In brief
Turning point, talking point
TURNING POINT: When substitute Grace O’Neill found the back of the Kildare net two minutes into the second half, Laois had reduced their opponents’ advantage to the bare minimum. This threw down the gauntlet to Jim McMullen’s outfit, but the always impressive Susie O’Carroll stepped up to the plate when required, as her goals in the 33rd and 34th minutes suddenly offered them a comfortable seven-point cushion.
TALKING POINT: After falling behind to a series of early scores, Laois opted to deploy centre-forward Denise Quigley as a sweeper in front of her own full-back line, as they aimed to curb the threat of the potent Kildare attack. This was a sign of how concerned the O’Moore County management were but the withdrawal of Quigley meant that her direct marker, Carol Nolan, performed a similar role at the opposite end of the field. This was a task that the St Laurence’s lynchpin excelled at.
OUTSTANDING DISPLAY: The leadership shown by Siobhan Hurley and Susie O’Carroll was essential to their cause, as they amassed 2-7 between them. The aforementioned three-pointers by O’Carroll were certainly the eye-catching moments of the tie, but the 0-5 tally by Johnstownbridge’s Hurley from the congested middle-third was testament to the strength of her all-round game from start to finish.