Laois 0-10 Kildare 0-10: Everyone left this typically heated midlands derby relatively content. Mick O'Dwyer gets to send Laois out against his native Kerry in the league semi-final next Sunday, while Kildare retained their top-flight status.
"Why do they keep on doing things like this to me?" said O'Dwyer of the imminent meeting with his people. "Kildare today and Kerry the next day, but sure I'm looking forward to it.
"I hope all our players will be right for the next day. I suppose we won't have the under-21 players as they are playing the following Sunday.
"The conditions were terrible. Wind will always destroy a game of football. It was real bunchy football, but they are a fair side. They are big, physical and they could come through the other side of the (Leinster) championship (draw), but we had good bottle to come back and draw the game."
First on the order of business was the 15-minute GPA delay. Just before Paddy Russell led his linesmen and umpires on to the field, at 3.35pm, Laois PRO Marcella Daly broadcast the following unsigned Croke Park statement: "We want to apologise to patrons for the inconvenience caused by the delay in the commencement of the game. This is due to an action organised by the Gaelic Players Association."
The Laois players trotted out at 3.38pm, followed three minutes later by Kildare. After a minute's silence, in respect of two recent bereavements in the county, and the national anthem, a football match finally began at 3.51pm. Not exactly clockwork, but protest and apologetic GAA stance both duly noted.
Unfortunately, the football also failed to quicken the pulse. Until the end at least.
What really impressed, though, was Kildare's application of their video analysis. Laois may have cut shreds through three Ulster opponents during the league campaign, but their forays down the flanks were countered here by blockade defending.
"What pleased me most about today was the organisation," said Kildare coach John Crofton. "The game-plan we had we played it to a tee up to 40 yards out. We need to get more scores on the board, there is no doubt about that, get more cohesion in the inside forward line."
The early points were a pair of Chris Conway frees, while John Doyle replied with two from an eventual eight-point haul. Karl Ennis was the only other Kildare contributor.
Then came a disastrous period for Laois. Conway was carried off with knee ligament damage after bravely attempting to punch a high ball into the square. Ross Munnelly came in. Aidan Fennelly hobbled to the line soon after with a hamstring strain, while Pádraig McMahon had already slipped a disc during the warm-up.
Despite six Kildare wides, Doyle ensured a comfortable interval lead with another four points. The only reply was an excellent strike from Brian McCormack to leave it 0-7 to 0-3 at the turn.
With the gale now behind Laois, Paul Lawlor got the revival going with a pretty in-swinger. Munnelly hit another. Clancy, reacquainted with his regular midfield partner Noel Garvan at half-time, reduced the deficit further to ensure the crowd of 7,000 discovered their partisan voice.
Poor Russell was bombarded with screams for every decision he gave to the Lilywhites. Those who trekked over the county line were completely drowned out.
But Laois failed to maintain the new-found rhythm with Doyle and Ennis pushing the deficit back out to three.
It finished with a late blitz from Clancy, Billy Sheehan - largely anonymous up to then - and Munnelly, to salvage some Laois pride and top spot in Division One B.
Yet, a substantial concern remains. This is rumoured to be Laois' year, but if an incomplete Kildare can stymie their style, how can they prove effective when the real test comes in July?
LAOIS: F Byron; A Fennelly, D Rooney, P McDonald; J Higgins, D Conroy, B McCormack (0-1); P Clancy (0-2), T Kelly; B Sheehan (0-1), C Conway (0-2, two frees), G Kavanagh (capt); P Lawlor (0-3), C Parkinson, K Kelly. Subs: R Munnelly (0-1, free) for Conway (20 mins), D Brennan for Fennelly (26 mins), C Kelly for K Kelly, N Garvan for Brennan (both half-time), C Ryan for D Conroy (38-41 mins), I Fitzgerald for Parkinson (73 mins).
KILDARE: E Murphy (capt); A McLoughlin, M Hogarty, J Lonergan; A Rainbow, G Ryan, D Lyons; M Foley, K Brennan; K Ennis (0-2, one frees), D McCormack, R Sweeney; J Doyle (0-8, six frees), J Divilly, P O'Neill. Subs: P Mullarkey for Foley (38-39 mins), Mullarkey for Foley, T O'Neill for Ennis (both 66 mins).
Referee: P Russell (Tipperary).
