Kildare produced an astonishing recovery to beat Laois by 1-17 to 4-6 on a sunny evening at Newbridge.

Trailing by 4-4 to 0-8 eleven minutes into the second half, Davy Burke's side looked to be heading for certain defeat, but they outscored the visitors by 1-9 to two points from there to the final whistle to open their round-robin account with a thrilling victory.

Substitute Brian McLoughlin was the catalyst, helping himself to six points following his introduction as well as playing a key role in Kildare's 46th-minute goal, which was netted by Jimmy Hyland (1-6).

Laois goals against the run of play from Diarmuid Whelan and Evan Lowry had the losers ahead by 2-2 to 0-7 at the break.

It looked like a done deal when Lowry and Whelan each added their second three-pointers within five minutes of the restart but the game was turned on its head following the arrival of Clane clubman McLoughlin into the fray. His three late scores edged the Lilywhites a point ahead with 59 minutes played but Whelan's equaliser appeared to have ensured the O'Moore men of a draw.

However, a late McLoughlin free and a Hyland point from play won the day for Kildare, who overturned an eight-point deficit to prevail by two. They're away to Meath on Bank Holiday Monday, while Laois will host Wicklow.

Kildare - A O'Neill; S Comerford, M Dempsey, J O'Toole; M Barrett, J Gibbons, R O Giollain; A Masterson, D Marnell; P Woodgate (0-2, 1f), S Doran (0-1), T Archbold; J Hyland (1-6, 0-3f), N Murphy (0-1), D Ryan (0-1). Subs: J Barrett for D Ryan, DJ Earley for J O'Toole, B McLoughlin (0-6, 5f) for P Woodgate, J Bambrick for S Comerford, S O'Sullivan for D Marnell, P Nash for N Murphy.

Laois - M Byron; J Kelly (0-1), D Bennett, R Hitchcock; C Brennan, S Bolger, S O'Flynn; J O'Connor, E Dunne; D Connolly, P Kealy, J Phelan; J Kavanagh, D Whelan (2-3, 0-2f), E Lowry (2-1). Subs: A Kinsella (0-1) for J Kavanagh, R Coffey for P Kealy, D Brophy for S O'Flynn, M Connolly for J Phelan.

Referee - B Tiernan.

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