kildare can wonder and think of what might have been.

What might have been if that opening chance, over-hit when Niall Kelly was in behind the defence; scorable free and a mark could have seen The Lilies lead 1-2 or 1-3 to no score but that was the template that continued to frustrate players, supporters and management as the amount of chances created bore little resemblance with what was transferred on to the score board.

It took all of seven minutes before the opening point for Kildare arrived, and even that was hardly copy-book stuff after a point attempt was schewed but Kevin Feely managed to gather and fire over. A minute earlier Louth had opened their account through Tommy Durnin.

An early Louth scare goal from Conor Grimes was denied by Mark Donnellan but the ball flew loose and was punched over by Ryan Burns.

Craig Lennon increased the lead when he ghosted by a Kildare player to plant the ball over and make it 0-3 to 0-1 with 14 minutes on the clock.

Kevin Feely converted a free after Kevin O'Callaghan was fouled and when Shane Farrell converted a fine free from 45m the sides were tied up at 0-3 apiece.

Kildare took the lead through a Darragh Kirwan but Louth responded quickly with, initially a Sam Mulroy free after Ciarán Keenan was fouled, followed by another converted free by the same player to leave Louth in front by one 0-5 to 0-4.

A lovely left footed point from the boot of Conor Grimes was followed by another free from Mulroy, the no. 14 having been fouled himself.

Kildare were looking somewhat vulnerable, Louth's quick decisive passing opening them up.

Paddy McDermott came forward, as he did throughout the game but gained little from his runs, was fouled but Kevin Feeley's effort was short, well fielded and the danger cleared by a Louth defence that was working hard.

A point from Paul Matthews was simply too easy from a Kildare point of view as Louth now led by five points as we came up to the half-hour mark.

Daniel Flynn got his only point of the game.

Mark Donnellan cleared his lines and began a move that ended with Darragh Kirwan being fouled on the 45m line. Shane Farrell fired over the free with confidence.

Alex Beirne hit a wide, Conor Grimes danced through the Kildare defence and fired over as we reached the half-time whistle Louth leading by four — 0-10 to 0-6.

Kildare looked in trouble at this stage they were creating the chances but not converting anything like they should have been at this level.

Kildare hit the ground running on the restart with Darragh Kirwan firing over inside a minute.

Sam Mulroy failed to find the target from a free before Kevin O'Callaghan made a brilliant diving black on Craig Lennon, the ball going out for a 45 which was duly converted by Mulroy.

Barry Kelly was the first man off the bench for Kildare and the Athy man, as expected was involved from the word go.

Kevin Feely reduced the deficit before Kildare eeked out a great goal chance with Daniel Flynn making one of his mazy runs.

However, instead of pulling the trigger he elected to pass to Eoin Doyle, the Naas man was caught unawares and while he did make contact the chance disappeared with the ball ending up wide of the target.

It was not the first time that a player should have let go for the net; probably a lack of confidence but when these chances are made and not taken it simply drains the confidence out of players.

Aaron Masterson made a brilliant catch, was fouled, but again nothing came from the possession as Kevin Feely picked up a yellow card.

Conor Grimes and another Sam Mulroy free put five between them on 51 minutes as Kildare looked increasingly in danger of exiting, not just the Leinster Championship but the All-Ireland series.

Shane Farrell, converted a free some 50m out as Louth's Dan Corcoran picked up a yellow for a foul on Barry Kelly.

Kevin Feely converted a free as Paddy Woodgate hit two wides on the trot while Sam Mulroy left his side four points to the good.

A foul on Barry Kelly saw Paddy Woodgate miss the target; Barry Kelly picked up a yellow as Louth tacked on two more points, Craig Lennon, his second and another from the impressive Sam Mulroy.

Sixty minutes on the clock and six points separating the sides as Tony Archbold hit a fine point but two terrible wides from close range only emphasised Kildare's lack of conversion.

Paddy Woodgate converted a free after Daniel Flynn and Mick O'Grady combined before the Celbridge man was fouled.

The final score of the game went to Louth with Tommy Durnin getting his second of the game as the final whistle arrived with Louth advancing on a final score line of Louth 0-17 Kildare 0-13.

SCORERS

Louth: Sam Mulroy 0-7 (4 frees, 45), Conor Grimes 0-2, Tommy Durnin 0-2, , Craig Lennon 0-2, Niall Sharkey 0-1, Paul Matthews 0-1, Ryan Burns 0-1, Ciarán Downey 0-1.

Kildare: Kevin Feely 0-4 (2 frees), Shane Farrell 0-3 (3 frees), Paddy Woodgate 0-2 (2 frees), Darragh Kirwan 0-2, Daniel Flynn 0-1, Tony Archbold 0-1.

TEAMS

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny, Dan Corcoran, Peter Lynch; Conall McKeever, Anthony Williams, Niall Sharkey; Tommy Durnin, Paul Matthews; Craig Lennon, Ciarán Keenan, Conor Grimes; Ryan Burns, Sam Mulroy, Ciarán Downey. Subs: Leonard Grey for Niall Sharkey for (52 minutes); Conor Early for Ryan Burns (55 minutes); Bevan Duffy for Dan Corcoran (57 minutes); Ciaran Byrne for Paul Matthews (68 minutes); Ciarán Murphy for Ciarán Downey (72 minutes).

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Ryan Burke, Shea Ryan, Mick O'Grady; Jack Sargent, Eoin Doyle, Paddy McDermott; Aaron Masterson, Alex Beirne; Kevin O'Callaghan, Niall Kelly, Shane Farrell; Kevin Feely, Darragh Kirwan, Daniel Flynn. Subs: Barry Kelly for Alex Beirne (41 minutes); Paddy Woodgate for Niall Kelly (50 minutes); Tony Archbold for Ryan Burke (55 minutes); Luke Killian for Kevin O'Callaghan (58 minutes); Shane O'Sullivan for Aaron Masterson (68 minutes).

REFEREE: Conor Lane, Cork.