Kildare remain on course for a three-in-a-row of Leinster MFC titles after they came from seven points down to beat neighbours Laois 1-14 to 2-6 in an exciting quarter-final at Newbridge.

Laois made all the early running with points from Jack Owens, Ciaran Comerford and Alan Kinsella giving them a 0-3 to 0-0 lead before captain David Kelly opened the holders' account. A James Carey free left the minimum in it before two goals in the space of a minute from Comerford and Niall Dunne propelled the O'Moore County into a 2-3 to 0-2 lead.

But Gay Campbell's charges responded with a trio of frees from Darragh Kirwan and Kelly (two) to leave themselves trailing by 0-5 to 2-3 at the break.

The momentum remained with the Lilywhites after the restart when Darragh Ryan brought them level with a quickfire 1-1. A David Kelly point gave them the lead for the first time in the 40th minute before they had a huge let-off when Jack Owens rattled the crossbar. Substitute Mark Barry eventually ended Laois' 31-minute scoring drought, but the hosts weren't to be denied as further points from Kelly, Kirwan, Shane O'Sullivan, subs Ger Cunningham and David Foley sealed the victory.

Kildare - A O'Neill; D Reilly, M Barrett, L Loughnane; A Cronin, N O'Connor, D Ryan (1-2); J Carey, D Kelly (0-6f); B McDonnell, N O'Sullivan, F Nevin; S O'Sullivan (0-2, 1f), J Cully, D Kirwan (0-2, 1f). Subs: C Halpin for J Carey, D Foley (0-1) for C Halpin (BC), E McGovern for L Loughnane, P Tuohy for N O'Sullivan, G Cunningham (0-1) for D Ryan, J Travers for B McDonnell.

Laois - T McCann; M Dowling, S O'Flynn, D Comerford; K Horgan, S Lacey, G Saunders; R Tyrrell, D Whelan (0-1f); A Kinsella (0-1), N Dunne (1-0), R Coffey; J Owens (0-1), C Comerford (1-1), R McEvoy. Subs: M Barry (0-2) for S Lacey, D McCaul for A Kinsella, J Rogers for N Dunne, D Brophy for R Coffey (BC).

Referee - J Hickey.

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