Louth punish wasteful Kildare to make Leinster decider

Louth have made a little piece of history by qualifying for back-to-back Leinster SFC finals for the first time since 1958 – and supporters will hope to keep the party going on Monday evening.

Seven points from captain Sam Mulroy and another powerful display from forward colleague Conor Grimes helped the Wee County to secure their return to Croke Park on 12 May.

They will play Dublin in the provincial decider while Kildare, out of sorts and struggling badly for inspiration, will head to the Tailteann Cup for the very first time.

It’s boom time for Louth GAA as their Under-20s are also through to the provincial decider and will take on Meath at nearby Parnell Park tomorrow.

They never looked like losing this senior semi-final and led from the 22nd minute of the game until full-time.

Mulroy and Grimes fired nine points between them while Ciaran Downey and Craig Lennon popped up with terrific scores too.

The cherry on top for manager Ger Brennan, who has stepped impressively into the giant boots left by Mickey Harte, was the return to action of Ciaran Byrne in the second half.

The former AFL player hadn’t featured for Louth in well over a year due to a cruciate knee ligament injury suffered early in last year’s league campaign.

Louth returned to GAA HQ armed with momentum following their four-goal quarter-final defeat of Wexford and also had the better Allianz Football League record.

They retained their Division 2 status over spring and concluded that campaign with a three-point win over Kildare who were relegated to Division 3.

Louth beat Kildare in last year’s league campaign also so came into this provincial semi-final against the Lilywhites in the novel position of being favourites.

They justified that tag with a strong first-half performance which vindicated the various positional and personnel switches made by Brennan.

Lennon, Dan Corcoran, Niall Sharkey and Paul Mathews were all late additions to the published lineup with changes in every line of the field as a result.

Kildare, meanwhile, made a solitary change from their official team sheet with the powerful Kevin O’Callaghan replacing Paddy Woodgate and partnering Aaron Masterson at midfield.

Kildare went with a talented full-forward line of Kevin Feely, Darragh Kirwan and Daniel Flynn but they struggled for scores and kicked just six in the opening half, three of which came from frees.

Feely beat Peter Lynch to a ball early on and clipped a neat point while Kirwan shrugged off his marker, Donal McKenny, for a tidy score later in the half.

Flynn had a shot at goal saved by rookie Louth ‘keeper Niall McDonnell but it was Louth’s attack that impressed most, stretching the Kildare defence and bursting through gaps with powerful diagonal runs.

Grimes was terrific and while his 24th minute solo score off his left boot was one for the highlights reel, it was his creative play and assists for Sharkey and Mathews scores that really stood out.

Ryan Burns and Ciaran Keenan brought terrific industry to the attack too and free-taker Mulroy converted anything that was put in front of him, adding up to three first-half points for the captain.

Louth led by 0-10 to 0-06 at the break and were full value for it but Kildare, knowing their Sam Maguire Cup status was on the line, upped the intensity immediately after the restart.

Kirwan sniped a point after 25 seconds and Feely increased his tally with one from play but Kildare wasted several chances through poor shooting and general over-elaboration.

Flynn, for example, tried to play in Eoin Doyle for a 45th-minute goal chance but the hard-running defender fumbled and couldn’t take advantage.

The best Kildare could manage was to reduce it to a three-point game in the 55th minute but Louth points in response from Mulroy (2) and Lennon re-opened a six-point lead and the favourites never looked in any great danger after that.

Louth had hit 11 goals in their three previous games but relied on points this time to secure the win and Tommy Durnin’s second of the game deep into stoppage time wrapped up the sweetest of wins for them.

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny, Dan Corcoran, Peter Lynch; Niall Sharkey (0-01), Conal McKeever, Anthony Williams; Tommy Durnin (0-02), Conor Grimes (0-02); Ciaran Downey (0-01), Ciaran Keenan, Craig Lennon (0-02); Paul Mathews (0-01), Sam Mulroy (0-07, 0-04f, 0-1 45), Ryan Burns (0-01).

Subs: Leonard Grey for Sharkey 52, Conor Early for Burns 55, Bevan Duffy for Corcoran 57, Ciaran Byrne for Mathews 68, Ciaran Murphy for Downey 72.

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O’Grady, Shea Ryan, Ryan Burke; Paddy McDermott, Eoin Doyle, Jack Sargent; Aaron Masterson, Kevin O’Callaghan; Shane Farrell (0-03, 0-03f), Darragh Kirwan (0-02), Alex Beirne; Kevin Feely (0-04, 0-02f), Niall Kelly, Daniel Flynn (0-01).

Subs: Barry Kelly for Beirne 41, Paddy Woodgate (0-02, 0-02f) for Niall Kelly 50, Tony Archbold (0-01) for Burke 55, Luke Killian for O’Callaghan 59, Shane O’Sullivan for Masterson 67.

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).

PHOTO CREDIT: CIARAN CULLIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY (LOUTH GAA)