Kildare shrugged off the disappointment of relegation from Division 2 to record a hard-fought win over near neighbours Laois and set up a Leinster semi-final against Westmeath.
Youngsters Eoin Cully and Ben Loakman played a key role on their Leinster Championship debuts and the pacy duo contributed 1-07 in total, although Loakman also struck the crossbar from a penalty late in the first half.
On the back of their win over Offaly in the opening round, Laois arrived on a high for their first Championship game against Kildare in Newbridge since 1984 and they caused plenty of problems during the early exchanges.
Evan O’Carroll and Daragh Galvin scored early points to help them into a 0-02 to 0-01 lead but Kildare gradually played their way into the game.
Darragh Kirwan scored either side of Tommy Gill as Kildare pushed ahead by 0-05 to 0-03.
A packed house at St Conleth’s Park saw Kildare hold off Laois
The game swung back in Laois’ favour heading into the last 15 minutes of the half. Paul Kingston scored a point and from the restart was presented with a chance following a poor kick and he duly strode forward and slotted home into the Kildare net.
Kingston added a further point a minute later and suddenly Laois were 1-05 to 0-05 ahead.
Cully, Darragh Swords and Cully again answered back to reopen a three point lead but that was wiped out in an instant when Daragh Galvin palmed into the Kildare net in the 26th minute after his initial shot was well saved.
As the game became increasingly frantic, Kildare found a goal of their own two minutes later. Brian McLoughlin found Cully inside and he burst past Jack Lacey. He was unfortunate to see his shot crash off the underside of the bar but Loakman was on hand to turn the rebound into the empty net to level the game at 1-08 to 2-05.
A two pointer by Darragh Kirwan gave Kildare the lead once again but in a see-saw battle, O’Carroll and Kingston tied the game once more.
It had been a tremendously entertaining first half but the biggest flash point arrived in the final minute of play. Darragh Swords’ run was halted in the square by Alex Mohan and a penalty was awarded. Loakman’s effort smashed off the crossbar and a scuffle shortly after left Laois goalkeeper on the ground.
The half time hooter blew in the meantime and the crowd had to wait until the players re-emerged after the break for yellow cards to be shown to Loakman and Roche.
Ben McCormack celebrates Darragh Kirwan’s crucial goal
Kildare took charge in the second half and scored the first five points after the restart in the opening 15 minutes.
Ben McCormack made a huge impact off the bench and finished with four points and Kirwan put the seal on the win with a 63rd-minute goal.
Kildare were nine ahead going into the last five but switched off slightly and Laois pulled back three points and it could have been a nervy ending had O’Carroll’s 68th minute shot hit the net but midfielder Brendan Gibbons made an important goalline block and Kildare march on to a last four game against Tullamore on Sunday 3 May.
Kildare: Cian Burke; Brian Byrne, Mark Dempsley, Ryan Burke; James McGrath, Eoin Lawlor, Tommy Gill 0-02; Brian McLoughlin, Brendan Gibbons; Daragh Ryan, Darragh Swords 0-02, Callum Bolton; Ben Loakman 1-0 (1f), Darragh Kirwan 1-04 (1tp), Eoin Cully 0-05.
Subs: Colm Moran for Lawlor, 29-32 (b/s); Kevin Feely 0-01 for Ryan, h/t; Ben McCormack 0-04 for Loakman, 50; Colm Moran for McLoughlin, 56; Neil Flynn for Bolton, 65; James Harris for James McGrath, 68.
Laois: Killian Roche 0-02 (1tpf, 1 45); Jack Lacey, Trevor Collins, Alex Mohan; Paul Kingston 1-03 (1f), Aaron McEvoy, Robert Tyrrell; Ciaran Burke, Conor Heffernan; Kevin Swayne 0-01, Ronan Coffey 0-01, Patrick O’Sullivan 0-01, Brian Byrne, Daragh Galvin 1-02, Evan O’Carroll 0-03.
Subs: Ben Dempsey for Lacey, 30; Pa Kirwan for McEvoy, h/t; Rioghan Murphy for Byrne, 49; Cian Nolan 0-01 for Tyrrell, 65; Darren Brennan for Coffey, 68.
Referee: Conor Lane.
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