Seamus Hanafin hit two points for the visitors in the opening period as the sides went off level at 0-6 apiece at the break but the Wee County should have been well ahead at that stage having kicked eight wides and missed a penalty through Derek Maguire. Ryan Lenaghan briefly put the hosts in front on the restart with a fine goal, but four unanswered Kildare points put them back in the driving seat. Derek Maguire then hit three late points for the visitors to put them through.

Scorers Louth: S McCann (0-2), J Clarke (01), P Smith (0-2, 1f), Ryan Lenaghan (1-1); E McArdle (0-2, 1f), D Maguire (0-3, 1f), N Conlon (0-1).

Kildare: P Kelly (0-2, 1f); R Howe (0-2), S Bergin (0-2), K Cribben (0-2); S Campbell (01), S Hani"n (0-4, 4f).