DERMOT EARLEY continued his fitness drive when lining out at midfield as Kildare beat Louth 1-15 to 1-9 in the Leinster JFC at St Conleth’s Park last night.

It was the dual All-Star’s first championship start for the county since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in the 2010 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Meath. A recurrence of the injury ruled him out of the entire season last year.

Playing a holding role in the middle, the 33-year-old made a stunning start, sending an inch-perfect kick pass behind the Louth defence into Cathal McNally’s arms and the Johnstownbridge man found the net with just 53 seconds elapsed.

Another quality pass from deeper set up a point for Conor Duffy but Louth kept in touch courtesy of three points from Ronan Holdcroft.

Earley launched a nice point at the end of a move he started himself in the last action of the first half to give Kildare a 1-7 to 0-6 interval lead.

There was a hint of concern when the Sarsfields man picked up a knock to his right ankle on the restart but he shrugged that off to play a full part in the second half, finishing with a left-footed point to cap off a worthwhile exercise.

Roscommon’s hopes of a first championship victory over Galway since 2001 have suffered a set-back with defender Donal Ward ruled out of their Connacht quarter-final clash on Sunday week.

Wing-back Ward was a key figure last season as Roscommon reached the provincial final but has been struggling ever since with a groin injury picked up in August playing for his club Western Gaels. The injury forced him to miss Roscommon’s league campaign but he was on course for a return in the championship before suffering a recurrence of the injury in training.

Roscommon manager Des Newton said Ward faces another six weeks on the sidelines.