Laois minor footballers undone by clinical Kildare full-forward line in Leinster Championship

Laois were left to rue a pivotal moment on a miserable night in Portlaoise as they fell to Kildare in the opening round of the Leinster Minor Football Championship.

In bitterly cold and rain-soaked conditions, Dave McGrath’s side showed plenty of grit, but ultimately came up short against a Kildare outfit whose full-forward line proved decisive, contributing their entire tally of 1-12, while a crucial second-half penalty miss denied Laois the chance to turn the contest. Kildare's goal came from a penalty of their own from Jack Reilly

The wind was swirling around the pitch, and it was hard to tell from the press box if it favoured anyone. It was the home side who opened the scoring after three minutes as patient build-up from Laois saw Eoghan Harris split the posts for Dave McGrath's side.

The next five minutes saw Kildare dominate possession and they made that pay on the scoreboard with 1-2 without reply. Jack Reilly was Kildare's best player on the night and he got their first point after playing a one-two with Charlie Doran.

Aodhan Bergin got their second point from a free after referee James Foley brought the free forward to the 20-metre line for Laois, not allowing a solo and go. Kildare's goal came from the penalty spot after Reilly was fouled. He stepped up and sent Mark Dowling the opposite way to put Kildare a goal up.

Ethan Neilon pointed a free for Laois, but Kildare were finding it a lot easier to score down the other end. Jack Reilly added another point to his name and then raised an orange flag from a free. Greg Kelly got his first score of the evening with The Lilywhites leading 1-6 to 0-3 after 24 minutes. Laois ended the half on the front foot as points from Cian Murphy and Fionnan Brennan (45) cut Kildare's lead to five points at the break.

The second half began with Kelly and Neilon (trading) points before Kildare hit two in a row from Bergin (free) and Kelly. Laois got back within five points when Sean Maree and Neilon pointed before Laois' big moment arrived. Neilon had turned Ryan Crawford and was headed for goals when Crawford hauled him to the ground and it left referee James Foley with no option but to show Crawford a black card and award a penalty to Laois. Up stepped Maree from the spot, but saw his effort hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce into the grateful arms of goalkeeper Joe Crotty. Maree ended up being shown a black card himself as he fouled Crotty after the penalty miss.

Kildare were then guilty of handing Laois a point as they didn't have the required number of players in their own half. Neilon tapped over the free from the 20-metre line. Kildare pushed their lead out to six points with 60 minutes played as Bergin and Reilly added to their tallies. 

The game ended with Oisin Gilligan and Bergin trading scores as Kildare ran out worthy winners by six points. Laois have a two-week break now before facing Louth away from home on Tuesday, April 7. 

FINAL SCORE

Kildare 1-12

Laois 0-9

SCORERS- Kildare: Jack Reilly 1-5 (1-0 pen, 1 two-point free), Aodhán Bergin 0-4 (frees), Greg Kelly 0-3 (0-1 free). Laois: Ethan Neilon 0-4 (frees), Fionnan Brennan (45), Cian Murphy, Eoghan Harris, Sean Maree and Oisin Gilligan 0-1 each

LAOIS: Mark Dowling (Crettyard); Dan Downey (Park-Ratheniska), Cillin Hoey (Portarlington), Darragh Brennan (Crettyard); Will Craig (O’Dempsey’s), Fionnan Brennan (Crettyard), Will McGrath (Arles-Killeen); Eoghan Lalor (Kilcavan), Cian Murphy (St Joseph’s); Thomas Lawler (Graiguecullen), Eoghan Harris (Arles-Killeen), David Timmons (Portlaoise); Sean Maree (Emo), Aaron Mackey (Arles-Kilcruise), Ethan Neilon (O’Dempsey’s). Subs: Orran Langton (Killeshin) for Lawler and Oisin Gilligan for McGrath (Both 43 mins), Mikey Regan (Killeshin) for Harris (47 mins), Killian McLernon (O'Dempsey's) for Timmons (49 mins), Nisun Balogun for Brennan (60 mins)

KILDARE: Joe Crotty; Eoin Markey, Ryan Crawford, Liam Mescal; Fionn Lawlor, Oisín McAfee, Luke Shanahan; Charlie Doran, Páidí Ryan; Jamie Flood, Aidan Tobin, Eoghan Lyons; Jack Reilly, Greg Kelly, Aodhán Bergin. Subs: Jamie Wolfe for Tobin (48 mins), Donnacha Conway for Flood (54 mins), Harry Feely for Ryan (58 mins), Logan Tennyson for Lyons (60 mins)

Referee: James Foley (Carlow)