Laois cruise past Kildare with Conor Fitzpatrick and Jer Quinlan leading the way
Leinster U-20HC: Laois 2-19 Kildare 0-16
Laois beat Kildare in the Leinster U20 HC
Laois qualified for the quarter-final of the O’Nellls.com Leinster U-20 hurling championship with a comfortable nine-point victory over Kildare in Manguard Park, Newbridge.
On a crisp evening it was two second-half goals from Conor Fitzpatrick and Jer Quinlan that paved the way for Laois's passage to face Offaly.
The opening half was tight with the sides level on five occasions. Fionn Maher with five and Killian Harrington with two were the Kildare scorers in that opening 30 minutes. A six-point burst in nine minutes pushed Laois 0-11 to 0-7 ahead at the interval. Ben Deegan, Ger Quinlan and Cody Comerford were all on the scoreboard as Laois started to show their class.
Fitzpatrick and Quinlan's goals on the 32nd and 42nd minutes proved to be the crucial scores. Laois edged 10 ahead, courtesy of points from Colm and Cormac Byrne before the three-quarter mark.
To Kildare's credit they battled hard and with Fionn Maher on form from frees coupled with points from Finnan O Dulaing, Conor O’Grady and Tim Ryan they reduced the gap to six with eight left on the clock.
Laois substitutes Jack Cuddy, with three frees, Aaron Phelan and Brian Duggan with one each rounded off a polished 2-19 to 0-16 win.
The victory sets up a repeat of the Leinster minor final of two years ago.
Scorers – Kildare: Fionn Maher 0-10 (8f), K Harrington 0-2, S Cramer, T Ryan, F O Dulaing, C O’Grady 0-1 each. Laois: B Deegan 0-6 (6f), C Fitzpatrick 1-1, J Quinlan 1-2, J Cuddy 0-3 (3f), C Comerford 0-2, J Breen, Colm Byrne, Cormac Byrne, A Phelan, B Duggan 0-1 each.
Kildare: C Doolan, E O Briain, L O’Reilly, C O Grady, F O Dulaing, D O Meara, B Hennessy, O Lynam, E Keane, C Boran, C O’Reilly, C Kirwan, J Dolan, K Harrington, F Maher. Subs: T Ryan (C O Reilly h-t), C Carroll (O’Lynam 38), T Frisby (C Kirwan 38), A Bell (J Dolan 43), D Doherty (B Hennessy 59).
Laois: B O Reilly, D Dooley, C Cuddy, C Flynn, C Hogan, E Cuddy, T Cuddy, C Comerford, C Fitzpatrick, B Deegan (J Cuddy 43), J Quinlan, T Brennan, J Breen, C Byrne, C Byrne. Subs: J Cuddy (B Deegan 43), A Phelan (T Brennan 44), M Downey (J Breen 47), B Duggan (C Byrne 48).
