Second half scoring spree sees Louth defeat Kildare in Minor Championship

Louth advanced to the Leinster MFC semi-final with a fully-deserved two-point win over Kildare at Manguard Park, Hawkfield, this evening, while Kildare go on to contest the quarter-final.

It was a game Kildare looked to have in the bag leading 1-11 to 0-7 on 49 minutes but the visitors went on a brilliant scoring spree hitting 1-7 led by Connell Kelly who scored 1-6.

The opening half was a real slow burner we had to wait for the six minute before we got the opening point, that from Kildare's Jack Reilly (free), who doubled that lead after 12 before Louth finally opened their scoring on 17 minutes through Rian McDonnell. The visitors were very wasteful, hitting no less than nine wides in the opening half.

The breakthrough came for Kildare on 17 minutes when Eoghan Lyons converted a penalty, the Louth keeper, Aaron O'Donaghue receiving a black card.

Half-time arrived with Kildare leading 1-3 to 0-3 on a lovely evening for football but overall a very poor first half.

But as stated it was Louth who finished the stronger with that impressive scoring spree, winning on a final score line of Louth 1-14 Kildare 1-12.

Scorers: Louth, Connell Kelly 1-6 (2 frees), Rian McDonnell 0-3, Joseph Lynch 0-2, Pauric Maguire 0-1, Cillian Duff 0-1, Conor Marron 0-1.

Kildare, Eoghan Lyons 1-2 (penalty), Greg Kelly 0-5 (2 two-pointers), Jack Reilly 0-4 (2 frees), Logan Tennyson 0-1.

LOUTH: Aaron O'Donaghue; Matthew Kierans, Killian McDonnell, Oliver Walsh; Finn McEneaney, Mark Smith, Conor Marron; Pauric Maguire, Tadhg McDonnell; Anthony Traynor, Connell Kelly, Joseph Lynch; Brian O'Neill, Cillian Duff, Rian McDonnell. Subs: Jakub Perkowski for Aaron O'Donaghue (black card 26-35); Ryan Gore for Jakub Perkowski (35 minutes); Cian Cunningham for Anthony Traynor (44 minutes); Tadhg Rooney for Killian McDonnell (48 minutes).

KILDARE: Joe Crotty (St Kevin's); Eoin Mackey (Kill), Ryan Crawford (Kilcock), Cathal Harris (Raheens); Fionn Lawlor (St Laurence's), Oisín McNiff (Raheens), Liam Mescal (Eadestown); Charlie Doran (Clane), Páidí Ryan (Round Towers); Jamie Flood (Maynooth), Luke Shanahan (Sallins), Eoghan Lyons (Clane); Jack Reilly (Kill), Greg Kelly (Castledermot), Logan Tennyson (St. Kevin's). Subs: Aidan Tobin (Allenwood) for Logan Tennson (38 minutes); Harry Feely (Naas) for Oisin McAfee (38 minutes); Aodhán Bergin (Grangenolvin) for Jamie Flood (40 minutes); Gearóid Clare (Moorefield) for Fionn Lawlor (56 minutes); Dylan Daniels (Carbury) for Jack Reilly (57 minutes); Ronan Duggan for Tadhg McDonnell (60 minutes).

REFEREE: Andrew Smith, Meath.