Laois 3-9 Kildare 0-13: There should be a law against reading too much into form at this time of year, especially in the O'Byrne Cup. But, for what it's worth, Laois are looking good. In front of another large crowd of around 4,000 they showed far too much pace and rhythm for Kildare to handle, and thus set up a semi-final meeting next Sunday with old rivals Offaly.
And so much for experimentation. Mick O'Dwyer fielded what could easily have been his Laois championship team, and no one disappointed. Maybe they had got a sneak preview of The Dubs documentary that airs on RTÉ tonight, because from the gun they played like a team intent on getting back on top of Leinster this year.
Of course that's a long way off yet, which is just as well for Kildare. After easing past a poor Longford last Sunday, they suddenly found themselves totally out-classed. They salvaged some pride by closing out with some fine scores, but by then Laois had taken their foot off the pedal, so this can only go down as a heavy defeat for the home team.
Within minutes it was clear Laois were poised to dominate. Pádraig Clancy and Noel Garvan lorded midfield, and Barry Brennan quickly stood out at centre forward. Colm Parkinson is sporting a new image after his year of walkabout, but his attitude remains the same. He worked hard for every ball and set up some of Laois' more telling attacks. His fitness can only improve, and little things like his return could make the difference come the summer.
John Doyle did open the scoring for Kildare after three minutes, but it was another 20 minutes before they scored again. In the meantime, Laois clocked up scores with ease and regularity, including three frees from Chris Conway and a typically ambitious score from defender Joe Higgins - and led 0-6 to 0-1 after 20 minutes.
When Kildare finally got their hands on some possession at midfield, Hugh Lynch turned it into a score, and Doyle added another free afterwards.
But that comeback was quickly halted when Parkinson delivered a quick free to Brian McDonald, and he set up full forward Colm Kelly for the opening goal. Now leading 1-7 to 0-3 the game was as good as over.
Two more goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half meant it was.
Within minutes a searching ball from Higgins was passed off from Kelly to Brennan, and his shot flew past Thomas Corley.
Shortly afterwards, Parkinson was pushed from behind as he raced at goal and that ended with goalkeeper Fergal Byron running up the field to take the ensuing penalty. No one saw his shot until the ball had rested in the net.
At least Kildare manager John Crofton knows his team is a work in progress. Martin McIntyre was retried at full back and former Galway star John Divilly made his Kildare debut at centre back, but neither had a good afternoon.
The full forward line of Tadgh Fennin, Adrian Kelly and Eamonn Callaghan also disappointed, except for Fennin's sole point.
Lynch and Killian Brennan never got to grips with midfield like they did against Longford last Sunday, but no one sparked any great fuss until they realised that their pride was at stake. Byron's penalty more or less signalled the end of Laois' enthusiasm and thus allowed Kildare to claw back some distance on the scoreboard.
Derek McCormack delivered four points, and Pádraig O'Neill popped up for two. Pádraig Brennan was also introduced and made his presence felt, adding a close-range free.
O'Dwyer had seen enough though, and called four of his main players ashore with 10 minutes remaining. Although Laois didn't score after that, leaving the last five points of the afternoon to Kildare, there was no changing the significance of the result. Laois are several yards ahead of Kildare, oozing confidence and intent, and the days do feel like they're getting longer. Not that we should read too much into any of that.
LAOIS: F Byron (1-0, a penalty); P McDonald, C Ryan, A Fennelly; J Higgins (0-1), D Conroy, B McCormack; P Clancy, N Garvan; C Parkinson, B Brennan (1-1), G Kavanagh; B McDonald (0-1), C Kelly (1-0), C Conway (0-6, five frees) Subs: P McMahon for Higgins, M Lawlor for Parkinson, S Cooke for Brennan, P Lawlor for McDonald (all 60 minutes).
KILDARE: T Corley; A McLoughlin, M McIntyre, J Lonergan; A Rainbow (0-1), J Divilly, D Lyons; K Brennan, H Lynch (0-1); P O'Neill (0-2), D McCormack (0-4), J Doyle (0-3, one free); T Fennin (0-1), A Kelly, E Callaghan. Subs: P Hurley for Kelly, K O'Neill for McIntyre (both 43 mins), D Jordan for Callaghan (48 mins), P Brennan (0-1, a free) for Fennin (57 mins), D Hendy for Lyons (68 mins).
Referee: C Reilly (Meath).
