Defeat relegates Kildare to Division 3

Kildare were relegated to Division 3 of the Allianz Football League this afternoon following a three point loss to Louth at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge.

A must win for The Lilies and despite putting in a mighty second-half display came up just short against a Louth side who fully deserved their win.

The first half was a very open affair, early on at least, the sides level on three occasions, the last on 16 minutes at 0-6 apiece. However it was here Louth stepped up a gear adding three and while Brian McLoughlin and Alex Beirne replied, Louth hit back  through Sam Mulroy and Ciaran Keenan and when Sam Mulroy knocked over a two-pointer free, the visitors really turned it on adding four points, including one two-pointer (Mulroy) to leave the half-time score reading Louth 0-17 Kildare 0-10.

Kildare hit the opening three points of the second half before Louth replied with two of their own and while Brian McLoughlin fired over a two-pointer free when Conall McCaul pointed Louth led 0-20 to 0-15 on 46 minutes.

The vital goal arrived on 57 minutes, Kieran McArdle made no mistake after being put through by Conor Early.

As the game headed to the 60 minute the lead was out to six before Jack Robinsin, a half-time sub, got the crowd on their feet with a dazzling display, Alex Beirne hit a free before Robinson hit three in a row leaving four in it.

However Louth were not for turning added two points from McCaul and McDonnel and while Brian McLoughlin got the lead back to three it was not enough.

Final score: Louth 1-25 Kildare 0-25.

Scorers: Louth, Sam Mulroy 0-8 (1 two-point free, 2 two-pointer), Kieran McArdle 1-1, Conall McCaul 0-3, Paul Matthews 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Ciaran Keenan 0-3, Tadhg McDonnell 0-3 (two-pointer), Dara McDonnell 0-2, Conor Early 0-1, Sean Callaghan 0-1.

Kildare, Brian McLoughlin 0-7 (2 two-pointer frees), Alex Beirne 0-6 (2 frees), Jack Robinson 0-5, 1 free), Colm Moran 0-1, Ben Loakman 0-2, Tommy Gill 0-2, Colm Dalton 0-1, Eoin Cully 0-1.

KILDARE: Cian Burke; Harry O'Neill, Padraic Spillane, Ryan Burke; Tommy Gill, Brian Byrne, Ben McCormack; Eoin Lawler, Brian McLoughlin; Darragh Kirwan, Alex Beirne, Colm Dalton; Colm Moran, Callum Bolton, Ben Loakman. Subs: Mark Dempsey for Harry O'Neill (27 minutes); Daragh Ryan for Ben McComack (29 minutes); Jack Robinson for Colm Moran (half-time); Eoin Cully for Tommy Gilll (52 minutes); Brendan Gibbons for Colm Dalton (59 minutes).

LOUTH: Niall McDonnell; Emmett Carolan, Dermot Campbell, Daire Nally; Conall McKeever, Dara McDonnell, Eoghan Callaghan; Tommy Durnin, Conor Early; Paul Mathews, Sam Mulroy, James Maguire; Ciaran Keenan, Conall McCaul, Kieran McArdle. Subs: Tadhg McDonell for Eoghan O'Callaghan (2 minutes); Leonard Gray for Dermot Campbell (11 minutes); Conor Branigan for James Maguire (43 minutes); Sean Callaghan for Tommy Durnin (48 minutes); Sean Reynolds for Kieran McArdle (72 minutes).

REFEREE: Patrick Neilon, Roscommon.