Emmet Bolton’s timely late goal enough to throw Kildare a lifeline

Kildare 1-12 Laois 1-9

Emmet Bolton’s last-minute goal earned Kildare a vital win over struggling Laois at O’Moore Park.

Kildare were facing relegation from the second successive year had they lost.

They looked in dire trouble as Laois went in front for the second time in the game late on when Damien O’Connor kicked a fine point.

But they were stunned in the 70th minute when Bolton struck a perfect left-foot shot to the net and in injury time K Paul Cribben added the insurance point.

To compound a bad night for the O’Moores they lost Donal Kingston on a red card and he will be a huge loss when they engage Down in their final game in Newry on Sunday next.

The visitors took the lead with a point by Eoghan O’Flaherty in the third minute but Ross Munnelly levelled from a free and Donie Kingston edged the O’Moores in front after seven minutes.

After points were traded again Niall Kelly and Eoghan O’Flaherty put Kildare two in front but Laois with wind assistance finished the stronger and points by Evin O’Carroll and Niall Donoher left the teams 0-5 apiece at the interval.

Niall Kelly regained the lead for Kildare and they took complete control for the next 15 minutes going four clear with points by full forward Pádraig Fogarty, Alan Smith and goal keeper Mark Donnellan.

Laois opened their account with a Donie Kingston free in the 54th minute and a superb pass by Kingston set up Colm Begley who fisted a goal. Two more points by Kingston and Begley saw Laois in front but a point by Fogarty saw the teams level with four minutes to go.

LAOIS: G Brody; G Hanrahan, M Timmons, D O'Connor (0-1); D Strong, R Kehoe, C Begley (1-1); B Quigley, J O'Loughlin; N Donoher (0-2), C Boyle, E O'Carroll (0-1); R Munnelly (0-1), D Kingston (0-3), P Kingston; Subs: S Attride for G Hanrahan 15m, T Shiel for P Kingston 20m, B Sheehan for R Munnelly 51m.

KILDARE: M Donnellan (0-1); C Fitzpatrick, M O'Grady, O Lyons; K Cribbin (0-1), F Conway, E Bolton (1-0); G White, P Kelly; N Kelly (0-2), E O'Flaherty (0-4), P Cribbin; F Dowling, P Fogarty (0-3), A Smith (0-1). Subs: T Moolick for F Dowling (55 mins), M Conway for N Kelly (57 mins), K Murnaghan for P Kelly (57 mins), S Hannifin G White (64 mins), T Connor for P Cribbin (69 mins).

Referee: Derek O'Mahoney (Tipperary)