Awesome Laois expose limited Lilywhites

Laois 0-21 Kildare 0-9

But it is hard to recall anything in their breakthrough summer that comes close to the wonderful football we witnessed in Croke Park yesterday.

If there are better performances this summer, we are in for a magical football championship. Laois were awesome in every department. From Aidan Fennelly and Joe Higgins in the defensive corners to Barry Brennan and Billy Sheehan up front, they dominated each sector and exposed the limitations of a Kildare side that had been some people’s quiet fancy for the Leinster championship.

Of course, it’s impossible to predict what is going to happen in Leinster football. This match was just another example of that. It was deemed to be too close to call, an encounter that would be up in the air until the dying moments. It was over by half-time.The Lilywhite support did have a glimmer of hope in the 20th minute, when Mick Foley burst through the middle, shipping a number of heavy shoulder challenges along the way, and split the posts, bringing Kildare back to within two points, 0-6 to 0-4.

And they can feel slightly aggrieved at what happened next. Ronan Sweeney was building a Kildare attack from the kick-out when he appeared to be fouled by Tom Kelly. The referee, in close vicinity, waved play on and Laois countered, Ross Munnelly kicking a wonder point from the right wing to stretch Laois’ lead.

Munnelly’s point sparked a 12-minute spell of scintillating football, during which he was the most prominent player. He has blossomed into the Laois playmaker. Some of his scores yesterday were a joy to behold, but even when he wasn’t finishing off their sweeping attacks, Munnelly’s vision and running perplexed the Kildare defence.

Alongside him in the half-forward line, Brennan and Sheehan displayed the composure of veterans. The half-forward line contributed 13 of the Laois points. Brennan, in particular, staked a claim for a permanent place, his performance polished by four excellent points from play.Although Kildare didn’t perform, that takes little away from this Laois display. Slightly stung by the criticism from the Offaly game, they were a team with a point to prove. And prove it, they did.

Pauric Clancy won the throw-in, immediately setting his side on the attack. When he was fouled, Munnelly stepped up to punish Kildare. That first move, within the first 30 seconds, was the afternoon in microcosm.

By the time Munnelly slotted another free over in the 7th minute, Laois were four points to no score up and Kildare’s dangerous duo of John Doyle and Tadhg Fennin were looking increasingly isolated in the corners.

While Foley did open the Lilywhite account in the 10th minute with a fine score, the tone for the afternoon had been set: domination of the game by a very impressive Laois side.

The basis for this domination, Munnelly’s magic aside, was around the middle where Clancy and Noel Garvan bossed affairs for the entire 70 minutes. Laois people were fearful of the midfield battle before this game.

Garvan and Clancy proved such fears were unfounded. On the few occasions Kildare won possession around the middle, they had to negotiate a path past Tom Kelly, not easy when the Laois centre-back is in form. This was, as close, to a flawless performance as you will find in the championship. Willie Heffernan’s introduction in the 44th minute steadied things for the Lilywhites, but by that stage, the damage was done. Heffernan scored a point with his first touch of the ball, which made you wonder why he hadn’t started.

It probably wouldn’t have made much difference. Chris Conway’s free in the 34th minute climaxed Laois’ magnificent first half display that saw them lead 0-12 to 0-4 at half-time.

The one blemish was the red card to Shane Cooke in the 64th minute. He had only been on the field eight minutes, when he got entangled with James Longeran. The influence of Munnelly on this side grows and grows, but there are players blossoming along with him, Brennan especially. If they continue in this vein, that magical summer of 2003 will only be remembered as an aperitif.

Scorers: Laois: R Munnelly (0-7, 4 frees), C Conway (0-5, 3 frees), B Brennan (0-4), B Sheehan (0-2), N Garvan, K Fitzpatrick, B McDonald (0-1 each). Kildare: D McCormack, M Foley (0-2 each), J Doyle (0-2, 1 50), S McKenzie-Smith, W Heffernan (0-1 each), T Fennin (0-1, free)

LAOIS: F Byron; A Fennelly, D Rooney, J Higgins, C Begley, T Kelly, P McMahon; P Clancy, N Garvan; R Munnelly, B Brennan, B Sheehan, C Conway, K Fitzpatrick, B McDonald.

Subs: G Kavanagh for B McDonald, S Cooke for Fitzpatrick (both 57 mins), P McDonald for Begley (65 mins.)

KILDARE: E Murphy; J Longeran, A Rainbow, A McLoughlin, M Wright, G Ryan, K Ennis; K Brennan, M Foley; D McCormack, D Earley, R Sweeney, T Fennin, R Glavin, J Doyle.

Subs: A Barry for Wright (23 mins), W. Heffernan for Brennan (46 mins), S McKenzie-Smith for Glavin (42 mins), J Kavanagh for Fennin (65 mins)

Ref: J Geaney (Cork).