Laois end hurling league campaign with defeat to Dublin

Laois have ended the round-robin stage of this year’s Division 1A with a defeat to Dublin in Parnell Park this afternoon.

Laois failed to capitalise on a spell of 18 minutes without a Dublin score as the home side took the points on offer.

Dublin 1-29

Laois 0-20

Dublin started the game with the wind behind their backs as they raced into an early four-point lead after five minutes.

Donal Burke opened the scoring with a free while Alex Considine got the game’s first score from play.

Burke pointed another free before Danny Sutcliffe hit Dublin’s fourth point after five minutes. Aidan Corby got Laois’ first point after six minutes as Dublin got another three scores unanswered.

Burke pointing from play as well as from a free. Cian Boland put Dublin into a commanding lead 0-7 to 0-1.

Stephen Bergin and Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher both pointed as Laois began to find their feet in the game. Cian O’Sullivan traded scores with Maher (free) before Dublin got in for goal.

Enda Rowland pulling off a fantastic save from O’Sullivan with Considine first to the ball as he blasted in the rebound. Bergin got a further two scores while Considine and a free from Burke was Dublin’s reply.

Jack Kelly pointed superbly from midfield while Considine was proving to be difficult to mark as he took his tally to 1-2 with a point from play.

Picky Maher got his third point from placed balls as Laois trailed by six points. Cian Boland and James Keyes traded scores as Dublin hit the front again with three scores without reply.

Burke pointing a 65’ and a free before Daire Gray pointed well from half-back. Jack Kelly got his second point of the game for Laois with Paul Crummey replying for Dublin.

The half ended with three frees from Picky Maher while Boland also raised a white flag from a free for the home side. Dublin leading 1-17 to 0-13 at half-time.

Laois started the half with three frees from Picky Maher as Dublin didn’t register a score in the second-half in till the 53rd minute, Burke getting his second from play.

Dublin hit the next five scores unanswered as Cillian Costello pointed twice while Sean Currie, O’Sullivan and Burke (free) also raised white flags.

Picky Maher pointed yet another free for Laois as Dublin substitute Fergal Whitley pointed twice from play as well as half-back Conor Burke.

Donal Burke got his 11th point of the contest courtesy of a placed ball. Mossy Keyes raised a white flag as the game began to fizzle out.

Dara Purcell getting another score for Dublin in the first of four minutes of added time. A free from Picky Maher was Laois’ last score as Dublin ran out 12 point winners in the end.

Laois’ last game of the campaign comes against Westmeath next weekend in the relegation decider with the loser dropping down to Division 2.