Historic day as Kildare capture Joe McDonagh Cup

Kildare were crowned Joe McDonagh Cup champions following a magnificent 2-26 to 1-18 victory over Laois in Croke Park this afternoon, an historic day indeed for The Lilies.

It was The Lilies brilliant second half display that saw them hit no less than 1-15 with goals from Jack Travers who was on the pitch for less than a minute; a second green flag from Jack Sheridan, indeed the Naas man could have had a couple of goals but Laois keeper Cathal Dunne, denied him and indeed a few others, with some brilliant saves.

The sides were leave at the break 0-11 apiece but when Laois got a sloppy goal just after the start of the second half from Ben Conray, Kildare responded brilliantly were level after 42 minutes, went ahead by a few and while Laois got back at them again Jack Travers goal 60 minutes had Kildare on their way with Jack Sheridan getting the side's second on 66 and that was it.

Kildare Joe McDonagh champions, now can look forward to taking on Dublin in the Liam McCarthy pre-quarter final in Newbrige next Saturday, in what is expected to be a double header with the Tailteann Cup quarter-final.

Final score in Croke Park: Kildare 2-26 Laois 1-18. with Cian Boran awarded the Man of the Math award.

Scorers: Kildare, David Qualter 0-13 (11 frees, one 65); Jack Sheridan 1-4, Jack Travers 1-1, Gerry Keegan 0-3, James Burke 0-2, Simon Leacy 0-1, Paul Dolan 0-1, Muiris Curtin 0-1.

Laois, Tomás Keyes 0-6 (6 frees), Ben Conroy 1-2 (1 free), Padraig Delaney 0-2 (2 frees), Lee Cleere 0-1, James Keyes 0-2, Fiachra C Fennell 0-1, Paddy Purcell 0-1, PJ Cully 0-2 (1 free), James Duggan 0-1.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Richie Hogan, Rian Boran cpt., Simon Leacy; Daniel O'Meara, Cian Boran, Paul Dolan (EECC); Daire Guerin, James Burke; Cathal McCabe, Jack Sheridan, David Qualter; Darragh Melivlle, Cathal Dowling, Gerry Keegan. Subs: Jack Travers for Cathal Dowling (58 minutes); Muiris Curtin for Cathal McCabe (62 minutes) ; Conn Kehoe for Darragh Melville (68 minutes); Liam OReilly for Paul Dolan (68 minutes); Oisin Lynam for Gerry Keegan (72 minutes);

LAOIS: Cathal Dunne; Cody Comerford, Lee Cleere, Diarmaid Conway; Jordan Walsh, Padraig Delaney, James Keyes; Fiachra C Fennell, David Dooley; Aidan Corby, Tomás Keyes, Paddy Purcell; Mark Dowling, Jer Quinlan, Ben Conroy. Subs: Aaron Dunphy for Tomás Keyes (53 minutes); Padraic Dunne for Cody Comerford (58 minutes); James Duggan for Mark Dowling (62 minutes): Ryan Mullaney for Jordan Walshe (63 minutes).

REFEREE: Michael Kennedy, Tipperary.