Kingston the key as Laois aiming to shoot down high-flying Kildare

FORMER Laois goalie Fergal Byron has backed his former colleagues to down high-flying Kildare in Saturday night’s Leinster SFC semi-final.

Byron was impressed with Seán Dempsey’s charges in their defeat of Louth. Yet he expects plenty of improvement from that performance, especially in attack, where a lot will be expected of teen sensation Donie Kingston.

Byron said: “Ross Munnelly only got one point from play against Louth, and we had two forwards who didn’t score at all. Brian McCormack only managed a point and he is normally the type of player you could depend on to get a few scores.

“Donie Kingston didn’t score the last day, but he still had the pressure of the leaving cert hanging over him. That is gone now, and he will have had a few good training sessions in preparation for this game.

“I know he is still very young, but Laois are still dependent on him and with him at full-forward, which I believe is where he has to play, then Laois will be able to vary their play.

“If he is showing well it offers a different route to goal for Laois. Kieran McGeeney was sitting in front of me at the Louth game so he will have his homework done and will be coming up with a way of counteracting Laois’ running game. There will be times where they have to give it early to Kingston, and he loves the contest on the edge of the square.”

Kildare have become a genuine scoring threat themselves under McGeeney. Alan Smith, James Kavanagh and Eamonn Callaghan have shared the load with Johnny Doyle this year. Indeed Doyle only managed one point as Kildare registered 2-12 in the victory over Wexford.

“This year, Kildare have a few lads up front who can chip in with scores and they are not as dependent on John Doyle from frees and from play. In Laois’ league game against Kildare this year, Doyle wasn’t as influential as he has been in the past, but he remains a huge threat and if he is given an opportunity, he’ll take it.”

With both sides capable of amassing significant scoring tallies, the battle for possession around the middle third will be as critical as ever.

“Padraig Clancy also enjoyed a welcome return to form against Louth, and any day a midfielder scores 1-3 from play it gives a team a huge boost. His battle with Dermot Early is likely to be one of the key duels in the game. Both teams have a few very good high fielders of the ball, and usually when teams like that meet each other they tend to cancel each other out, and for that reason I think the half-forwards and half-backs will have a very important role to play.”