In the Tailteann Cup quarter-final, Laois triumphed over Kildare with a score of 2-11 to 0-12, owing greatly to goals from Mark Barry and Evan O’Carroll in each half. Remarkably, it marked their first championship victory against neighbouring team Kildare since 2005, securing them a place in the semi-finals of the Tailteann Cup.
The celebrations of the Laois group in the Tullamore pitch’s heart after the final whistle was in sheer contrast to the mood of the Kildare team. Following a heart-to-heart with his team in the changing rooms, Glenn Ryan revealed that he was stepping down as the manager of Kildare, thus concluding his three-year term.
Initially, scoring proved difficult to come by, but with the assistance of a strong breeze, Kildare managed the first two points within the first 12 minutes. Despite being ahead 0-3 to 0-2, an event in the 19th minute where James Kelly was permitted to swing past the Kildare defence resulted in Shea Ryan tripping him up and receiving a black card.
Barry capitalised on this penalty, misleading goalkeeper Mark Donnellan into thinking he would go one way, and instead going the other. Despite being down a player, Kildare had their best run, scoring the next four points. However, upon returning to being a full team, the struggle returned and Laois managed to score two points before the break, and four points right after.
The match was all but concluded in the 59th minute when Laois’s captain O’Carroll, taking advantage of a miscalculation by Ryan Houlihan, scored a sprinting goal. It was almost a second goal for Laois a minute later during a haphazard situation near the goal, but Brian Byrne made an excellent save, deflecting a shot from Paul Kingston. Goalkeeper Killian Roche, known for his impressive 65-metre free kick earlier, had no issue securing the 45.
Shortly thereafter, Paddy Woodgate narrowly missed the target, hitting the bottom of the post. Should he have scored, the match might have been transformed, as it would’ve reduced the difference by half and potentially reignited Kildare’s hopes. However, they were the underdogs throughout the game and their loss marks a disappointing conclusion to the tenure of one of the county’s all-time finest players. Laois, unperturbed, moves forward confidently to the Tailteann Cup semi-final facing Antrim, blooming with confidence.
Specifically on the LAOIS side: K Roche (0-4, three free kicks, one 45), B Dempsey, J Kelly, M Timmons, S Lacey, B Byrne, S Fingleton, D Larkin, C Heffernan (0-1), M Barry (1-2, a penalty, a free kick), E O’Carroll (1-1), K Swayne, E Lowry (0-1), N Dunne (0-1), and P Kingston (0-1).
Reserves: R Murphy replaced Swayne at 59 minutes, M Dempsey came in for Lowry at 65, K Lillis substitutes Heffernan at 69, E Buggie came in for Dunne at 72, and B Daly replaced O’Carroll at 73.
On the KILDARE side: M Donnellan, M O’Grady, S Ryan, R Burke, T Archbold, B Byrne, J Sargent, A Masterson, K Flynn, S Farrell (0-6, three free kicks, one 45), D Kirwan (0-3), P McDermott, P Woodgate, N Kelly (0-1), and K Feely (0-1).
Substitutes: R Houlihan replaced Burke at 43 minutes, A Beirne (0-1) came in for Masterson at 44, L Killian substituted Archbold at 54, E Doyle replaced Ryan at 54, and D Swords came in for Farrell at 70.
The referee of the match was Thomas Murphy from Galway.