Kildare sounded out a warning to their rivals last night as they booked their place in the Leinster Under-21 football final after a comprehensive 24-point win over Laois in Parnell Park.

Laois had opened the scoring with a point from Evan Costello, but Kildare were quickly back level through a free from Liam McGovern.

After that, however, the Lilywhites began to assert their superiority.

Tommy Moolick and Seán Hurley were dominating in midfield and, with a plentiful supply of ball, the Kildare attack helped their side into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after just ten minutes.

Laois offered brief resistance, but points from Fionn Dowling, Paddy Brophy and Sean Hurley saw Kildare ease 0-11 to 0-5 in front at the break.

Kildare got the start to the second half that Laois needed, as a run of five unanswered points was followed up by two goals in a minute from Fergal Conway and Daniel Flynn. The final result was left in little doubt at that stage, but Hugh Mahon’s goal merely added to Laois’s misery as Kildare eased to a comfortable win.