No Changes From Semi Starters For Leinster Football Final

Fri, 22nd June 2018

Dublin have named an unchanged team for Sunday's Leinster SFC final against Laois in Croke Park (4.0).

DUBLIN v LAOIS

Laois are seeking their first championship win over Dublin since 2003 (Leinster semi-final), which was also the last time they won the Leinster title. Dublin have beaten them seven times since then, the most recent coming two years ago.

PATHS TO THE FINAL

Dublin 4-25 Wicklow 1-11

Dublin 2-25 Longford 0-12

Dublin’s Top Scorers

Dean Rock...........2-8 (0-7 frees)

Ciaran Kilkenny...1-11

Brian Fenton.........1-7

Laois 2-21 Wexford 1-18 (aet)

Laois 4-13 Westmeath 1-12

Laois 0-12 Carlow 0-8

Laois’ Top Scorers

Paul Kingston..........3-6

Donie Kingston.......1-10 (0-6 frees, 1-0pen)

Ross Munnelly.........0-10 (0-8 frees)

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2016: Dublin 2-21 Laois 2-10 (Leinster quarter-final)

2014: Dublin 2-21 Laois 0-16 (Leinster quarter-final)

2012: Dublin 1-11 Laois 0-12 (All-Ireland quarter-final)

2011: Dublin 1-16 Laois 0-11 (Leinster quarter-final)

2007: Dublin 3-14 Laois 1-14 (Leinster final)

PREVIOUS DUBLIN v LAOIS LEINSTER FINALS

2007: Dublin 3-14 Laois 1-14

2005: Dublin 0-14 Laois 0-13

1985: Dublin 0-10 Laois 0-4

1963: Dublin 2-11 Laois 2-9

1959: Dublin 1-18 Laois 2-8

Dublin are bidding to win the Leinster title for an 8th successive year.

Jim Gavin is in his sixth season as Dublin manager; John Sugrue is in his first term as Laois boss.

Dublin have won the last four Leinster finals by an average of just over 13 points, beating Kildare by nine last year, Westmeath by 15 in 2016 and by 13 in 2015 and Meath by 16 in 2014.

Dublin’s Allianz League (Division 1) and Leinster Championship Record this year is: Played 10, Won 8, Drew 1 (v Galway Round 6), Lost 1 (v Monaghan Round 7)

Laois’ Allianz League (Div 4) and Leinster Championship record this year is: Played 9, Won 9.

Laois were the last county to prevent Dublin scoring a goal in a Leinster final. In 2005 Dublin beat them by 0-14 to 0-13 in the decider. Since then, Dublin have scored a total of 24 goals in 11 finals.

The winners will advance to the All-Ireland quarter-finals where their opponents in the first phase (July 14/15) will be (winner of) Donegal v Fermanagh.

DUBLIN (SFC v Laois)

1. Stephen Cluxton - Parnell's

2. Philly McMahon - Ballymun Kickhams

3. Michael Fitzsimons - Cuala

4. Eric Lowndes - St Peregrine's

5. Brian Howard - Raheny

6. James McCarthy - Ballymun Kickhams

7. Jonny Cooper - Na Fianna

8. Brian Fenton - Raheny

9. Michael Darragh Macauley - Ballyboden St Enda's

10. Niall Scully - Templeogue Synge Street

11. Con O'Callaghan - Cuala