Kildare captain Rian Boran lifts the Joe McDonagh Cup at Croke Park. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Joe McDonagh Cup final
KILDARE 2-26 LAOIS 1-19
By Paul Keane at Croke Park
A powerful second-half performance propelled Kildare to a landmark Joe McDonagh Cup title success at Croke Park, their first ever, and a shot at the Leinster SHC in 2026.
The Lilywhites success story under Kilkenny man Brian Dowling keeps on going with this tier two championship triumph following on from last year's Christy Ring Cup win.
Their victory is all the more impressive given that Kildare lost their opening game of this year's round robin, to Kerry. That was their ninth Joe McDonagh Cup game ever and their ninth defeat.
Yet just five games later, Kildare are preparing for a return to the Leinster SHC for the first time since 2004 and will reflect on a wonderful second-half performance that made it all possible.
Tied at half-time, and fortunate to be level at that stage given the amount of chances that favourites Laois wasted, Kildare cut loose after the break to beat Laois comfortably for the second time in the competition.
Second-half goals from Jack Sheridan and substitute Jack Travers proved crucial while free-taker David Qualter finished with 13 points on a famous day for the county.
But it was a powerful collective performance with centre-back Cian Boran standing out in a strong defence.
Kildare, who have already secured Division 1B hurling for 2026, will get an immediate chance to test themselves at the higher level next weekend when they play Dublin in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.
Laois have at least another week to run in their campaign too with Tipperary set to visit Portlaoise in the MacCarthy Cup.
Just like the Dublin footballers a week earlier on the same turf, Laois reflected on a first-half of squandered chances which cost them dearly in the end.
The half-time stats made for painful reading for them; 11 wides, five point attempts that dropped short and a shot at goal that was saved.
Kildare were more efficient when the ball was at the opposite Davin End and starter brighter, showing no signs of anticipated nerves.
It was their first final at the grade and they were bidding to return to Leinster championship hurling for the first time since losing to Westmeath 21 years ago.
But they were calm and composed and deserved their early 0-4 to 0-2 lead with Sheridan, James Burke and Qualter picking off three terrific points from play.
They showed their athleticism in the 18th minute when they snuffed out a Laois goal chance and worked a speedy move up the pitch that ended with a free and a handy Qualter tap over.
Free-taker Qualter finished the half with seven points to his credit and was influential in open play too.
Kildare retained their two-point lead approaching the half-hour mark when they were 0-9 to 0-7 ahead.
But with the Laois wides tally into double figures at that stage, the scoreline flattered the Lilywhites.
Three Laois points in a row from James Keyes and free-taker Tomas Keyes amounted to a strong finish to the half from them, levelling it up at 0-11 apiece at the break.
And Laois held onto that momentum with their goal coming just seconds after the restart.
Paddy Purcell raced clear with the ball from the throw-in and though his eventual shot off the turf was saved, Ben Conroy came sliding in and bundled it to the net.
Laois were desperate to kick on from there and to impose themselves on the game but couldn't.
Instead, it was Kildare that reeled off two separate bursts of three points, taking a three-point lead at the hour mark and then killing off Laois with the two goals.
Travers grabbed his in the 61st minute, following up on the rebound after Sheridan's initial shot was blocked.
Five minutes later, Sheridan netted himself, shrugging off a jersey pull and darting beyond Ryan Mullaney to get a low shot away that hit the net.
Kildare sub Muiris Curtin pointed in the 68th minute and punched the air in delight, realising that the job was all but done at that stage.
Kildare scorers: David Qualter 0-13 (0-11f, 0-1 65), Jack Sheridan 1-4, Jack Travers 1-1, Gerry Keegan 0-3, James Burke 0-2, Simon Leacy 0-1, Paul Dolan 0-1, Muiris Curtin 0-1.
Laois scorers: Tomas Keyes 0-6 (0-5f), Ben Conroy 1-2, Padraig Delaney 0-2 (0-2f), James Keyes 0-2, Paddy Purcell 0-2, PJ Scully 0-2 (0-1f), Lee Cleere 0-1, Fiachra C Fennell 0-1, James Duggan 0-1.
Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Richy Hogan, Rian Boran, Daniel O'Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Simon Leacy; Daire Guerin, Cathal McCabe; Cathal Dowling, Jack Sheridan, David Qualter; Darragh Melville, James Burke, Gerry Keegan.
Subs: Jack Travers for Dowling 59, Muiris Curtin for McCabe 64, Conn Kehoe for Melville 69, Liam O'Reilly for Dolan 69, Oisin Lynam for Keegan 72.
Laois: Cathal Dunne; Fiachra C Fennell, Jordan Walshe, Cody Comerford; Padraig Delaney, Lee Cleere, Diarmaid Conway; Aidan Corby, James Keyes; Paddy Purcell, Tomas Keyes, David Dooley; Mark Dowling, Jer Quinlan, Ben Conroy.
Subs: Aaron Dunphy for Tomas Keyes 54, Padraic Dunne for Comerford 60, James Duggan for Dowling 62, Ryan Mullaney for Walsh 64, PJ Scully for Conroy 66.
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).
