Kildare rue one that got away against Louth

Louth 1-18

Kildare 0-18

In the end of this Leinster Senior Football Championship at Glenisk O'Connor Park in Tullamore, on Sunday afternoon, there was just three points separating Kildare and Louth and that enough for the Wee County advance to decider setting up a date with their near and fierce rivals, Meath, in two weeks time.

For Kildare, this will go down as one they left behind them; and left behind them big time.

If ever a game was there for taking this was it after 70 minutes plus of a game dominated for long periods by the boys in white; who began superbly; went in at half time trailing by four points after conceding a goal that looked suspiciously like a 'square' ball, which must have had Brian Flanagan's men in near shock; fought their way back to level twice, but then got caught by a two-pointer from way out the field to end, not only their provincial campaign of 2025 but also sent Kildare into the Tailteann Cup in two weeks time.

Painful, to say the very least.

Kildare can still look back on this game as one, if not there best, display of the entire season.

Dominated the opening 17 or 18 minutes with some superb field, excellent finishing before conceding late in the half.

Kildare had nine shots on goal in the opening 15 minutes, converting no less than eight of them in a period of the game that saw Kevin Feely at his best with some magnificent high fielding; moving from the middle up to the edge of the square with great effect.

Darragh Kirwan set up Alex Beirne for the opener, the Naas man (Beirne) added a second and while Craig Lennon opened Louth account on four, Kildare stormed ahead with a Darragh Kirwan free, followed by another from the same player.

The big forward found himself inside with just the keeper to beat but elected to punch over instead of looking for the net — this was the first of six goal opportunities that The Lilies carved out but unfortunately did not manage to convert one.

Ryan Burke hit a beauty followed by a brilliant Callum Bolton effort to make it 0-6 to 0-1 with just eleven minutes on the clock.
Ryan Burns got the first of his two points for Louth before Kevin Feely and Colm Dalton made it 0-8 to 0-2 on 15 gone.

Kieran McCabe replied for Louth before Sam Mulroy added a point before kicking a long-distance two-pointer free to reduce the deficit to two and when Craig Lennon added another it was back to the minimum.

Alex Beirne converted a free before Conor Grimes traveled a long way, his effort was blocked by Ryan Burke, but the play was called back for a free and Mulroy converted.

Daragh Kirwan had The Lilies two clear; Donal McKenny reduced it back but Kildare came storming back with Ryan Sinkey bearing down on goal his effort was brilliantly saved by Louth keeper Niall McDonnell and in the very next attack Sam Mulroy hit an impressive two-pointer to put his side ahead for the first time — 0-11 to 0-10 on 33 minutes.

Worse was to follow for Kildare in a move that began at the back with Peter Lynch and involved Craig Lennon, Kieran McArdle and Conall McKeever ended with wing-back palming to the net.

The umpire did not reach for the green flag however as Kildare players protested, led in particular captain Kevin Feely, over a possible square ball, however after the referee consulted with his umpires the green flag was raised and Louth went in at the break leading 1-11 to 0-10 which was a ten-point turn-around.

A major set-back for Kildare and a huge boost for Ger Brennan's boys in red.

On the restart Louth hit two quick wides before Alex Beirne tap-over after Lough was in breach of the 'four at the back' rule and when Ryan Sinkey punched over a point the lead was back to two.

A Sam Mulroy free (his only score of the second half) was followed by a Darragh Kirwan points but again Louth replied instantly, this time Lennon firing over to leave it 1-13 to 0-13 with 46 on the clock.

Substitute Cathal Hagney saw a two-point effort miss the target, incredibly that was Kildare's first — and only — two point attempt.

Ryan Burns and Brian McLoughlin exchanged points as Mark Dempsey cleared a dangerous Louth attack with some excellent defending.

Alex Beirne made headway towards the Louth goal but his effort was poor and went left and wide.

Brian Byrne dispossed Ryan Byrne as Kildare came again and this time Alex Beirne reduced the lead to two and when Darragh Kirwan fired over the Kildare fans in the disappointing attendance of 6,670 were in full voice.

Coming up to the hour and Kildare carved out another goal chance, Darragh Kirwan forcing Niall McDonnell into a brilliant save, diving to his right.

A minute later and the sides were level when Alex Beirne found the target.

Again Louth hit back to regain the lead, Craig Lennon hitting one from just inside the arc but The Lilies replied with Colm Dalton leveling up again with just three minutes left.

Louth though regained the initiative with a fine effort from Kieran McArdle and then the real killer blow when Tommy Durnin hit an incredible two-pointer to put his side three clear.

Kildare came back, the hooter sounded but Kildare were awarded a free on the 45 which was pushed out over the end-line, a second 45 ensued but nothing came of it, Louth cleared, this time over the sideline as the referee called time with the score board reading Louth 1-18 Kildare 0-18.

A great win for the boys in red but absolute heartbreak for Kildare after domination for long periods of the opening half followed by a second that saw them constantly in possession but unable bridge the hard-working Louth defence.

So it's a Leinster decider for the winners, taking on Meath, while for Kildare it is the Tailteann Cup road for the second year in a row.

Unfortunately!

MAIN MAN

Kevin Feely
While Alex Beirne had a fine game with six points and Darragh hit one less, it was team captain Kevin Feely who stood out, especially in the opening quarter and then again when Kildare dominated the second half.

TURNING POINT
In a game like this a goal was always going to be not just crucial but vitally important and that is the way it turned out; the only goal of the game from Conall McKeever was decisive while the monster two-pointer from Tommy Durnin was the final nail in the coffin of Kildare.

TALKING POINT
The main talking point, from a Kildare point of view, was the amount of goal opportunities the boys in white carved out for themselves but failed to convert one, while the fact that just one two-pointer was attempted throughout the game, tells its own story.

WHAT NOW?
Louth now take on Meath in the Leinster final, while Kildare head to the Tailteann Cup.

SCORERS

Louth: Sam Mulroy 0-7 (1 two-pointer free, one two-pointer, 1 free), Craig Lennon 0-4, Conall McKeever 1-0, Tommy Durnin 0-2 (two-pointer), Kieran McArdle 0-2, Ryan Burne 0-2, Donal McKenny 0-1.

Kildare: Alex Beirne 0-6 (2 frees), Darragh Kirwan 0-5 (1 free), Colm Dalton 0-2, Callum Bolton 0-1, Kevin Feely 0-1, Ryan Burke 0-1, Ryan Sinkey 0-1, Brian McLoughlin 0-1.

TEAMS

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Craig Lennon, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Daire Nally, Peter Lynch, Conal McKeever; Tommy Durnin, Andy McDonnell; Paul Matthews, Ciaran Downey, Conor Grimes; Kieran McArdle, Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns. Subs: Dara McDonnell for Paul Matthews (41 minutes); Dylan McKeown for Ryan Burns (58 minutes); Emmet Carolan for Dermot Campbell (58 minutes); Liam Jackson for Andy McDonnell (60 minutes); Conor Brannigan for Conor Grimes (67 minutes).

Kildare: Cian Burke; Ryan Burke, Mark Dempsey, Brian Byrne; Tommy Gill, David Hyland, James McGrath; Kevin Feely cpt, Callum Bolton; Colm Dalton, Alex Beirne, Ben McCormack; Ryan Sinkey, Darragh Kirwan, Brian McLoughlin. Subs: Cathal Hagney for Callum Bolton (half-time): Niall Kelly for Ben McCormack (43 minutes); Jimmy Hyland for Ryan Sinkey (54 minutes); Ryan Houlihan for Tommy Gill (65 minutes); Kevin Flynn for James McGrath (68 minutes).

REFEREE: Brendan Griffin, Kerry.

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