Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter Final

Dublin 4-30 Laois 2-9

By Alan Hartnett at Laois Hire O'Moore Park

Dublin are up and running in the Leinster Championship following a comprehensive victory over Laois.

In front of a huge crowd, Dessie Farrell's men were 23 points up at half and although Laois made a better fist of things in the second half, they still lost by 27 in the end.

It is a result that ends Laois's interest in the Leinster championship and they now head for the Tailteann Cup in May.

Dublin will continue on their quest for 13 Leinster titles in a row when they face Kildare in the semi-final.

Laois actually opened the scoring via Paul Kingston but Dublin soon got on top.

Con O'Callaghan and Paul Mannion put them ahead and Dublin had two goals scored by the eighth minute.

The first came when Sean O'Flynn misplaced a sideline pass and Dublin countered with Con O'Callaghan scoring.

And the second arrived when Ross McGarry showed Kieran Lillis a clean pair of heels and then landed a ball into Colm Basquel who swiveled and found the corner.

Dublin added points via Brian Fenton and Mannion before they almost had another goal when Jack McCaffrey went racing through on goal and forced Scott Osborne into a fine save.

Laois were creaking with three points in a row from Kingston, Mark Barry and Mark Timmons - the later in the 16th minute would be Laois's final score of the half.

While Dublin continued to score as a brace from Con O'Callaghan and one from Colm Basquel left it 2-7 to 0-4 at the midpoint of the half.

Further points followed and then Laois conceded a third goal with 25 minutes on the clock. Padraig Kirwan attempted a crossfield ball from a free in midfield and Colm Basquel cut it out before releasing Lee Gannon to score.

Sean Bugler and Ross McGarry joined the scoring charts before half time as Ciaran Kilkenny finished with 1-1 to leave Dublin 4-15 to 0-4 ahead at half time.

Laois made two changes at half time and moved Mark Timmons back as a sweeper. Con O'Callaghan took his tally to 1-5 for the day when play resumed but Laois then ended their 22 minute scoring drought via marks from Paul Kingston and Eoin Lowry.

Colm Basquel kicked Dublin's 17th point, but then Laois struck for two goals in a three minute spell.

The first came when Evan O'Carroll slapped a high ball down and Lowry ran clear before smashing a shot into the top corner.

Then Dublin gave away possession in defence with Paul Kingston pouncing before squaring to Lowry, who scored again.

Dublin did not panic and recovered from that set back by kicking the next eight points in a row.

Ciaran Kilkenny, Sean Bugler, Con O'Callaghan, Brian Fenton and sub Dean Rock all scored as Dublin absolutely blitzed Laois once again.

Laois went another 18 minutes after that Lowry goal without a score before Evan O'Carroll kicked a mark in the 63rd minute.

Dublin kept scoring and hit the 30 point mark before the end in a comprehensive win.

Scorers for Dublin: Con O'Callaghan 1-7 (two marks, one free), Colm Basquel 1-5, Ciaran Kilkenny 1-4, Dean Rock 0-3, Brian Fenton 0-3, Paul Mannion 0-3 (one free), Lee Gannon 1-0, Ross McGarry 0-2, Sean Bugler 0-1, Cian Murphy 0-1, Brian Howard 0-1

Scorers for Laois: Eoin Lowry 2-1 (one mark), Paul Kingston 0-3 (one free, one mark), Evan O'Carroll 0-2 (one mark, one free), Mark Barry 0-1, Mark Timmons 0-1

Dublin: David O'Hanlon; David Byrne, Daire Newcombe, Sean McMahon; Cian Murphy, Jack McCaffrey, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Ciaran Kilkenny, Sean Bugler, Ross McGarry; Paul Mannion, Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel.

Subs: Brian Howard for McCarthy (HT), Eoin Murchan for McCaffrey (45), Cormac Costello for O'Callaghan (54), Dean Rock for Mannion (57), Craig Dias for Fenton (62).

Laois: Scott Osborne; Sean Greene, Trevor Collins, Robbie Pigott; Sean O'Flynn, Mark Timmons, Padraig Kirwan; Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin; Kevin Swayne, Paul Kingston, Paddy O'Sullivan; Eoin Lowry, Evan O'Carroll, Mark Barry.

Subs: Seamus Lacey for Greene and Dylan Kavanagh for Pigott (both ht), Colm Murphy for Barry (48), James Finn for Swayne (54), Alex Mohan for O'Flynn (63).

Referee: Barry Judge (Sligo).