Senior footballers defend Leinster crown

DUBLIN 1-25 LAOIS 0-10

Dublin are Leinster senior football champions for the eighth summer in succession as they defeated Laois with 18 points to spare in Sunday’s 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 it was left to Jonny Cooper to captain the side and raise the Delaney Cup as the Dubs progress to the Super 8s.

The Dubs were 1-8 to 0-5 clear at the break before the 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 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 19^th 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 interal 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 58^th 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).

REF: B Cassidy (Derry).