Donegal v Louth, Kildare v Fermanagh

Michael Verney in Croke Park:

Brian McLoughlin makes the difference off the bench as Kildare book Tailteann Cup final place

Kildare 1-13 Fermanagh 0-9

Brian McLoughlin changed the course of a dire Tailteann Cup semi-final with his impressive 0-4 contribution off the bench booking Kildare's place in the final.

Conditions were far from ideal in Croke Park with a couple of torrential downpours throughout the game but the action between the white lines was anything but inspiring in a forgettable encounter.

McLoughlin was only on the field for 20 minutes but he still walked away with the man-of-the-match award after a crucial two-pointer helped to turn to the tide with four points scored within a five-minute period while James McGrath put the game to bed with a late goal for the Lilies.

Victory for Brian Flanagan's side also helped to bury a Kildare hoodoo at the Jones' Road venue with just their fourth win from 24 games there dating all the way back to 2014.

For Fermanagh, Kieran Donnelly's side lacked the necessary punch in attack but they could have left just one point in it with eight minutes to play only for Josh Largo Elis' goal chance to be scrambled out on the line.

Kildare will head back to GAA HQ in three weeks where they meet surprise packets Limerick with the Tailteann Cup, and a place in the 2026 All-Ireland SFC, up for grabs.

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