Down defeated Kildare at Croke Park on Sunday to advance to the All Ireland Final, where they will face Cork.

Down were more clinical in a game that will haunt Kildare for some time.  The Lilywhites had several opportunities at the end to secure a draw if not a win, but the woodwork denied them and now they are out.

To add insult to injury, Benny Coulter’s first half goal looked like a square ball but the referee let it stand, and the score was ultimately the momentum swing that Down used as a foundation for the win.

Down went into the break 1-9 to 0-7 and stretched their lead to 1-14 to 0-10, but Kildare scored a goal in the 58th minute and nearly staged a monumental comeback.

They hit the woodwork twice in the closing minutes but the rub of the green was with Down, who somehow held on to win.

Down are 5-0 in All Ireland Finals and will fancy their chances to maintain their unbeaten record as they know they can play better than today's performance would suggest. 

The woodwork, a bad referee decision and missed chances will make the men from Leinster rue this match for the rest of the year.

However, as the old adage goes , it is a results business, and today the result was in favor of the men from Down.