Senior hurlers face Laois with semi-final spot up for grabs

Wed, 8th January 2020

Dublin are in pole position ahead of Thursday night's rescheduled Walsh Cup clash with Laois in Parnell Park (7.45).

Their victories over Westmeath and Carlow position the Dubs at the top of the group with the eventual group winner facing Galway in the semi-final this Sunday, Wexford will face Kilkenny in the other semi-final.

Mattie Kenny's men defeated Carlow 3-20 to 0-18 in Parnell Park last Sunday afternoon.

All three goals were secured in the opening half while a scoring surge at the start of the second half saw Dublin to victory.

Dublin led 3-8 to 0-12 at half-time, the goals coming from Eamonn Dillon (two) and Donal Burke, before they hit seven points in-a-row to extend their advantage to 12 points, 3-15 to 0-12, and the outcome was beyond doubt.

Mark Schutte hit two of these points as did Lorcan McMullan and Oisín O’Rorke (one free) with Fergal Whitely converting a long range opportunity to see Dublin out of sight.

Those first half goals gave Dublin a five-point cushion at the breakdespite Carlow hitting eight points in-a-row at one stage of the opening period.

In their opening encounter, after their original fixture against Laois was deferred, Dublin defeated Westmeath 1-22 to 0-17 in TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar before Christmas.

The Dubs started slowly and trailed 0-2 to 0-5 inside the opening ten minutes, with Niall Mitchell and the impressive Eoin Price both hitting 0-2, but soon got into their stride with Lorcan McMullan, making his Dublin debut, doing well at centrefield.

Two Oisín O’Rorke frees and a point from play from Donal Burke brought the sides level before Aidan Mellett grabbed the game’s only goal in the 15 minute following some good interplay between Oisín O'Rorke, Lorcan McMullan and Ronan Hayes for Ballyboden St Enda's clubman Mellett to find the net.

Dublin struck the next four points with Mark Schutte, Davy Keogh, Loran McMullan and the influential Donal Burke all on target, making it 1-7 without reply, to open up a 1-9 to 0-5 advantage.

The Dubs put in a strong finish to the opening half with further scores from Oisín O’Rorke (two, one free), Donal Burke (two, one free) and two from Loran McMullan to lead 1-15 to 0-9 at the interval.

Dublin’s cause were made easier in the second period when Westmeath’s Joey Boyle was dismissed (second yellow card) in the 53rd minute as the game slowed to its conclusion.

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2020 WALSH CUP

Round 1

Sunday, December 8 Kinnegad Westmeath 2-12 Carlow 0-14

Round 2

Sunday, December 15 TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar Westmeath 0-17 Dublin 1-22

Sunday, December 15 Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow Carlow 0-22 Laois 3-19

Round 3

Sunday, January 5 Parnell Park Dublin 3-20 Carlow 0-18

Sunday, January 5 Borris-in-Ossory Laois 1-12 Westmeath 2-17

Round 1 (Rescheduled)

Thursday, January 9 Parnell Park Dublin v Laois, 7.45

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Thursday, January 9
Walsh Cup SH Round Robin
Parnell Park (7.45) Dublin v Laois Ref: Barry Redmond (Wexford)

Friday, January 10
Andrew Corden Cup – GAA U20 Football Development League
Netwatch Training Centre Fenagh (7.45) Carlow v Waterford Ref: Stephen Fagan (Wicklow)

Saturday, January 11
O'Byrne Cup SF Semi Finals
Bord na Mona O Connor Park (2.00) Offaly v Westmeath Ref: David Fedigan (Louth)
Glennon Bros Pearse Park (2.00) Longford v Dublin Ref: Alan Coyne (Westmeath)
(If sides finish level in O'Byrne Cup – a penalty competition for goals only will decide winner – no extra-time will be played in these games)

John Kerins Cup – GAA U20 Football Development League
LOETB Laois Centre of Excellence (2.00) Laois v Meath Ref: Dan Stynes (Dublin)
Manguard Plus Hawkfield Centre of Excellence (2.00) Kildare v Dublin Ref:David Hickey (Carlow)

Sunday, January 12
Walsh Cup SH Semi Finals
John Lockes Callan (2.00) Kilkenny v Wexford Ref:Sean Stack (Dublin)
Dublin/Laois/Westmeath (2.00) Dublin/Laois/Westmeath v Galway Ref: Patrick Murphy (Carlow
(If sides finish level in Walsh Cup - a penalty competition for goals only – will decide winner)

Kehoe Cup SH Final
Páirc Tailteann Navan (2.00) Antrim v Offaly Ref: James McGrath (Westmeath)
(If sides finish level in Kehoe Cup – a penalty competition for goals only – will decide winner)

Andrew Corden Cup - GAA U20 Football Development League
Moyle Rovers GAA (12.00) Tipperary v Wexford Ref: Niall Quinn (Clare)