Kildare 0-23 Louth 1-18
The good times keep on rolling for Ronan Kelly who starred at Parnell Park with seven points as Kildare edged Louth in a thrilling Dalata Hotel Group Leinster Under-20 final.
Niall Cronin's side were two points behind holders Louth with just four minutes remaining but dug deep and responded with the last four points of the game to secure their 14th provincial title.
Kelly was relatively quiet in last week's semi-final win over Meath but burst into life with a brilliant individual display, scoring two of those late points to help turn the screw.
Kelly and forward colleague Colm Moran, who scored two points on the evening, were key figures for Kildare SFC winners Athy last winter and have brought that excellent form with them into 2026.
They provided the inspiration again and were joined by the likes of Ruaidhrí Lawlor, Jimmy Lynch and joint-captain Ben Ryan in offering vital leadership throughout the provincial championship.
It's Kildare's first title since 2023 and with next Wednesday evening's All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone in mind, they will hope it is a good omen that they went on to win the national title three years ago.
It's the end of the road for a talented Louth team who were chasing back-to-back titles for the first time in the county's history.
The provincial final was a familiar experience for Louth with boss Fergal Reel able to carry over the majority of last year's successful panel.
In fact, with Pearse Grimes Murphy and Keelin Martin late additions to the line-up, Reel named a whopping 11 of the team that started last year's All-Ireland final loss to Tyrone.
Kildare edged the first 10 minutes or so and led 0-04 to 0-02 when a huge turning point arrived.
Kildare defender Ryan, son of former senior manager Glenn, cut through the Louth defence but was shouldered to the ground just before he pulled the trigger.
Kildare fans cried foul but Louth took full advantage by racing down the pitch and netting through Adam Gillespie, shoving them a point up.
That score lit Louth's touchpaper and they surged 1-07 to 0-05 ahead after 24 minutes, thanks in part to two-pointers from Gillespie and goalkeeper Tiarnan Markey.
But Louth's purple patch was halted by a resurgent Kildare who reeled off three two-pointers in a row, two from Lawlor, to lead 0-12 to 1-08 at half time.
And that's pretty much how the game continued to play out, as a glorious back and forth with the sides level no less than eight times in the second half.
Markey added three more points in that half for Louth, bringing his tally to five points for the evening.
Then Tony McDonnell came alive for Louth with a single from a free and a two-pointer when they won the subsequent kick-out to leave the holders 1-18 to 0-19 ahead.
Louth hoped they'd finally broken the back of Kildare's challenge though the young Lilies had saved a strong kick for the finish line.
Kelly, Calum Keaveny, Lynch and then Kelly again registered those four points in a row to propel them to a memorable win.
Kildare: Charlie Carroll; Finn Dowling, Senan Gallagher, Ben Ryan; Liam Kelly, Cian McDevitt, Calum Keaveny (0-02); Evan Boyle, Daniel Colbert; Euan Cowzer (0-02), Ruaidhrí Lawlor (0-05, 2tp), Liam Kenny (0-01); Jimmy Lynch (0-04, 0-03fs), Colm Moran (0-02), Ronan Kelly (0-07, 1tpf, 0-01f).
Subs: Harry Redmond for Kenny (39), Rob Murray for McKevitt (53), Hugh Martin for Cowzer (57).
Louth: Tiarnan Markey (0-05, 2tpf, 0-01 45); Padraic Tinnelly, Cormac McKeown, Daniel Craven; Keelin Martin (0-01), Micheál Reid, Tadhg Devaney; Colm Hackett, Shane Lennon (0-03); Conor McGinty, Conor MacCríosta, Pearse Grimes Murphy (0-02); Adam Gillespie (1-04, 1tp), Sean Flynn, Tony McDonnell (0-03, 0-01f, 1tp).
Subs: Andrew O'Reilly for Hackett (43).
Referee: Seamus Farrelly (Dublin).
52 Nóim@GaaClare 3-14 (23)@OfficialCorkGAA 2-17 (23)
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 6, 2026
Táimid ar chomh scór arís
Cleary with his second goal !!@GAA_BEO #GAABeo pic.twitter.com/8wMw7zdWaR
Elsewhere, Clare booked their passage to the final of the Munster U20 Hurling Championship with a 3-20 to 2-17 win over Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Paul Rodgers and Marco Cleary scored first-half goals as the Banner took a 2-09 to 0-11 advantage in at the break.
Majors from Johnny Murphy and Barry O'Flynn put the Rebels a goal up with 10 minutes to play but the momentum swung again after Cleary's second goal and from there on the visitors scored the last six points of the game.
They will face Tipperary in Limerick in next Wednesday's final.
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