Kildare run riot against Laois in Leinster U-20 Football Championship in Portlaoise

The Laois U-20 footballers saw their 2025 Leinster Championship get off to a disastrous start as they were hammered by Kildare in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Wednesday evening.

Kildare were clear favourites coming into the game, and that showed on the field too as they raced into a 1-13 to no score lead after 30 minutes with Laois only registering their first score in added time of the first-half.

Kildare 3-18

Laois 0-6

It did take The Lilies six minutes to raise the game's first white flag which was after they had kicked three bad wides when they had plenty of time and space to do so. Kildare also had the wind in the first-half, and they used it well as Ben Loakman opened the scoring. Kildare captain James Harris came forward from centre-back to kick his side's second point. Then came the game's first two-pointer as Loakman curled the ball between the uprights.

Kildare never relented in their attacks and kept going at Laois with power and pace. Colm Moran and Senan Murphy opened their accounts for the away side with Murphy collecting the rebound from a Loakman shot that struck the post. Laois weren't creating much down the other end but Kildare had Eoin Lawlor to thank for as he blocked a certain goal from Ryan Little.

Sean O'Dea's side were rampant for the remainder of the first 30 minutes as Jay O'Brien pointed four points, two of those coming from Kildare's second two-pointer while Cathal White rattled the back of the Laois net. Loakman added two more points to his name as did Eoin Cully when he raised a white flag. Laois' only score of the half came from the boot of Robbie Murphy in what was Laois' seventh shot. Kildare went into the dressing rooms with a 1-13 to 0-1 advantage. 

Loakman began the second period with a point before Luke O'Reilly made two great saves from the Kildare number 11 to deny him a goal. Sam Ryan and Rory Lalor raised a white flag each before Kildare got their second goal from the penalty spot. Conor Raggett fouled O'Brien in the square, and he dusted himself off to send O'Reilly the wrong way from the spot. He added another point to take his tally to 1-5. Evan Boyle came off the bench to increase Kildare's lead but they weren't finished as they scored a third goal as Fintan Quinn blasted the ball past O'Reilly. 

Laois ended the game with a two-pointer free courtesy of substitute Ennae Byrne. Kildare ran out 3-18 to 0-6 winners in the end. Laois play Wexford next Wednesday before travelling to Carlow in the final group game.