Football League: Down relegated despite beating Kildare

Down were impressive 3-13 to 1-12 winners over Kildare in Newry but are still relegated from Division One.

Two goals from Eoin McCartan and another from Kevin McKernan ensured James McCartan's side finished the campaign on a winning note.

Kildare, already through to the semi-finals, rarely got out of second gear as Down made most of the running.

They led by 1-6 to 0-6 at half-time and McCartan's second goal two minutes after the restart gave Down a big lead.

Kevin McKernan top-scored for Down with 1-3 from play from midfield.

Just like they have done for most of this campaign, Down played with a lot of heart and on this occasion also got the result.

They looked like a team determined not to surrender top flight status without a fight and despite trailing on three occasions by a single point in the first quarter, Eoin McCartan's goal in the 17th minute ignited their afternoon.

They stayed in front for the rest of the game, Donal O'Hare's accuracy from frees and McKernan's surging runs forwards setting the tone. He blasted the ball into the roof of the net after 55 minutes for Down's third goal.

Former Cavan star Seanie Johnston had a poor game for Kildare and was replaced early in the second half.

Kieran McGeeney's Kildare hit 12 wides but Padraig O'Neill scored a consolation goal late on.

Down: B McVeigh; D McCartan, B McArdle, O Costello; D Rooney, P Turley, R Boyle (0-1); K King, K McKernan (1-3); M Poland, P Devlin (0-1, f), K Quinn; D O'Hare (0-4, 4f), E McCartan (2-0), B Coulter (0-1)

Subs: A McArdle for Quinn (30), R Mallon (0-1) for Coulter (HT), N Madine (0-2) for E McCartan (58), D Turley for P Turley (64), R Kelly for O'Hare (67)

Kildare: S Connolly; O Lyons, M Foley, H McGrillen; P Cribbin (0-2), P Kelly (0-1), E Doyle; D Flynn, P O'Neill (1-0); W Groome, E Callaghan (0-1), E O'Flaherty (0-2); J Doyle (0-5, 3f), S Johnston, A Smith (0-1)

Subs: S Hurley for Flynn (42), F Dowling for Johnston (47), N Kelly for Callaghan (53), C McNally for Groome (58), T O'Connor for Smith (64)

Referee: David Gough (Meath)

Allianz Football League results

Division One

Cork 0-10 0-11 Mayo

Donegal 1-10 0-13 Dublin

Down 3-13 1-12 Kildare

Tyrone 2-12 1-16 Kerry

Division Two

Armagh 0-21 1-12 Galway

Derry 2-17 1-05 Westmeath

Louth 1-14 1-08 Longford

Wexford 1-08 0-14 Laois

Division Three

Cavan 1-07 2-14 Roscommon

Meath 2-12 0-14 Fermanagh

Monaghan 3-16 0-13 Antrim

Sligo 1-12 0-11 Wicklow

Division Four

Carlow 0-10 0-15 Waterford

Clare 0-10 1-13 Limerick

Leitrim 1-1 1-09 London

Offaly 2-11 1-08 Tipperary