Kildare too strong as they see off Laois in re-fixed league clash

Kildare 0-15 Laois 0-10
Allianz Football League Division 2

Laois’s poor recent record against Kildare continued in MW Hire O’Moore Park this afternoon as the visitors claimed a vital win in their battle to avoid relegation.

And such is the tightness of Division 2 that Laois still have a bit of work to do to ensure their own survival with two games remaining.

This game was re-fixed for Sunday afternoon having fallen victim to Storm Jorge on Saturday but Kildare were worthy winners as they stretched their unbeaten run against their neighbours in league and championship to seven games.

Kildare arrived to Portlaoise on the back of three straight losses and mired in relegation bother. It wasn’t exactly the start they imagined to Jack O’Connor’s managerial reign.

But they began this game meaning business. They were four points up after as many minutes and were dominating possession.

Daniel Flynn was prominent and Paul Cribbin saw plenty of ball and it took Laois until the 14th minute to register a score when Evan O’Carroll pointed a free after being fouled himself.

That was cancelled out by big midfielder Tommy Moolick and though Sean O’Flynn responded with a nice point from play off his left, Niall Kelly, Kevin Feely (free) and Liam Power pointed to help Kildare into a 0-8 to 0-2 lead after 28 minutes.

But for all their dominance they struggled in front of goal – and kicked 11 wides in total in the opening half.

O’Carroll pointed from play after a long ball in from Mark Timmons when he had a brief chance of a goal and then the Crettyard man added another free, again after being fouled himself.

At the break Kildare led 0-8 to 0-4 and they extended the lead early in the second when Paddy Brophy pointed.

Laois saw a goal chance go astray when Colm Murphy was denied by Mark Donnellan and though Niall Corbet did drill over a fine long-range free, Kildare got the next three points.

Laois applied themselves as best they could but Kildare weren’t to be denied and they had five points to spare in the finish.

SCORERS – Laois: Evan O’Carroll 0-4 (three frees), Niall Corbet 0-2 (both frees), Sean O’Flynn 0-1, Kieran Lillis 0-1, John O’Loughlin 0-1, Brian Byrne 0-1 Kildare: Adam Tyrell 0-5 (three frees), Paul Cribbin 0-2, Paddy Brophy 0-2, Tommy Moolick 0-1, Niall Kelly 0-1, Kevin Feely 0-1 (free), Liam Power 0-1, Kevin Flynn 0-1, Neil Flynn 0-1 (free)

LAOIS: Niall Corbet; Trevor Collins, Robbie Pigott, Gearoid Hanrahan; Sean O’Flynn, Paddy O’Sullivan, Mark Timmons; John O’Loughlin, Kieran Lillis; Sean Byrne, Eoin Lowry, Damien O’Connor; Ross Munnelly, Colm Murphy, Evan O’Carroll. Subs: Mark Barry for Damien O’Connor (43), Michael Keogh for Munnelly (46), Gary Walsh for Murphy and Benny Carroll for Lowry (both 55), Brian Byrne for Sean Byrne (68)

KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Shea Ryan Mick O’Grady, Eoin Doyle; David Hyland, Con Kavanagh, Kevin Flynn; Kevin Feeley, Tommy Moolick; Liam Power, Paul Cribbin, Paddy Brophy; Adam Tyrrell, Daniel Flynn, Niall Kelly. Subs: Conor Hartley for Power (43), Keith Cribbin for Paul Cribbin (55), Jack Robinson for Kelly (63), Jimmy Hyland for Flynn (68), Neil Flynn for Tyrell (70)

REFEREE: Joe McQuillan (Monaghan)

SEE ALSO – Check out all the LaoisToday coverage of the Laois senior footballers

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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/03/01/kildare-too-strong-as-they-see-off-laois-in-re-fixed-league-clash/