Flashbacks: Dublin v Laois SFC

Dublin and Laois have clashed 34 times in Championship action and do so again in this Sunday's Leinster SFC semi-final in Croke Park (3.30, live RTE News Channel).

The Dubs have won 27 of their meetings against the O'Moore County with two draws and five successes for Laois - their last coming in the 2003 Leinster semi-final.

In the 1999 Leinster semi-final the sides drew 1-11 to 0-14 in their provincial semi-final game before Dublin won 0-16 to 1-11 in the replay.

The Dubs defeated Westmeath in their provincial quarter-final last weekend while Laois overcame Longford in a tight battle, coming from six points down at one stage to emerge victorious. 

Their last championship encounter was in the 2018 Leinster decider when Dublin prevailed 1-25 to 0-10 before an attendance of 41,728 at GAA headquarters.

Here we look back on their last three championship contests.

-------------------------------

2018 LEINSTER SFC FINAL

DUBLIN 1-25 LAOIS 0-10

Dublin were crowned Leinster senior football champions for the eighth summer in succession as they defeated Laois with 18 points to spare in this provincial decider at Croke Park before an attendance of 41,728.

Evan Comerford lined out instead of Stephen Cluxton and did well - so with the Parnell's custodian out Jonny Cooper captained the side and raised the Delaney Cup as the Dubs progressed to the Super 8s.

The Dubs were 1-8 to 0-5 clear at the break before they ran away with it in the second period with subs Jack McCaffrey and Cormac Costello being introduced to telling effect.

Jim Gavin’s men could, in fact should, have won by a lot more but were less than clinical with Laois keeper Graham Brody making a succession of fine one-on-one saves before he was injured and then his deputy, Eoghan Keogh, also repelled another goal attempt.

The impressive Ciarán Kilkenny got Dublin’s goal in the fourth minute after showing well to win possession of a long, accurate delivery from Eric Lowndes.

But Dublin failed to kick-on with Con O’Callaghan twice being denied by Brody while Paul Mannion sent a 19th minute penalty wide after Niall Scully had been fouled as he drove forward in support of his inside forwards.

Dublin continued to generate plenty of good possession and attacking situations but their option-taking and accuracy was not at its best.

However, towards the close of the first half Dublin began to get the scoreboard ticking with points form Dean Rock (two, one free), a brilliant Brian Fenton point and further scores from Con O’Callaghan ad Paddy Andrews to open up an interval gap of six points.

Ten minutes into the second-half Jack McCaffrey, a half-time sub, blazed through on goal but was denied by Brody and 15 minutes later he couldn’t get the better of Keogh either.

Costello though had the eye in and clipped four second half points from play.

Dublin were reduced to 14 men in the 58th minute when John Small was straight red-carded.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 0-8 (0-5f, 0-1 '45'), C Kilkenny 1-4 each, C Costello 0-4, B Fenton, C O’Callaghan, P Andrews 0-2 each, P Mannion, N Scully, B Howard 0-1 each. Laois: D Kingston 0-4 (0-2f), A Farrell, G Walsh 0-2 each, K Lillis, E O'Carroll 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: E Comerford; E Lowndes, P McMahon, M Fitzsimons; J McCarthy, J Cooper, B Howard; B Fenton, MD Macauley; N Scully, C O’Callaghan, C Kilkenny; P Mannion, D Rock, P Andrews. Subs: J McCaffrey for Lowndes (ht), C Costello for Andrews (46), J Small for Macauley (52), P Flynn for O'Callaghan (55), D Daly for Mannion (61), C McHugh for Rock (68).

LAOIS: G Brody; D Strong, M Timmons, G Dillon; F Crowley, C Begley, T Collins; J O'Loughlin, K Lillis; A Farrell, P Kingston, N Donoher; E O'Carroll, D Kingston, D O'Connor. Subs: B Carroll for Donoher (48), R Munnelly for Crowley (51), E Keogh for Brody (inj 56), D Holland for Strong (58), B Glynn for Farrell (63), G Walsh for P Kingston (67).

--------------------------

2016 LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL

DUBLIN 2-21 LAOIS 2-10

A good start is half the battle . . . . as so it proved to be as Dublin cruised into a provincial semi-final with victory over Laois at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.

From the throw-in Brian Fenton delivered a long ball into the inside line which Dean Rock collected and angled on goal before slipping the ball past Laois keeper Graham Brody.

Four minutes later a brilliant kickout from Stephen Cluxton found James McCarthy breaking beyond midfield and he galloped forward before placing Diarmuid Connolly who expertly steered the ball to the net under the body of the advancing keeper Brody.

Inside ten minutes Dublin were 2-4 to 0-1 clear much to the delight of their supporters, who must have outnumbered the Laois contingent about 15:1 among the 16,764 attendance.

The Dublin attack was moving well with Rock, Connolly and Ciarán Kilkenny especially to the fore and further points from Dean Rock (three, including two frees), Kilkenny and corner-back David Byrne had Jim Gavin's men 2-12 to 0-7 clear by the interval.

Laois lost John O'Loughlin to a straight red card in the 27 minute which typified their opening half as Dublin ruthlessly went to close the game off as early as possible.

However, the O'Moore County rallied despite their numerical inferiority in the second period.

Seven minutes into the second half Paul Cahillane beat Stephen Cluxton from the penalty spot and not long after wing-back Stephen Attride brilliantly fired to the net following good work by Kevin Meaney and Donie Kingston.

Dublin had become a bit shapeless at the back at this stage as they got drawn out of position with Laois capitalising on the counter-attack.

But the boys in blue settled again with two superb Diarmuid Connolly points and Rock added two more to wrest back momentum when moving 2-18 to 2-8 in front.

One of the largest cheers of the evening was reserved for Eoghan O'Gara's return to competitive action following his long layoff following his cruciate knee injury and subsequent surgery.

Con O'Callaghan, the shining forward on the 2016 U21 team, was also brought into the action for his senior championship debut and scored a point as well as superbly fetching a long delivery from Connolly before having his goal attempt smothered.

Late on Connolly was denied by Brody from the penalty spot as Dublin ran out 11-point victors.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 1-10 (0-6f), D Connolly 1-4, C Kilkenny 0-4, D Byrne, K McManamon, C O'Callaghan 0-1 each. Laois: P Cahillane 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), S Attride 1-0, D Kingston 0-2 (0-1f), D O'Connor, D Strong, J O'Loughlin, G Walsh, K Meaney, R O'Connor 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, J Cooper, D Byrne; J McCarthy, C O'Sullivan, J Small; B Fenton, MD Macauley; C Kilkenny, K McManamon, D Connolly; P Mannion, D Rock, B Brogan. Subs: D Bastick for Macauley (blood 28), Macauley for Bastick (45), M Fitzsimons for McMahon (45), C Costello for Brogan (51), C O'Callaghan for Mannion (56), D Daly for O'Sullivan (59), E Lowndes for Cooper (62), E O'Gara for Rock (63).

LAOIS: G Brody; M Timmons, P Cotter, S Attride; D O'Connor, D Strong, G Dillon; J O'Loughlin, B Quigley; E O'Carroll, P Cahillane, C Begley; D Kingston, G Walsh, C Meredith. Subs: K Meaney for O'Carroll (30), N Donoher for Walsh (ht), R Munnelly for Dillon (47), A Farrell for Cahillane (62), R O'Connor for Quigley (65), G Hanrahan for Cotter (65).

---------------------------

2014 LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL

DUBLIN 2-21 LAOIS 0-16

A much improved second half showing saw Dublin overcome Laois by 11 points in this Leinster SFC quarter-final at Croke Park.

The Dubs advanced to face Wexford in their provincial semi-final in GAA headquarters after the upped the gears in the second period to shake off the O'Moore County's resilience in front of an attendance of 40,960.

Dublin played with greater pace, conviction and direction after the change of ends after an indifferent opening 35 minutes during which Laois played the better football.

Dublin also lost Bernard Brogan to injury in the first period as the early omens looked like they were conspiring against the reigning Leinster and All-Ireland champions.

However, Dublin did threaten goals in the opening period with Paddy Andrews hitting the underside of the crossbar in the 15th minute and Diarmuid Connolly striking a post two minutes later.

In first half injury-time Laois keeper, Graham Brody, smothered an effort from Alan Brogan and reacted quickly to then deny Eoghan O'Gara from close range.

At the break Laois led 0-10 to 0-8 as they held the upperhand around the midfield sector and were winning most of the breaking ball.

Up front for the midlanders Donal Kingston and especially Ross Munnelly were causing problems for the Dublin defence - a problem the Dubs found answers to in the second half.

Dublin restarted the second period with two points from Kevin McManamon before Paul Flynn, who was very influential in the second half, slotted Dublin in front for the first time since the opening minute.

Jack McCaffrey had a goal effort deflected for a '45', which Stephen Cluxton converted in the 43rd minute, as Dublin began to move with more conviction when in attack mode.

Twelve minutes into the second half came the crucial first goal when Paddy Andrews found Philly McMahon with a cross the square pass, the Ballymun Kickhams man placed Connolly who tucked his finish clincially into the far corner of Brody's net to propel the Dubs 1-13 to 0-11 in front.

Eight minutes later Kevin McManamon turned nothing into something when he rescued what looked a misdirected free from Flynn before immediately finding Michael Darragh Macauley who blasted to the net from close range.

Now six points clear, 2-13 to 0-13, Dublin never looked like being caught with subs Dean Rock, with three frees, and Cormac Costello, three from play, driving their side to victory.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Connolly 1-1, P Flynn, C Costello, D Rock (0-3f) 0-3 each, MD Macauley 1-0, K McManamon, S Cluxton (0-2 '45') 0-2 each, J McCarthy, C O'Sullivan, P Andrews, A Brogan, E O'Gara, B Cullen, B Brogan (0-1f) 0-1 each. Laois: R Munnelly 0-7 (0-2f), D Kingston 0-3 (0-2f), D Strong 0-2, J O'Loughlin, J Finn, D Conway, N Donoher 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Daly, R O'Carroll, P McMahon; J Cooper, N Devereux, J McCarthy; MD Macauley, C O'Sullivan; P Flynn, P Andrews, D Connolly; A Brogan, E O"Gara, B Brogan. Subs: K McManamon for B Brogan (inj 24), J McCaffrey for Daly (30), B Cullen for O'Gara (44), C Costello for A Brogan (51), D Rock for O'Sullivan (59), P Mannion for Andrews (67).

LAOIS: G Brody; P McMahon, P Begley, P O'Leary; D Strong, S Attride, C Begley; K Meaney, J O'Loughlin; J Finn, C Meredith, B Sheehan; R Munnelly, D Kingston, D Conway. Subs: N Donoher for Sheehan (32), E Lowry for Meaney (51), R Kehoe for Attride (59), E O'Carroll for Conway (65), P Kingston for Finn (67).