With 31 minutes gone in the opening half of an uneventful game up to that point referee Syl Doyle of Wexford halted play for a hop ball. Just before he threw up the ball Ronan Sweeney was 'downed' off-the-ball which was clearly visible from the stand. The match official either did not see the incident or chose to ignore it and proceeded to throw up the ball.

When he did all hell broke loose with the majority of players becoming involved in what was a very nasty free-for-all.
When things eventually died down referee Doyle, having consulted with his umpires and linesmen flashed five red cards to Kevin Meaney, Billy Sheehan and Peter O'Leary (Laois) and Johnny Doyle and Morgan O'Sullivan (Kildare).

The five chosen for instant dismissal could have been any five but in fairness to the official once the scrap developed his task was near impossible.

However, it has to be said that if the Laois player who sparked the entire incident was sanctioned the chances of the row developing would probably never have occurred in the first place.

But that, it has to be said, does not detract from the disgraceful scenes which should have no part in the game of Gaelic football.
Up to that point Kildare had been coasting along leading 0-7 and 0-3, despite Laois opening impressively early on.

Michael J. Tierney opened the scoring after a couple of minutes with a free and added a second when referee Doyle penalised Kildare for a hand pass infringement.

Gradually, with Dermot Earley and Daryl Flynn gaining control in the middle Kildare came forward and opened their account after six with a Johnny Doyle free.

Wing back Morgan O'Flaherty came forward after a great move involving Anthony Rainbow, David Whyte ended with the Carbury man splitting the posts.

Then on nine minutes Kildare took the lead, a lead they were never to relinquish, when Rob Kelly took a quick free to Dermot Earley and the big man knocked one over with nonchalant ease from 40 yards.
Anthony Rainbow, who rolled back the years in that opening half with a magnificent display, found Rob Kelly and when the Straffan man was fouled Johnny Doyle did the rest and the same player soon added another this time when young Keith Cribbin was fouled and Kildare lead 0-4 to 0-2 after 14 minutes.

A magnificent cross field pass from Anthony Rainbow was fielded by Dermot Earley who off-loaded to Rob Kelly who made no mistake.
Tiernan was again on the mark for Laois after 20 as he notched up his third free. In fact the Laois no. 13 was his teams only scorer, converting seven frees and adding a 45 for good measure.

Emmet Bolton picked up a loose ball and found David Whyte and the Moorefield man found the range from 45 yards. Within a minute Johnny Doyle converted another free to put Kildare ahead by 0-7 to 0-3.

The 'flare up' then followed and when that eventually died down with five less players on the field MJ Tiernan was soon awarded a free and he made no mistake and he repeated the dose on 39 minutes to leave Kildare leading by three points at the break 0-7 to 0-4.

On the resumption a foul on Anthony Rainbow saw Rob Kelly extend Kildare's lead before Emmet Bolton picked up a yellow (and it could have been worse) for a silly foul on Michael J. Tiernan after he (Bolton) had dispossessed the Laois forward.

Five minutes in and Tiernan reduced the deficit with a free before Gary White, after some top drawer defending, was fouled by the Laois no. 13 and Kelly had three between the sides 12 minutes in.

David Whyte then hit his second point of the game, an excellent effort from wide on the right.

Andrew McLoughlin was next to see yellow but minutes later Laois full back, Denis Booth was shown a straight red after 'tangling' with Dermot Earley.

Two excellent moves should have seen Kildare find the net on both occasions the first saw Rob Kelly's punched effort come off the cross bar and the second after a great cross field pass put Dermot Earley in but he lost possession at the vital time.

A foul by Anthony Rainbow on John Scully saw MJ Tiernan reduced the deficit to three but minutes later Ronan Walsh was deemed to be illegally held up and Rob Kelly had four between them once again.
Padraig O'Neill picked up a second yellow followed by a red with time running out before Michael J. Tiernan converted his seventh free and his eight free (with Gary White picking up yellow) to leave the final score reading Kildare 0-11 Laois 0-8.

Don't be surprised if we have not heard the last of this one with the Leinster Council sure to hold an investigation into the first half shenanigans. As it stands the red card boys are certain to miss the opening two rounds of the national football league but we will have to wait and see if more players are implicated.

Best for the winners were Anthony Rainbow who was brilliant, especially in the opening half; Gary White could be the answer to the full back berth while elsewhere Brian Flanagan did well. Dermot Earley had a towering game while up front Rob Kelly, David Whyte and Johnny Doyle (until dismissed) all shone at times.

Laois were very disappointing and the fact that they failed to score from open play must be of as much concern to manager Sean Dempsey as to the four red cards his players picked up. Michael J. Tiernan was their main threat throughout the game but he had very little back up.

Scorers:
Kildare, Rob Kelly 0-4 (2 frees), Johnny Doyle 0-3 (3 frees); David Whyte 0-2; Morgan O'Flaherty 0-1, Dermot Earley 0-1.
Laois, Michael J. Tierney 0-8 (7 frees, 45).

Red cards:
Kildare: Johnny Doyle, Morgan O'Flaherty, Padraig O'Neill.
Laois: Kevin Meaney, Billy Sheehan, Peter O'Leary and Denis Booth.

Yellow cards:
Kildare: Andrew McLoughlin, Gary White, Emmet Bolton, Padraig O'Neill (2).
Laois: Padraig McMahon, Billy Sheehan, Michael J. Tierney.

Kildare:
Shane McCormack; Andrew McLoughlin, Gary White, Emmet Bolton; Anthony Rainbow, Brian Flanagan, Morgan O'Flaherty; Daryl Flynn, Dermot Earley; Rob Kelly, Johnny Doyle, David Whyte; Keith Cribbin, Ronan Sweeney, Ronan Walsh. Subs: Padraig O'Neill for Roli Sweeney (54 minute); Killian Brennan for Daryl Flynn (64 minute); David Lyons for Anthony Rainbow (65 minute).
 
Laois:
Conor Gorman; John Scully, Denis Booth, Padraig McMahon; Darren Strong, Cathal Ryan, Niall Donoher; Brendan Quigley, Cathal Og Greene; Kevin Meaney, Chris Bergin, Billy Sheehan; Michael J. Tierney, Damian Lowry, Colm Coss. Subs: Peter O'Leary for Damian Lowry (25 minute); Colm Begley for Chris Bergin (half time); Damien Murphy for Darren Strong (53 minute); Kevin Smith for Colm Coss (53 minute); Donal Miller for Cathal Og Greene (64 minute);