First-half scoring blitz sees Dublin defeat Laois in Leinster Championship

The Laois Minor Footballers have gotten their 2024 Leinster Championship campaign off to the worst possible start as Dublin left the LOETB Centre of Excellence with the win after firing in four first-half goals.

The Dubs were electric in attack and racked up an impressive 4-10 in the first-half. Laois Minor manager Ger Slevin will be impressed by Laois' second-half showing as they outscored Dublin, 1-7 to 1-3.

Dublin 5-13

Laois 1-11

It was a bitterly cold evening in Portlaoise but that didn't stop the crowd flocking into the Centre of Excellence. Dublin brought a massive crowd with supporter busses travelling down from the capital. The Dublin crowd saw their side open the scoring within 90 seconds as Rian Doherty raised the game's first white flag. The away side almost got in for goal soon after as Hugh O'Neill and Doherty linked up with O'Neill's effort striking the post and going wide.

Slevin's side got off the mark with five minutes on the clock as O'Dempsey's Ultan Dunne scored a fine long-range point. Laois' defence started the game well and were quick on Dublin's heels. A superb block by a Laois defender fell to the boot of Charlie Loughran as he pointed his side's second point. Dunne took his and Laois' tally to two soon after but that would spell the end of Laois' scoring for almost the remainder of the first period.

Dublin midfielder Killian Costello was the provider of Dublin's third point as his kick-pass found O'Neill inside the 45'. O'Neill kicked the resulting mark just before his side raised the game's first green flag. Senan Bolger showed a quick turn of pace as he ran at the Laois back line with his effort tucked into the bottom corner past Liam Conroy. Ryan Ennis, Bolger, Costello and two points from the boot of Doherty saw Dublin lead 1-8 to 0-2 with just over 20 minutes played. In the midst of the Dublin scores, Laois goalkeeper Liam Conroy made a fantastic 1-on-1 save to deny Fintan Lydon a certain goal.

Fintan Lydon found himself with an empty net for the second Dublin goal as the full-forward palmed the ball into the goal from close-range. Doherty kicked his fourth score of the half with Lydon adding to his goal but Dublin were showing their ruthless streak in front of goal as Donach Magee and half-back Josh Kennedy raised their third and fourth green flags. Dunne (free) and a cracking score from Ennae Byrne saw the half-time score stand at 4-10 to 0-4.

Dublin got proceedings underway in the second-half as Magee added to his earlier goal with a score from play. Dunne and Doherty traded frees before Laois hit three scores on the bounce. Conor O'Callaghan pointed a free while Byrne and Darren Brennan both scored from play.

Bolger added a 13th point to Dublin's name but Laois hit another purple patch as they fired in 1-2 without reply. Brennan played a long ball into the square and Portlaoise's Josh Finn was on hand to palm the ball beyond Brian Collins. Dunne kicked his fourth point of the contest as a free was played short to the Laois number 15. Brennan raised his second white flag soon after as Dublin led 4-13 to 1-10.

Dublin's fifth goal would be scored by Bolger as the centre-forward took his tally to 2-2 for the contest. Laois substitute Calum McElroy ended the game's scoring with a nicely-taken point.

Laois play host to Offaly next week before a trip to Longford in their final group game.