Senior hurlers set up semi-final duel with Galway

Sun, 17th January 2016

DUBLIN 2-20 LAOIS 1-9

Dublin's encouraging early season form continued apace against Laois in Sunday's Bord na Móna Walsh Cup Round 3 encounter at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

Ger Cunningham's men now progress as group winners and will face Galway in next Sunday's semi-final at Parnell Park (2.0).

Laois settled slightly the quicker and led 0-3 to 0-2 after five minutes but never held the lead once Dublin got in front.

A seventh minute goal from Fiontan Mac Gibb put Dublin in front before the hosts gained parity in the 18th minute when Tadhg Dowling rattled the net.

With ten minutes to go in the opening half Paul Ryan struck a penalty to the net and by the break the Dubs were 2-12 to 1-7 in front and looking good.

Dublin continued to hold the upperhand and could have won by more but for some fine goalkeeping by Eoin Reilly with the impressive Eamonn Dillon denied on a couple of occasions.

SCORERS - Dublin: P Ryan 1-2 (1-0 pen, 2f), F McGibb 1-1, E Dillon 0-4, N McMorrow 0-3 (2f), D O'Connell, C Bennett, C Crummey 0-2 each, L Rushe, C Mac Giolla Bhride, D Treacy, S Treacy 0-1 each. Laois: PJ Scully 0-5 (0-3f), T Dowling 1-0, B Reddin 0-2, N Foyle, C Stapleton 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: G Maguire; J Boland, O Gough, R Hardy; C Crummey, L Rushe, J McCaffrey; C Mac Giolla Bhride, D O'Connell; P Ryan, F Mac Gibb, D Treacy; S Treacy, E Dillon, C Bennett. Subs: N McMorrow for Ryan (29 inj), D O'Callaghan for Dillon (49), M Schutte for Bennett (55), F Ó Riain Broin for Hardy (58), D Plunkett for Mac Giolla Bhride (63)
LAOIS: E Reilly; C Healy, D Maher; L Bergin, N Foyle, R Mullaney; C Stapleton, M Whelan; C Collier, B Reddin, P Purcell; E Fennelly, T Dowling, PJ Scully. Subs: M Kavanagh for Dowling (53), O Carroll for Bergin (53), P Lalor for Mullaney (57), J Phelan for Maher (57).
REF: M O'Sullivan (Kilkenny)