‘Ruthless’ was how Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney described his side after they inflicted a massive 15 point defeat on their neighbours and bitter rivals Laois to book a place in the Leinster final.

Kildare scored 1-11 without reply at one stage, a streak that more than pleased their manager.

“We were on a roll, we were ruthless and we punished them which again was very encouraging,” said McGeeney, who skippered Armagh to All Ireland glory in 2002.

After the O’Moore men went ahead early, shooting four quick points to lead by three after just eight minutes, Kildare recovered with a smartly executed Alan Smith goal and then hit nine successive points before the break to lead by 1-10 to 0-6 at half-time.

After the interval the contest became a one-sided affair and Laois meekly surrendered to the complete dominance of Kildare, who were physically far superior.

Kildare’s football was in a different league and when James Kavanagh netted a second goal early in the second half it was game over and time for the Laois supporters to head for the exits, quickly reducing the 14,334 attendance.

McGeeney said: “The best thing about that performance was the work — the fellas worked for the 70 minutes, 74 minutes or whatever it was. Even when we went ahead, we kept working.”

KILDARE: T Corley; H McGrillen, M Foley, E Bolton, M O’Flaherty, B Flanagan, M Conway, D Flynn, D Earley (0-2), J Kavanagh (1-2), P O’Neill (0-2), R Sweeney(0-3), A Smith (1-0), E Callaghan (0-2), J Doyle (0-7, 5fs). Subs: R Kelly for Sweeney, 55, K O’Neil for McGrillen, 56, K Ennis for Smith, 59, G White for Conway, 64, A Rainbow for O’Flaherty, 65.

LAOIS: M Nolan; C Ryan, M Timmons, R Stapleton, D Rooney, G Reddin (0-1), J O’Loughlin, P Clancy (0-1), K Meaney, B Quigley, B McCormack, B Sheehan (0-1); MJ Tierney (0-3, 2fs, 1 45), R Munnelly, D Kingston (0-2fs). Subs: J Higgins for Sheehan, 46, C Forkingston, 48; N Donogher for Rooney, 51; C Rodgers for McCormack,53; A Fennelly for Stapleton, 55.

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).