Laois 0-16 Dublin 0-25

Laois’ hopes of making it the last four of the Leinster SHC came to an end in Nowlan Park on Sunday, as they lost out by nine points to Dublin.

The final scoreline in no way reflects the game though, as Laois played superbly in patches and were in contention up to about ten minutes to go when Dublin pulled clear.

Laois started the gameADVERTISEMENT well, and were out-muscling Dublin all over the field as they committed themselves to every tackle. Dublin opened the scoring but Laois hit back through a Willie Hyland free before going ahead thanks to Zane Keenan.

The first half remained close but Laois really should have been in control as poor shooting let them down time after time.
By half time, Dublin held a slender two point but Laois were still right in the game.

A good start to the second half would give Laois a great platform to get back into the game, but they missed their chance. In the first four minutes of the second half, Laois hit four wides as Dublin helped themselves to three unanswered points to stretch the gap to five.

That margin stayed between the teams for most of the second half, even when Laois were reduced to 14 men when Brian Campion got his second yellow card.

Laois battled on bravely, but tiredness eventually kicked in and Dublin pulled well clear in the last ten minutes to consign Laois to the qualifiers, as Niall Rigney’s side finished with 17 wides.

SCORERS – Laois: Willie Hyland 0-6 (three frees), John Brophy 0-3, Zane Keenan 0-2, James Walsh, Colin Delaney, John Purcell 0-1 each

Dublin: Alan McCrabbe 0-5 (one free, one sideline), Liam Rushe, Shane Durkin 0-4 each, Peter Kelly, John McCaffrey, Simon Lambert 0-3 each, Paul Ryan 0-2, Liam Ryan 0-1

LAOIS: Eoin Reilly; John A Delaney, Darren Maher, Cahir Healy; Brian Campion, Matthew Whelan, Mick McEvoy; Conor Dunne, James Walsh; Joe Fitzpatrick, Zane Keenan, Willie Hyland; Tommy Fitzgerald, Neil Foyle, John Brophy. Subs: Colin Delaney for Foyle (46 mins), John Purcell for Fitzpatrick (47 mins)

DUBLIN: Gary Maguire; Niall Corcoran, Tomas Brady, Oisin Gough; Stephen Hiney, Joseph Boland, Maurice O’Brien; John McCaffrey, Shane Durkin; Peter Kelly, Liam Rushe, Paul Ryan; David O’Callaghan, Simon Lambert, Alan McCrabbe. Subs: Kevin Flynn for O’Callaghan (25 mins), Liam Ryan for Flynn (51 mins), Peadar Carton for P Ryan (56 mins), Shane Ryan for Brady (66 mins), Ruairi Trainor for Gough (67 mins)

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)

By Rory Delaney, Leinster Express

Filed under: Laois Hurling, Inter County, LHC