Senior hurlers hit Laois for four

Sun, 2nd February 2020

HL DIVISION 1 GROUP B

DUBLIN 4-18 LAOIS 2-17

Dublin responded for their first day disappointment when defeating Laois by seven points in Sunday’s HL Division 1 Group B clash at Parnell Park.

The Dubs hit three goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, two of them coming inside a minute early on, to drive them onto victory.

Dublin held a three-point lead at the break, 1-11 to 1-8, and Laois closed them immediately on the restart with a Ciarán McEvoy point.

However, goals from Oisín O’Rorke and Davy Keogh in quick succession in the 37^th minute put Mattie Kenny’s men on the road to victory.

Fifteen minutes into the second half the influential Ronan Hayes grabbed Dublin’s fourth goal, following an athletic fetch, and when sub John Hetherton added a point, following a fine catch the home side were 4-13 to 1-12 clear.

They were never under threat thereafter despite the concession of a late goal to Willie Dunphy.

Dublin led 1-11 to 1-8 at half-time after a mixed opening half to this battle of familiar rivals. The Dubs would have held a stronger advantage but for the reflexes of Laois keeper Enda Rowland, who once again proved his ability.

The Dubs started very well and Oisín O’Rorke (three points, two frees, one ‘65’) and Donal Burke had their side 0-4 to 0-0 up inside six minutes.

Eamonn Dillon’s goal in the seventh minute pushed Dublin seven points clear but the visitors replied with four points of their own before the 12^th minute.

To make matters worse Dillon had to be replaced in the 11^th minute after suffering injury with Davy Keogh coming in.

Inside the last ten minutes of the half Laois got ahead (1-7 to 1-6) following points from Jack Kelly and Paddy Purcell either side of Willie Dunphy goal.

But Dublin regained the lead with frees from O’Rorke, following fouls on Danny Sutcliffe and Ronan Hayes, and Seán Moran, after Chris Crummey had been fouled.

The Dubs concluded the half with further scores from Jake Malone and a fine effort from Donal Burke, his second of the game, to lead by three points at the interval.

SCORERS – Dublin: O O’Rorke 1-7 (0-6f, 0-1 ‘65’), D Keogh 1-2, S Moran 0-3 (0-2f), E Dillon, R Hayes 1-0 each, D Burke, J Hetherton 0-2 each, J Malone, R McBride 0-1. Laois: W Dunphy 2-1, R King 0-6 (0-5f), S Bergin, C McEvoy 0-2 each, E Rowland (0-1f), J Kelly, P Purcell, J Ryan, E Gaughan, A Dunphy 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Brennan; P Smyth, E O’Donnell, C O’Callaghan; C Crummey, D Gray, J Madden; S Moran, J Malone; M Schutte, D Sutcliffe, D Burke; E Dillon, R Hayes, O O’Rorke. Subs: D Keogh for Dillon (inj, 12), J Hetherton for Schutte (inj, 31), F Whitely for Madden (47), A Dunphy for O’Callaghan (inj, 38), R McBride for Sutcliffe (inj, 60).

LAOIS: E Rowland; L Senior, P Delaney, D Hartnett; D Conway, R Mullaney, C McEvoy; J Kelly, F Fennell; R King, P Purcell, J Ryan; A Dunphy, W Dunphy, S Bergin. Subs: J Lennon for Mullaney (ht), R Broderick for Senior (57), E Gaughan for A Dunphy (57), J Keyes for Purcell (61).

REF: D Hughes (Carlow).