Kildare 3-18
Laois 1-11

KILDARE BLITZED LAOIS in stunning fashion after half-time last night to canter into a Leinster semi-final against Dublin.

The Lilywhites trailed by a point at the break in this replay but scored two goals and three points in just over three minutes after the restart to leave Laois reeling.

Inspirational captain Eamonn Callaghan got the first when Graham Brody’s short kick-out after Cathal McNally’s point was intercepted by Alan Smith. Callaghan followed up with a point before Smith’s shot was palmed to the net by McNally.

Kildare added a couple of points and though Donie Kingston offered brief hope with a 47th-minute goal, Eoghan O’Flaherty’s resounding finish at the other end five minutes later removed any doubt.

It was a cruise from there to the end as there was no way back for Laois. Kildare enjoyed themselves in the final quarter as they kept the scoreboard ticking over, finishing up with 10 individual scorers.

Laois would have been happy at half-time as they looked the better side, even though it was tit-for-tat for most of the initial period. Niall Donoher and Evan O’Carroll shared six points from play, with O’Carroll in particular outstanding, adding ball-winning to his scoring threat. He also slotted a free from outside the 45m line just before half-time to give Laois a 0-9 to 0-8 interval lead.

Kildare's Eoghan O’Flaherty scores his side's third goal. Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

Unlike the drawn game, Kingston spent the majority of his time at the edge of the square. He was fouled by Gary White for a penalty in the 10th minute but Mark Donnellan saved Ross Munnelly’s kick.

Laois wasted another goal chance when Brendan Quigley blazed wide, while at the other end, Alan Smith had a shot saved by Brody. Kildare hit the front for the first time with points from Kevin Murnaghan and an O’Flaherty free but Laois kicked four of the next five points from Kingston (free), Tom Shiel, O’Carroll and Donoher.

White launched a wonderful score from 40 metres and O’Flaherty curled his third before O’Carroll’s free gave Tomás Ó Flatharta’s crew the edge at half-time, but it was an edge they were to lose very quickly.

Scorers for Kildare: Eoghan O’Flaherty 1-4 (0-2f), Cathal McNally 1-2, Eamonn Callaghan 1-1, Padraig Fogarty 0-4, Paul Cribbin 0-2, Kevin Murnaghan, Gary White, Ollie Lyons, Padraig O’Neill, Niall Kelly 0-1 each.

Scorers for Laois: Donie Kingston 1-2 (0-2f), Evan O Carroll 0-5 (0-1f, 0-1 ’45), Niall Donoher 0-3, Tom Shiel 0-1.

Kildare manager Jason Ryan (right) had plenty of reasons to smile this evening. Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

Kildare

1. Mark Donnellan

2. Ciarán Fitzpatrick
3. Mick O’Grady
4. Ollie Lyons

5. Kevin Murnaghan
6. Fergal Conway
7. Emmet Bolton

8. Gary White
9. Paul Cribbin

10. Padraig O’Neill
11. Eoghan O’Flaherty
12. Cathal McNally

13. Eamonn Callaghan
14. Padraig Fogarty
15. Alan Smith

Subs

18. Eoin Doyle for Conway (blood, 21-29)
18. Eoin Doyle for Conway (HT)
22. Tommy Moolick for McNally (52)
17. David Hyland for Bolton (57)
26. Niall Kelly for Smith (59)
21. Hugh Lynch for White (64)
23. Mikey Conway for Callaghan (67)

Laois

1. Graham Brody

4. Stephen Attride
3. Mark Timmons
6. Robbie Kehoe

5. Darren Strong
7. Colm Begley
4. Damien O’Connor

8. Brendan Quigley
9. John O’Loughlin

10. Niall Donoher
11. Colm Boyle
12. Evan O’Carroll

13. Ross Munnelly
14. Donie Kingston
15. Tom Shiel

Subs

16. Eoin Culliton for Brody (blood, 8-14)
24. Paul Kingston for Munnelly (43)
20. James Finn for Shiel (51)
17. Gearóid Hanrahan for O’Connor (60)
19. Gareth Dillon for Strong (65)
22. Billy Sheehan for Donoher (65)
23. Eoin Lowry for Boyle (65)

Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow)

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