Emmet Bolton's last-minute goal handed Kildare a dramatic win over neighbours Laois at O'Moore Park, 1-12 to 1-9.

The hosts looked to have secured their second-division status and consigned Kildare to a year in the third tier when Damien O'Connor pointed them ahead in the final minute of normal time, 1-9 to 0-11, but Bolton had other ideas as he finished a fine move to the net before Paul Cribbin pointed in injury time.

The losers also had Donie Kingston sent off for a straight red card offence before the end and he will now miss the crucial Round Seven meeting with promotion-chasing Down next weekend.

It was 0-5 apiece at the break but Jason Ryan's men hit the first five scores after the restart via Niall Kelly, goalkeeper Mark Donnellan ('45'), Alan Smith and Podge Fogarty (2).

Back came the hosts with 1-3 without reply, Colm Begley providing the goal 14 minutes from the end. The same player edged them ahead and O'Connor restored that advantage after Fogarty had levelled it from a free.

Kildare had a foot in Division Three with time almost up but their barnstorming finish suggests that they won't go down without one hell of a fight.

Kildare - M Donnellan (0-1'45); C Fitzpatrick, M O'Grady, O Lyons; K Cribbin, F Conway, P Kelly; G White, P Cribbin (0-2); N Kelly (0-2), E O'Flaherty (0-2, 1f), E Bolton (1-1); F Dowling, P Fogarty (0-3, 2f), A Smith (0-1). Subs: T Moolick for F Dowling, K Murnaghan for P Kelly, M Conway for N Kelly, C McNally for G White, T O'Connor for E O'Flaherty.

Laois - G Brody; G Hanrahan, M Timmons, D O'Connor (0-1); D Strong, R Kehoe, C Begley (1-1); B Quigley, J O'Loughlin; N Donoher (0-2), C Boyle, E O'Carroll (0-1); R Munnelly (0-1f), D Kingston (0-3, 2f), P Kingston. Subs: S Attride for G Hanrahan, T Shiel for P Kingston, B Sheehan for R Munnelly.

Referee - D O'Mahoney.

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