Down stay in Joe McDonagh as Kildare make the drop to Christy Ring

Pearse Óg McCrickard scored a brilliant 15 points as Down defeated Kildare in Hawkfield to preserve their status in the McDonagh Cup next year, while sending their hosts plummeting through the trapdoor and down to Christy Ring level.

There was no trophy presented at the end of the game but this very much had the feel of a final with both sides battling for their lives but Down just carried that extra edge with McCrickard in outstanding form, and the return of the two Sands, Daithi and Eoghan, also having a big impact for the Ulster side.

Down hit the ground running early on and raced into an 0-4 to 0-1 lead. By the time that had turned into a 0-9 to 0-3 lead in the 18th minute, it was clear who was having the upper hand.

A 22nd minute goal by Declan Flaherty brought Kildare back into the game but McCrickard answered back with two points and Mark Fisher added another. Kildare replied with a spell of three successive points to the bring the gap back to three again but it was Down who scored the last three points of the half in a pivotal spell to leave them 0-15 to 1-6 heading to the dressing rooms.

Kildare needed a quick start to the second half and scored the first two points after the restart through David Qualter but those scores were quickly wiped out by three Down points, including another two by McCrickard. McCrickard scored again in the 48th minute to make it 0-20 to 1-10 as Down threatened to run away with the game but Kildare were handed a lifeline when James Burke was fouled inside the square and goalkeeper Paddy McKenna converted the penalty.

Cian Shanahan added a point to leave three between the teams but once more, Down had the answers and when three points were followed by Eoghan Sands goal in the 64th minute,