Six of the best from Laois

Laois 6-10 Kildare 0-11 

Laois hammered in six goals to blow away the Kildare challenge
in the Suzuki NFL Division two decider at Parnell Park. The Lilywhites
began in lightening fashion racing two points clear with Ailing
Jennings and Noelle Early pointing. The opening goal came after
three minutes with the Moore counties first attack of note with
the lively Emer Fitzpatrick on the end to fire home. Midfielder
Brianne Leahy brought the sides level with a fine point . A point
a piece from Mary Kirwan (f) and player of the match Tracey Lawlor
saw Laois hit the front after 12 mins. Jennings and Kirwan exchanged
points prior to Martha Kirwan hammering in the winners second
major. Fitzpatrick added a point that was followed by an Aisling
Holton point for Kildare.

Back came Laois with Kathleen O’Reilly sending an unstoppable
shot to the net and a point from Fitzpatrick. Kildare finished
the half with points from Hazel Mulligan, Leahy and Siobhan Hurley
but it was Laois with an unassailable 3-05 to 0-08 interval advantage.

Kildare didn’t find the target again until the final quarter
with a point from Stacey Gannon. By that stage they were four
goals behind after points from Gemma O’Connor (2), Fitzpatrick
and a goal from Lawlor. In the 17th minutes Jessica Curley hammered
in goal number five that was added to by a point from O’Connor
and a sixth major this time from Lawlor. The game was wrapped
up wit points from Earley and Celia Hogan for Kildare and Martha
Kirwan and Curley for Laois.

Laois: B Deegan, L Delaney, L Muckian, M McEvoy, A Casey, A O’Loughlin,
G Weston, L Brennan, P Fogarty, Martha Kirwan (1-01), Mary Kirwan
(0-02, 1f), E Fitzpatrick (1-03), G O’Connor (0-02), K O’Reilly
(1-00), T Lawlor (2-01) Subs: J Curley (1-01), K Purcell, A Behan,
C Whelan, M Dunne

Kildare: C Dolan, A Herbert, K Leahy, C Flanagan, A Lambe, C Hogan
(0-01), M Moolick, B Leahy (0-02), A Holton (0-01), S Cannon (0-01),
A Jennings (0-02, 1f), S Hurley (0-01), E Hannon, N Earley (0-02),
H Mulligan (0-01) Subs: A Gately, E Dillon

Report by Alan Gunn