Impressive Kildare make light work of Laois threat

What was expected to be closely contested promotion battle between two local rivals turned into a one sided rout as Kildare continued their brilliant start to life under Brian Flanagan with their fourth win from four games in Division 3.

Kildare opened the scoring through Cathal Hagney after just 30 seconds and never let up from there as they brushed aside the challenge of Justin McNulty's team.

In front of a crowd of 6,950, they played a fast, direct style of game that left Laois trailing in their wake. The last time the two counties met, Laois ended Kildare’s season in the Tailteann Cup quarter-finals but there was to be repeat of that.

After Hagney’s opener, the hosts led by 0-5 to 0-0 after five minutes, including an excellent two pointer by Ben McCormack.

Ronan Coffey opened the Laois account in the ninth minute but Kildare answered back with another two pointer, this time midfielder Callum Bolton scoring from long range to make it 0-07 to 0-01.

Laois sharpshooter Mark Barry endured a quiet night and missed his first three shots at goal before converting a 24th minute free.

McCormack, Darragh Swords and David Hyland got on the scoresheet before the half time break for the home side and Kildare led 0-12 to 0-03 as the sides headed to dressing room.

Last week in Leitrim, Flanagan spoke of Kildare’s level dropping off in the second half but there was no evidence of that here. They were ten points ahead by the time that Pa Kirwan was shown a black card for drag down in the centre of the field.

Kildare took the opportunity with the extra man to add another four points to their tally before Kirwan returned, including a second of the game for impressive newcomer Hagney.

Laois showed some sort of fight in the final ten minutes to score five points but Kildare got further help off their bench as Brian McLoughlin kicked a couple of points after coming and Sigerson Cup winner Niall Dolan also marked his senior debut with a point.

Further evidence of Kildare’s increasing strength in depth came with Daniel Flynn making his first appearance of the season and Jimmy Hyland returning to the matchday squad as an unused substitute and things look very rosy in the Lilywhite garden ahead of a trip to Ennis to play Clare next weekend.

Kildare: Didier Cordonnier 0-1 (’45); Ryan Burke, Mick O’Grady, Brian Byrne; Jack McKevitt, James McGrath, David Hyland 0-1; Callum Bolton 0-2 (tp), Cathal Hagney 0-2; Colm Dalton, Alex Beirne 0-2 (1f), Darragh Swords 0-2; Ben McCormack 0-3 (1tp), Kevin Feely 0-2, Niall Kelly 0-3.

Subs: Brian McLoughlin 0-2 for McCormack 42, Ryan Sinkey for Dalton 43, Daniel Flynn for Bolton 55, Mark Dempsey for O’Grady 61, Niall Dolan 0-1 for Hagney 66.

Laois: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Trevor Collins, Simon Fingleton; Pa Kirwan 0-1, Pat O’Sullivan, Brian Byrne; Seamus Lacey 0-1, Damon Larkin; Kevin Swayne, Ronan Coffey 0-2, Danny O’Reilly; Mark Barry 0-3 (2fs), Conor Heffernan 0-1, Niall Corbet.

Subs: Josh Hogan 0-1 for O’Sullivan HT, Ryan Brady for O’Reilly 50, Jonah Kelly for Byrne 59, Fionn Holland for Corbet 59, Cathal Lee for Coffey 67.

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)

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