Kildare 0-15; Louth 1-11: Kildare claimed a fifth straight league win at Newbridge but were forced to fight all the way by Louth, who have yet to win a game in the competition.

Pádraig Brennan secured the points for Kildare with an injury-time free shortly after Louth's top scorer Darren Clarke had levelled the game with the only goal of the afternoon.

Kildare were the better team for long periods against unfancied opponents and went ahead with scores from Johnny Doyle and Brennan.

They were four points ahead by the time Clarke opened their account midway through the opening half .

Clarke's free-taking kept Louth in touch but late scores from Doyle and Derek McCormack gave Kildare a 0-9 to 0-4 interval lead.

Louth showed considerable improvement with the wind advantage for the second half and they closed the gap to two points after Clarke converted another free and John Kermath scored from play.

With 10 minutes left Kildare appeared to have matters well under control but Louth's recovery began with scores from Clarke and Cormac Malone.

Then Ollie McDonnell pointed twice and the sides were level for the first time when Clarke's shot finished in the net, setting the scene for Brennan's coup de grâce.

KILDARE: E Murphy; B Lacey, D Hendy, D Lyons; E Callaghan (0-1), G Ryan, K Ennis; A Barry, K Brennan; M O'Sullivan (0-2), D McCormack (0-2), T Rossiter; P Brennan (0-4, two frees), D Earley, J Doyle (0-5, two frees). Subs: P Hurley for McCormack; R Sweeney (0-1) for Rossiter; P Donnelly for K Brennan.

LOUTH: S McCoy; R Kelly, J Clerkin, J Carr; P McGinnity, A Page, D Brennan; J Kermath (0-1), P McGuigan (0-1); C McGuinness, D Clarke (1-5, five frees), R Finnegan; D Bracken, O McDonnell (0-2), C Malone (0-1). Subs: R Rooney for Brennan, D Devanny (0-1) for Bracken; P Mallon for McGinnity; P Keenan for McGuigan; JJ Quigley for Kermath.

Referee: E Whelan (Laois).