THE mere sight of a Lilywhite jersey appears to have a strange effect on Laois players, inspiring them to great feats. It is 24 years since Laois last lost to Kildare in a Leinster Senior Football Championship encounter and the hoodoo was extended in convincing enough fashion at Croke Park yesterday when their. ability to nab goals, at psychologically important moments, proved to be the real difference.
Traditional stuff, really, from Laois. Two big men at centrefield to win possession; plenty of workers in defence, and enough forwards who know where the posts are to trouble any team. Not a bad little concoction.
Laois, however, have blossomed into a tidy outfit; a far cry from the team that played second fiddle to Kildare in their National League relegation playoff in March. With Tony Maher dominating affairs at centrefield and the likes of Hugh Emerson lending inspiration in attack, they refused to bow to Kildare even when their neighbours appeared to hold the upper hand which, admittedly, was a situation that didn't much extend beyond the opening 20 minutes.
The continental like weather didn't seem to aid Kildare's cause. They started off as if they had the benefit of altitude training, scurrying around the pitch with the boundless energy of spring lambs. It was a remarkable pace, but the sort no one could expect to maintain. They didn't.
Just four minutes into the game, Tom Bowe had the easiest of tasks when tapping home Laois's first goal (after a move involving PJ Dempsey and Damien Ryan) but, undeterred, Kildare replied with a string of four points from Eddie McCormack, Martin Lynch, Denis O'Connell and Tom Sullivan, the sort of response that promised more than it eventually delivered.
Indeed, a sign of the fate that awaited Kildare came in the 12th minute when a long, hopeful ball (rather than one of the purposeful variety), from Maher bounced over the crossbar to end that particular sequence and level matters. However, when Kildare reacted by notching another three consecutive points (to move 0-7 to 1-1 ahead), the omens looked good for them and their supporters in the crowd of 25,729 were in good voice.
But Kildare failed to score again in the first half while, in contrast, Laois came out of their shells with a performance of considerable style. Laois had already drawn level - thanks to points from Damien Delaney, Ian Fitzgerald and Michael Lawlor - when Leo Turley pounced in the 28th minute for his first goal - a cracking 20 yard shot that gave goalkeeper Christy Byrne no chance.
The game's turning point, arguably, came in the 44th minute when O'Connell - who had moved in to full forward from centre half forward on the resumption - was dismissed by referee John Bannon. Two minutes earlier, O'Connell and Laois's impressive full back Eamonn Delaney had been booked for some softening up antics but the Kildare attacker then received his marching orders for continuing the process, an incident spotted by a linesman.
At that stage. Laois led by 2-6 to 0-9 but, by the time Kildare managed to score again, Laois were pretty much out of sight. Turley, showing he retains the ability to find the back of the net, scored his second goal in the 55th minute and, along with points from Lawlor and Fitzgerald, it put them seven points ahead.
In fairness, Kildare did attempt to salvage their pride. Eddie McCormack, Anthony Rainbow and Buckley all rattled over points to reduce the deficit to four points but, when Paul McCormack slipped when presented with a goal chance late on, the gods had spoken. It was Laois's day, and Fitzgerald put the icing on the cake with a fisted point in the dying moments.
