Goals the difference as Laois get better of Kildare

Cadbury's Leinster Under 21 Football Championship Semi-Final

Laois 3-11 Kildare 0-11, O'Moore Park, Portlaoise

Last years beaten Cadbury's All-Ireland Under 21 football finalists Kildare crashed out of this year's Championship today as a brace of first half goals from Brian Glynn and James Doyle set Laois up nicely for a Leinster semi-final win at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

Kildare rued nine first-half wides as Laois led by 2-4 to 0-4 at the interval.

In a game which Laois oozed great energy, spirit and determination throughout, centre-half-back Ger Reddin, who scored the first point of the second half received the Cadbury's Hero of the Match award.

Kildare cut the gap to five points with seven minutes remaining thanks to the industrious work of their captain Eoghan O'Flaherty (0-4) and half-forward Ciaran Gravan (0-3).

However Laois remained resiliant with a superb display from full-back John Scully, with the hosts completing their hat-trick in injury-time with a 61st minute Zach Tuohy goal.

LAOIS: M Dowling; R Ryan, J Scully, N Gorman; R Kehoe, G Reddin (0-1), S Shortall (0-1); J Moore, J O'Loughlin; C Boyle (0-1), A Doran, D Kingston (0-4, 1f); J Doyle (1-1), B Glynn (1-0), Z Tuohy (1-0). Subs: S Miller for Doran (45); K Lillis for Shortall (53)

KILDARE: A Devane; S Murphy, J Kavanagh, S Bergin; T Byrne, P Kelly, J Browne (0-1); M Bradley, C Brophy; C Canning, E O'Flaherty (0-4, 3f), C Graven (0-3, 3f); C Mellott, K Cribben, N Hurley-Lynch (0-1). Subs: R Maguire for Kavanagh (26); D White (0-1) for Mellott (HT); T McCann (0-1) for Hurley-Lynch (43); N Scanlon for Canning (54)

REFEREE: Joe Curley (Meath)