Laois longing ends after 57-years

Laois 2-13 Kildare 1-13

It provided a fitting climax to a marvellous contest which featured two controversial sending-offs inside the opening 20 minutes, a remarkable recovery by Kildare when they were down to 13 men and an admirable display of character by Laois at the finish. Pure theatre and who better to direct the winning performance than the mighty Mick O'Dwyer.

The game was just three and a half minutes in motion when Kildare lost influential midfielder Alan Barry. He got a first yellow card (along with Pauric Clancy) for an off-the-ball incident spotted by the linesman. The second yellow and then red was for a heavy frontal tackle. Without question it was harsh and for the challengers a bombshell.

Making little of the occasion, or their overwhelming favouritism, Laois had begun the game in style, hitting three points inside six minutes and showing great flair in their early attacks. Predictably, Kildare were disorientated by their dilemma reacting first by pulling Killian Brennan back from wing-forward and leaving a vacancy inside but, to their credit, it didn't take them long to come to terms with it. Full-forward Stewart McKenzie Smyth was one of the players who helped show the way and was fittingly rewarded with their opening score, in the 15th minute.

By the time they got their second, eleven minutes later, Laois had lost wing-back Kevin Fitzpatrick, red-carded in the 18th minute for taking down Tadhg Fennin.

On the video replay it looked bad, but it was simply that he committed himself to winning a ball on the ground.

Kildare, forced to start without Anthony Rainbow and Karl Ennis (and also missing Dermot Earley), were experiencing big problems in defence, with Ian Fitzgerald in particular a key influence for Laois at full-forward and Brian McDonald typically crafty in the corner. Additionally, they got a very good return from their half-forwards in terms of work-rate. However, the introduction of Glen Ryan at centre-back for Kildare, with resultant changes which saw Brian Lacey move over on Fitzgerald, facilitated a steady improvement. And Ryan was to make a massive contribution.

Notably, with Laois failing to dominate at midfield (Clancy, in particular, never found his form), Kildare were to win a lot of ball in this sector.

Taking account of the fact that they were much more competitive in defence and making steady progress in attack, they should have been much closer on the scoreboad than 0-7 to 0-2 facing into the last ten minutes of the half.

However, two pointed frees from Patrick Murray (another who didn't make the most of his possession) gave them renewed hope. And, with Laois now starting to struggle for scores (and Damien Delaney missing a few frees), the initiative stayed with Kildare right up to the break when they trailed by just two points, 0-8 to 0-6.

Laois had the ball in the net after a mere ten seconds of the resumption. Again, it was the result of a lack of concentration, as McDonald ran on to a pass from Noel Garvan to finish clinically. Kildare struck back with two points before they conceded another goal with the stylish Ross Munnelly the scorer this time and the brilliant McDonald the provider.

Once more, Kildare's backs were to the wall, their character again put to the test.

They faced a seven points deficit after the second score from impressive centre-back Tom Kelly in the 50th minute and, worse still down another player after a second yellow card for Mick Wright. In the space of seven minutes they hit four unanswered points and amazingly, they were level in the 60th minute, the influential Ronan Sweeney superbly converting a penalty won by Murray.

Five minutes later, the teams were again level, after Clancy regained the lead for Laois and Doyle responded after good work by the hard-working Killian Brennan. And, with Murray and Parkinson spurning chances for each side to take the lead, for a while it seemed that a draw was looming.

On a day of high drama, Laois faced the most demanding test of all and they were equal to it. Substitute Donal Miller put them ahead, Fitzgerald and substitute Barry Brennan added two more scores and when Murray hit an angled low ball outside the far upright at the other, O'Dwyer and ecstatic Laois supporters were certain that the 57 years wait was finally over.

*Seamus McCormack angered a lot of people with the first two of the sending-offs, but apart from this his general handling of the game was quite good. He awarded Kildare 29 frees, and twelve to the winners.

Scorers for Laois: B. McDonald 1-2; R. Munnelly 1-1; I. Fitzgerald 0-4; T. Kelly 0-2; G. Kavanagh, P. Clancy, B. Brennan and D. Miller 0-1 each.

Kildare: J. Doyle 0-5 (0-4 frees); P. Murray 0-4 (0-3 frees); R. Sweeney 1-0 pen; S. McKenzie Smyth 0-2; P. Brennan and G. Ryan 0-1 each.

LAOIS: F. Byron; A. Fennelly, C. Byrne, J. Higgins; D. Rooney, T. Kelly, K. Fitzpatrick; P. Clancy, N. Garvan; R. Munnelly, M. Lawlor, G. Kavanagh; B. McDonald, I. Fitzgerald (capt.), D. Delaney.

Subs: C. Parkinson for Delaney (second half); B. Brennan for Kavanagh (42nd minute); D. Miller for Lawlor (61st); S. Kelly for Munnelly (72nd).

KILDARE: E. Murphy; M. Dunne, D. Lyons, B. Lacey; D. Hendy, A. McLoughlin, M. Wright; A. Berry, R. Sweeney; P. Murray, J. Doyle, K. Brennan; S. McKenzie Smyth, T. Fennin, D. McCormack.

Subs: G. Ryan for Dunne (20th minute); P. Brennan for McCormack (47th); E. Callaghan for McKenzie Smyth (68th); K. Donnelly for Fennin (69th).

Referee: S. McCormack (Meath).

*Attendance: 81,786.

+Leinster Chairman Nicky Brennan stood aside to allow long-serving Secretary Michael Delaney and Vice-Chairman Liam O'Neill both Laois men the honour of jointly presenting the trophy.