Kildare 3-16 Laois 0-10:LAOIS MANAGER Justin McNulty spoke with devastating honesty in the aftermath of his side's ruthless dismantling on Saturday evening. And he coined a new word when admitting that he had been "out-tacticalled" by his great friend Kieran McGeeney
He conceded that Kildare had outclassed his side and declared he would have to review everything he has done in his debut season as an intercounty boss in a bid to turn the county’s fortunes around.
Laois were out-thought and outfought and McNulty wasn’t mincing his words. “The lads are totally devastated because of the nature of the performance.
“Kildare completely outplayed us in the second half, technically, tactically. In every area of the performance they totally outclassed us today in the second half and we’re hugely disappointed. The manner of the defeat was incredible.
“We expected them to bring a big game in the second half. We expected to have a big game ourselves in the second half, but they completely blitzed us and you’d have to give them credit.
“You have to say that Kildare have a very effective defensive system. They played the blanket defence a treat; then turned us over in defence, moved the ball quick into open areas of space in our backline.
“Tactically we were totally outgunned, outclassed today by Kildare. And I hold my hands up to say McGeeney, (Aidan) O’Rourke and company totally out-tacticalled us on the night.”
Laois started tremendously, courtesy of their complete midfield authority, but then Kildare don’t blow anyone away in the first half. Unusually though, thanks to Tomás O’Connor terrorising Kevin Meaney and Mark Timmons, they led at half-time 2-3 to 0-6, and you knew they would wear down Laois with their relentless and remorseless harassing and running after the resumption.
O’Connor was involved in all bar Páidí O’Neill’s brilliant point of Kildare’s first-half tally. His aerial prowess led to a 14th-minute penalty which Johnny Doyle converted for Kildare’s first score, and then struck his first championship goal seven minutes later.
After the resumption, it was one-way traffic. Hugh Lynch lofted three sensational points. O’Neill, the enthusiastic Fionn Dowling (not long finished his Leaving Cert) and Ollie Lyons kicked eye-catching scores and Doyle took over the free-taking duties to devastating effect.
James Kavanagh came on to rocket a magnificent goal four minutes from time after O’Neill landed a 50-metre kick-pass straight into his lap.
KILDARE: S Connolly; A Mac Lochlainn, M Foley, H McGrillen; O Lyons (0-1), M O’Flaherty, G White; J Doyle (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-4 frees), H Lynch (0-3, 0-1 free); P O’Neill (0-2), E O’Flaherty (0-2, 0-1 free), E Callaghan (0-1); F Dowling (0-1), T O’Connor (1-0), R Kelly. Subs: J Kavanagh (1-1) for Kelly (44 mins); T O’Neill for Lyons (58 mins); M Scanlon for M O’Flaherty (68 mins); B Flanagan (0-1) for White (68 mins).
LAOIS: E Culliton; C Healy, K Meaney, M Timmons; D Strong, S Julian, P McMahon; P Clancy (0-1), B Quigley (0-1); C Begley, J O’Loughlin, N Donoher (0-2); R Munnelly (0-1), D Kingston (0-3, 0-2 frees), MJ Tierney (0-2, frees). Sub: C Boyle for Healy (inj, 8 mins); K Lillis for Strong (half-time); D Carroll for Tierney (51 mins); G Kavanagh for Clancy (55 mins); B Brennan for Lillis (58 mins).
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).
