Kildare and Laois meet in today's final

Kildare and Laois meet for their first Leinster final since 1946 today at Croke Park at 4.30pm.

Laois won by 0-11 to 1-6 and have the midas touch of Mick O’Dwyer at the helm. O’Dwyer left the Lilywhites last year to take up the Laois post so there’s intense rivalry on that score also.

The counties previously met in three Leinster finals. Kildare won in 1929 (2-3 to 0-6) while Laois won in 1936 (3-3 to 0-8) and 1938 (2-8 to 1-3).

While Laois lead 3-1 in Leinster final meetings with Kildare, the Lilywhites hold the advantage in overall championship clashes.

The counties have met on 31 occasions, with Kildare leading 17-12 with two draws.

Their most recent League meeting ended in a win for Laois (1-14 to 1-9) last April.

Kildare and Laois last met in the Leinster championship in 1998 when Kildare won by 2-13 to 0-8 in the semi-final, en route to taking the title for the first time since 1956.

Last five Championship clashes

1998: Kildare 2-13 Laois 0-8 (Leinster semi-final)

1997: Kildare 1-11 Laois 1-7 (Leinster quarter-final)

1996: Laois 3-9 Kildare 0-13 (Leinster quarter-final)

1984: Laois 1-10 Kildare 0-7 (Leinster quarter-final)

1981: Laois 3-13 Kildare 1-9 (Leinster quarter-final)

Paths to the final

Kildare

Kildare 1-14 Longford 2-6

Kildare 0-15 Meath 1-11

Laois

Laois 1-19 Wexford 0-10

Laois 1-12 Offaly 1-12

Laois 2-10 Offaly 0-13 (replay)

Laois 0-16 Dublin 0-14

Leinster title years

Kildare (13): 1903-05-19-26-27-28-29-30-31-35-56-98-2000

Laois (5): 1889-1936-37-38-46.