Win keeps Laois away from relegation

Laois 0-13 Kildare 0-9

Laois were in no way flattered by their four-point victory margin over neighbours Kildare in Portlaoise tonight.

Almost 5,000 people were in O’Moore Park, many of them no doubt anticipating a renewal of the shenanigans that led to seven dismissals when the sides last met in the O’Byrne Cup in January.

This game never threatened to boil over in that fashion but that wasn’t the only way the two games differed.

That day, Kildare were much superior but on this occasion Laois were on top for all bar the opening six minutes, when the Lilies stormed into a three-point lead courtesy of a Johnny Doyle brace, either side of a neat James Kavanagh finish.

At that stage, it looked like Kieran McGeeney’s men were going to stamp their authority but Brendan Quigley began to assert his authority around midfield and with his colleagues picking up the majority of the breaks, the forwards began to prosper.

Michael John Tierney looked very sharp, although Emmet Bolton recovered from a torrid opening period to quieten the Parnells clubman in the second half. Nevertheless, the corner-forward kicked five points in that first 35 minutes, with two of those coming from play, including a rarity with his right boot.

Kevin Meaney, Pádraig McMahon and Craig Rogers were outstanding as well and though points from substitute Darryl Flynn and Kavanagh brought Kildare to within a point of Laois towards, a pointed free from Tierney and fine finish by Darren Strong gave Laois a 0-8 to 0-5 lead at half time.

Kildare did get the first score of the second half, a pointed free by Doyle, but they never looked like turning things around against a wonderfully dogged Laois defence.

What really kept them in contention was Laois’ failure to kill them off. Billy Sheehan shot just wide from a good goal-scoring opportunity, while Rogers and Kingston also had chances to hit the net.

McMahon and Doyle exchanged scores, then Colm Begley and Dermot Earley. But Laois continued to hit Kildare at pace and they finally reaped the dividends of their superiority in the final 10 minutes, when points from Rogers, Kingston and Meaney pushed them clear.

There was further disappointment and indeed worry for Kildare when Dermot Earley had to leave the fray five minutes from time limping heavily with a leg injury.

This win goes a long way to securing Laois’ Division 2 status and will put them in good heart as they continue to improve. For Kildare though, the poor performances continue.

Laois: M Dowling; M Timmons, D Booth, C Healy; P McMahon 0-1, C Ryan, C Begley 0-1; B Quigley, K Meaney 0-1; D Strong 0-1, C Rogers 0-2, B Sheehan; MJ Tierney 0-5(3fs), D Kingston 0-2(1f), N Donoher. Subs: P O’Leary for Ryan (50); R Munnelly for Donoher (61); R Munnelly for Donoher (61); D Rooney for Quigley (70)

Kildare: P Flood; G White, H McGrillen, E Bolton; M Scanlon, B Flanagan, M O’Flaherty; R Sweeney, D Earley; R Sweeney, D Earley 0-1; R Kelly, D Whyte, J Kavanagh 0-2; J Doyle 0-5(4fs), E Callaghan, K Donnelly. Subs: D Flynn 0-1 for Donnelly (26); P O’Neill for Kelly (44); W Heffernan for Earley inj (65)

Referee: P Fox (Westmeath)