Laois beat Kildare in an enthralling Bank of Ireland Leinster SFC final at Croke Park today on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-13. The Lilywhites got off to the worst possible start with the rather dubious sending-off of Alan Barry after a foul which resulted in a straight red.
Laois seemed to be first to every ball as the Kildare players reeled from their poor start as Martin Kavanagh, Ian Fitzgerald, Ross Munnelly and Beano McDonald all got on the scoreboard. Kildare were slipping into old bad habits and some of their missed points were truly dreadful. However, as the game went on they got a hold on the match and began to win the battle in midfield, and scores from Paddy Murray, Johnny Doyle, Stuart McKenzie-Smith drew Kildare to within two points of Laois.
Laois opened in the best possible way when a long ball into McDonald found the Kildare backs asleep and the Laois forward made no mistake. It once again looked like Kildare were out. However, the Lilywhites rallied and continued to play with composure. They missed two kickable frees before Murray pointed well and were further stunned by a great Laois goal when McDonald found Munnelly to drill home.
At the other end, Tadgh Fennin missed Kildare's 14th wide after some great work out the field. Kildare, however, refused to lie down and Doyle and Cillian Brennan scored while Kelly scored for Laois. The men from the Curragh were dealt yet another blow when Mick Wright was sent off for smashing Lawlor in the face with a forearm.
With ten minutes to go Murray was taken down in front of goal and Ronan Sweeney levelled the match from the resulting penalty to set up a tense finale. The two sides traded points with Padraig Clancy registering for Laois and Doyle scoring for Kildare.
However, with three minutes of injury time to go, Laois turned the screw and turned their numerical advantage to their benefit by knocking over three points in a row through Donal Miller, Fitzgerald and Barry Brennan to secure their first Leinster Championship since 1946.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
