Leinster SFC Louth 1-22 Kildare 1-15 LOUTH PUT Kildare to the sword out on the pitch and their manager, Peter Fitzpatrick, afterwards accused their victims of arrogance in presuming they were already in a Leinster final.
Whether or not there was any complacency within the ranks, Kildare were certainly second best for most of the game.
With Brian White and Paddy Keenan dominant at midfield, Louth laid waste to their opponents’ defensive set-up, which was in tatters long before the final whistle.
With the majority of possession, Shane Lennon, JP Rooney and the pacy Andy McDonnell were able to capitalise. The defensive frailties of both sides made for entertaining stuff for the neutral, the final tally of 40 scores far in excess of what is the norm.
“I don’t think Kildare gave us enough respect. . . I just felt as though they were teeing up a Leinster final and it’s a very strange thing to do. It’s championship game, to me it’s a one-off and it’s a 50-50 game. I said it all along and I don’t think a lot of people believed me, this is not a bad Louth team,” said Fitzpatrick.
Louth started brightly with a point after 17 seconds from Lennon. Rooney followed up almost immediately afterwards and that duo continued to cause the Kildare full-back line huge trouble, sharing six points from play in the first half.
John Doyle got Kildare off the mark with a point from a free as Louth continued to dominate midfield and deliver quickly to the danger men inside. White kicked two points, one from a free, Rooney bagged his second and Louth were full value for their four-point lead.
But Kildare were in front three minutes later. Pádraig O’Neill fisted a point and James Kavanagh then set up O’Neill, who fired low to the net in the 13th minute.
Sweeney chipped a point with a goal on offer but Louth showed their resolve, kicking seven points without replay. White, Lennon, Mark Brennan, Colm Judge and McDonnell all found the mark and Kildare were floundering.
Kildare made two substitutions, bringing on Dermot Earley, although the All-Star midfielder’s introduction for O’Neill was very surprising, given the problems in defence and midfield.
Louth led by 0-14 to 1-6 at half -time but Kildare resumed with serious intent, Daryl Flynn, Whyte and Kavanagh all launching points from distance.
Then came the game’s most crucial moment, as a quick 39th minute free from Mark Brennan found Louth wing-back Ray Finnegan lurking and he fired a rasping left-foot drive to the net.
Soon, Louth were seven points ahead again. But Kavanagh and Doyle helped Kildare cut the deficit down to two with 16 minutes still remaining. But again Louth responded in style and five consecutive points from Adrian Reid, Lennon, Judge and McDonnell (two) put the issue beyond doubt.
LOUTH:N Gallagher; E McAuley, D Finnegan, R Greene; R Finnegan (1-0), M Fanning, J O'Brien; P Keenan, B White (0-7 six frees); M Brennan (0-1), A McDonnell (0-3), A Reid (0-1); C Judge (0-3, frees), S Lennon (0-4), JP Rooney (0-3). Subs:D Byrne for Keenan (38-39); Byrne for McAuley (67); A Hoey for Reid (68); D Clarke for Rooney (70+3); S Fitzpatrick for Finnegan (70+3)
KILDARE:S McCormack; H McGrillan, G White, E Bolton; M O'Flaherty, B Flanagan, K Cribbin; D Flynn (0-1), D Whyte (0-1); J Kavanagh (0-2), R Sweeney (0-1), P O'Neill (1-1); J Doyle (0-9, seven frees), E Callaghan, A Smith (0-1). Subs:A Mac Lochlainn for Bolton (19); D Earley for O'Neill (29); T O'Connor for Callaghan (ht); D Hendy for Cribbin (45); Callaghan for Sweeney (60)
Referee:Michael Duffy
