Laois 1-7

Kildare 0-4

Laois have reached the Leinster U20FC final for the second successive season after beating Kildare at a rain-lashed MW Hire O'Moore Park tonight.

Buoyed by Monday night's dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Westmeath, the hosts led from pillar to post in Portlaoise.

Damon Larkin's 12th minute goal handed Eddie Kinsella's side the early initiative as they raced into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead.

Alex Beirne, who was a late change to the visitors' starting 15, opened Kildare's account eight minutes before the break.

Shane O'Sullivan (free) and Darragh Kirwan added two more points for the Lilywhites, who trailed 1-4 to 0-3 at half-time despite playing with the elements in the opening period.

Naas CBS student Beirne had the margin down to three within eight minutes of the resumption but that proved to be Kildare's last score.

Laois coped better with the poor conditions and were well in control by the time Barry stroked over his fourth point of the contest.

Kildare's misery was compounded by the sending off of full forward O'Sullivan in the closing stages.

Laois - M Byron (0-1f); M Dowling, A Mohan, N Keane; S O’Flynn, G Saunders, J Lacey; PJ Daly, B Howlin; R Coffey (0-1), J Owens, D Larkin (1-0); M Barry (0-4, 2f), D Galvin, C Slevin (0-1). Subs: D Brophy for B Howlin, S O’Neill for PJ Daly, R Bolger for D Galvin.

Kildare - M Anderson; J Hamill, J Lawler, S Moore; DJ Earley, P McDermott, J Collins; M Grehan, T O’Connor; J Sargent, D Kirwan (0-1), A Steed; A Beirne (0-2), S O'Sullivan (0-1f), C McCabe. Subs: D McDermott for J Sargent, L Griffin for D Kirwan, M Cully for M Grehan.

Referee - F Kelly.

A double line-up of Allianz Football and Hurling League fixtures this weekend. Follow the hoganstand.com match tracker for live updates on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

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