LAOIS 2-14 DUBLIN 1-14
Two goals from Tommy FItzgerald saw Laois defeat Dublin in their Bord na Mona Walsh Cup quarter-final at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Sunday afternoon.
Last year Dublin successfully used the Walsh Cup to build momentum ahead of a league that concluded with their first Division 1 title in seven decades but this year Dublin will have to plot a different pre-league route.
An experimental Dublin side trailed throughout with Fitzgerald’s goals, coming either side of the half-time break, doing the business for Teddy McCarthy’s men.
The first goal arrived three minutes before the interval and shortly after the break FItzgerald got his second as Laois moved 2-9 to 0-6 clear early in the second half.
Following Danny Sutcliffe’s move to midfield the Dubs did rally with points from Shane Stapleton, Ryan O’Dwyer, Eamon Dillon, and Johnny McCaffrey and with ten minutes remaining an Alan McCrabbe goal left just three points between the sides.
However, Laois were not to be denied and after Dublin had shot six points in-a-row they replied with four of their own to deservedly hold on for victory.
SCORERS Laois: W Hyland 0-8 (6f), T Fitzgerald 2-1, J Brophy 0-2, M McEvoy, C Murray, W Dunphy 0-1 each. Dublin: S Stapleton 0-8 (7f), A McCrabbe 1-0, R ODywer, C McBride 0-2 each, D ODwyer, J McCaffrey 0-1 each.
LAOIS – D Hanlon; B Smith, D Maher, P Mullaney; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, C Dunne; J Walsh, B Dunne; J Brophy, M McEvoy, W Hyland; W Dunphy, T Fitzgerald, D OMahoney. Subs: C Murray for Brophy (51), E Houlihan for McEvoy (68).
DUBLIN – A Nolan; R Trainor, C OBrien, J McCaffrey; D Sutcliffe, J Boland, R Walsh; C Clinton, S Stapleton; C McBride, C McCormack, S Ryan; D ODwyer, R ODwyer, E Dillon. Subs: M OBrien for Clinton (h-t), A McCrabbe for Ryan (h-t), P Carton for Dillon (51), P Ryan for McCormack (58).
REF – P ODwyer (Carlow)
ATTENDANCE: 400 (Est.)
