Leinster MFC Semi-finals: Total second-half dominance enabled Laois to emerge easy winners in Tullamore against a disappointing Kildare side.
In a ragged game marred by a surfeit of frees, Laois finished fully deserving winners. An early goal by midfielder Colm Kelly paved the way for an interval lead of 1-5 to 1-3, with the Kildare goal coming from full forward Tommy Archibold in the 21st minute.
Laois exerted their authority on the change of ends, reeling off an unbroken sequence of eight points.
Strict refereeing saw 48 frees awarded in the hour, while there were also five yellow cards shown before Kildare's cup of sorrow flowed over with the dismissal of corner back Kevin Dempsey just before the final whistle following an off-the-ball incident.
LAOIS: C Gorman; C Fleming, C Ryan, R Stapleton; C Rodgers, C Begley, N Donagher; B Quigley 1-0, C Kelly (St Joseph's) (0-1); P McNulty (0-1), B Fitzgerald, I Fleming; D Brennan (0-2); C Bergin (0-2), C Kelly (Stradbally (0-6). Subs: B MacGearailt for Fitzgerald; D O'Shea (0-1) for Brennan; D Murphy for Fleming.
KILDARE: D Mooney; K Dempsey, E Naughton, E Bolton; B Cocoman, P O'Neill, B Flanagan; R Glavin, J Kavanagh; A Darmody, B Murphy (0-3), F Carr; M Conway (0-1), T Archibold (1-0), DJ Canning (0-1). Subs: D Flynn for Carr; M Tracey for Darmody; C O'Neill for Cocoman.
Referee: S Farrell (Dublin)
