Laois continued their winning start to Alliianz Hurling League Division 2A with victory over Kildare at Hawkfield.
Willie Maher's charges were pressed in the opening half but upped it considerably in the second half to win comfortably in the end.
Goals from James Duggan, Mark Dowling and Stephen Bergin proved crucial as Laois remain top of the table alongside Carlow.
Kildare played with the breeze in the first half and despite playing the better hurling, only took a one point lead at half time.
They led by five points at one stage but Laois pegged them back and only a late Cian Boran score prevented the sides from going in level.
Martin Phelan initially put Laois ahead but Simon Lacey quickly levelled things before James Burke and Conan Boran pointed.
Paddy Purcell replied but Kildare took control from the seventh minute and hit four in a row.
James Burke and Jack Sheridan landed a brace each as Kildare went 0-07 to 0-02 ahead after 12 minutes.
Stephen Maher, Podge Delaney and Jer Quinlan brought Laois back into the game but Sheridan replied with another brace by the 21st minute.
Laois dug in and scored three long range frees, two from keeper Enda Rowland on his 101st appearance, and one from Maher to leave one between them again.Sheridan and Jer Quinlan traded points before the excellent Sheridan hit three more to take his first half tally to eight.
Martin Phelan and Maher replied and then the sides were level as we headed for injury time when Mark Dowling was fouled and Maher pointed again.
But Kildare deserved to take a lead at half time and they did when Cian Boran pointed from distance - 0-14 to 0-13.
Laois started the second half well as Tom Cuddy levelled it and then Stephen Maher put them ahead.
Kildare had a great goal chance though when Declan Flaherty set James Burke through one-on-one with Enda Rowland but the Laois keeper did brilliantly to deny him.
And Laois made Kildare pay for that miss with a goal of their own in the 40th minute.
Podge Delaney found James Duggan who did really well to force the ball to Mark Dowling who made no mistake.Jack Sheridan replied with a free but Laois had the ball in the net again in the 45th minute to put seven between them.
Paddy Purcell won a Kildare puck out and found David Dooley who raced through the defence and fisted the ball to James Duggan who finished to the net without catching the ball.
Jack Sheridan replied for Kildare again but Laois continued to point with Maher, Podge Delaney and David Dooley moving them nine clear after 57 minutes.
Kildare kept battling away with Sheridan continuing to score and he did get a goal too before the end.
But Laois were never really in danger as Stephen Bergin made it safe with a third goal in the fourth minute of injury time.
SCORERS - Laois: Stephen Maher 0-07 (six frees), James Duggan 1-01, Stephen Bergin and Mark Dowling 1-00 each, Enda Rowland (frees), Podge Delaney, Aaron Dunphy (one 65), Paddy Purcell, Jer Quinlan and Martin Phelan 0-02 each, Tom Cuddy and David Dooley 0-01 each
Kildare: Jack Sheridan 1-13 (0-7 frees), James Burke 0-03, Conn Kehoe, Cian Boran, Conan Boran and Simon Lacey 0-01 each
LAOIS: Enda Rowland; Ian Shanahan, Liam O'Connell, Diarmaid Conway; Tom Cuddy, Podge Delaney, Fiachra C-Fennell; Cody Comerford, Paddy Purcell; Martin Phelan, Stephen Maher, David Dooley; Jer Quinlan, James Duggan, Mark Dowling.
Subs: Aidan Corby for Purcell (47), Aaron Dunphy for Maher (55), Stephen Bergin for Dowling (58), Padraic Dunne for Comerford (68), Gearoid Lynch for Phelan (74)
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Cian Shanahan, Seán Christanseen, Mark Grace; Cormac Byrne, Simon Leacy, Conan Boran; Rian Boran, Jack Higgins; Cathal Dowling, James Burke, Daire Guerin; Muiris Curtin, Jack Sheridan, Cian Boran.
Subs: Conn Kehoe for Dowling (20, inj), Declan Flaherty for Higgins (27, inj), John McKeon for Christanseen (54)
REFEREE: Brian Keon (Galway)
