Jack Sheridan is a key performer for Kildare. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
Joe McDonagh Cup
Kildare 4-20 Laois 1-18
By Alan Hartnett at Laois Hire O'Moore Park
Kildare have taken a giant step towards a first ever Joe McDonagh Cup final after a deserved victory over Laois in O'Moore Park.
After slaying Carlow last week, Kildare went into this game as outsiders, but won by 11 points following a physical and committed display.
The result means that Kildare can guarantee their place in the decider with a win over Down in Newbridge next weekend.
Laois hurled against the breeze in the first half and were always on the back foot.
David Qualter and James Burke got Kildare underway and although Aidan Corby replied for Laois, Cathal Malone restored Kildare's two point lead by the 10th minute.
Tomas Keyes and James Duggan scored after that for Laois but Kildare were three up by the midpoint of the half thanks to a brace from Gerry Keegan and one from Simon Leacy.
Laois actually enjoyed the better of the next ten minutes though as scores from Keyes, Paddy Purcell, Aidan Corby and Ben Conroy, around one from Cian Boran for Kildare, drew the sides level.
Keegan and Keyes exchanged scores, but it was Kildare who finished the half the stronger. James Burke and Daire Guerin pointed before the only goal of the half arrived in the final minute of injury time.
Declan Qualter picked out Cathal McCabe with a crossfield ball and the centre forward charged towards the Laois goal.
Laois keeper Cathal Dunne saved McCabe's first effort but the ball rebounded to the forward and he made no mistake with the second to leave Kildare 1-10 to 0-8 ahead at the interval.
Laois made a good start to the second half with a point from Purcell, but were then rocked by the concession of a second goal.
A low ball in found Declan Qualter and he wheeled away from Lee Cleere before finding the bottom corner of the net.
Cathal McCabe pointed soon after and Kildare were 2-11 to 0-9 up after 40 minutes.
Laois looked in trouble but they responded well as Tomas Keyes fooled the Kildare defence by taking a 30 metre short to Cha Dwyer, who drove the sliotar to the net.
Tomas Keyes fired two scores for Laois, but Cathal McCabe and Declan Qualtar kept Kildare clear before they scored their third goal.
A ball broke in midfield to Cian Boran and he charged through the Laois defence before laying the ball off to Jack Sheridan who made it 3-13 to 1-11 after 50 minutes.
The sides traded scores after that and when Qualtar hit his fourth free of the half, Kildare led by nine with 10 minutes to play. Laois cut that six by the 66th minute with scores from Dwyer, Podge Delaney and sub John Lennon.
Kildare sealed the deal with Sheridan's second goal to take a massive step towards the final.
Scorers for Kildare: David Qualter 1-6 (6fs), Jack Sheridan 2-0, Cathal McCabe 1-2, Gerry Keegan and James Burke 0-3 each, Rian Boran, Daire Guerin, Simon Leacy, Cian Boran, Cathal Dowling and Darragh Melville 0-1 each.
Scorers for Laois: Tomas Keyes 0-7 (5fs), Cha Dwyer 1-1, Paddy Purcell and Aidan Corby 0-2 each, Podge Delaney (f), David Dooley, James Duggan, Ben Conroy, Lee Cleere and John Lennon 0-1 each.
Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Richy Hogan, Rian Boran, Daniel O’Meara; Daire Guerin, Simon Leacy, Cian Boran; Paul Dolan, Jack Travers; James Burke, Cathal McCabe, Jack Sheridan; Gerry Keegan, Cathal Dowling, David Qualter.
Subs: Darragh Melville for Travers (HT), Muriric Curtin for Dowling (55), Conn Kehoe for McCabe (60), Harry Carroll for Dolan (70).
Laois: Cathal Dunne; Lee Cleere, Diarmaid Conway, Cody Comerford; Tom Cuddy, Padraig Delaney, Ryan Mullaney; Fiachra C Fennell, David Dooley; Aidan Corby, Tomás Keyes, Paddy Purcell; James Duggan, Cha Dwyer, Ben Conroy.
Subs: Jer Quinlan for Duggan (HT), Padraic Dunne for Comerford (43), John Lennon for C-Fennell (57), Mark Dowling for Conroy (60), Donnchadh Hartnett for Delaney (66, inj).
Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).
