Laois put in their best performance to date when they defeated an understrength Kildare side at Portarlington on Saturday.

The visitors scored the opening three points but then Laois settled down to score six unanswered points. The all important goal arrived early in the second half from defender Aidan Fennelly.

LAOIS: F Byron; P McDonald, D Brennan, D Ryan; A Fennelly (1-0), D Conroy, P Leonard; J Kealy, D McEvoy (0-2); I Fitzgerald (0-2), C Conway (0-4), C Bennett; M Lawlor, G Ramsbottom (0-1), K Fitzpatrick. Subs: S Cooke for C Bennett, B McCormack for K Fitzpatrick.

KILDARE: E Murphy; T Harris, C Davey, K Doyle; J Wiltshire (0-1), A Rainbow, D Grufferty; K Brennan, C Quinn; C O'Reilly (0-1), J O'Donoghue, J Doyle (0-2); T Fennin (0-2), L Donlon (0-2), D Jordan. Subs: K O'Dwyer (0-2) for D Jordan, F Aspell for J Wiltshire, D McCormack for D Grufferty, K Duane for C Quinn.

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).