LEINSTER UNDER-21 FC QUARTER-FINALS: DUBLIN 2-21 LAOIS 0-4:A DOMINANT first-half display helped Dublin cruise to a facile 23-point victory over Laois at Parnell Park last night.
The winning margin failed to reflect Dublin's superiority over the hour with the visitors producing as abject a display as their final tally of four points would suggest.
For Dublin, there was the satisfaction of a semi-final berth to look forward to, but there was very little to be gained from an encounter which resembled the intensity of a challenge match.
Two early points by Ciarán Kilkenny set Dublin on their way, with further scores from Philly Ryan, Gary Sweeney and Kilkenny pushing the hosts five points clear by the 12th minute.
Most of Dublin's good work centred on Sweeney, who threatened with numerous runs through the heart of the Laois defence and it was his pass that found Ryan with the St Brigid's player finishing to the net from close range at the end of the first quarter.
Damien O'Connor responded with Laois' solitary of the half but a procession of attacks yielded scores from Paul Hudson, Emmet Ó Conghaile, Kilkenny and Sweeney as Dublin enjoyed a 1-11 to 0-1 interval lead.
Any hopes of an unlikely Laois comeback were quickly dispelled upon the resumption as Ciarán Reddin stretched Dublin's lead within 12 seconds of the starto of the second half, setting the tone for another miserable half hour for the O'Moore county.
O'Connor and James Finn brought brief respite for the visitors as the half progressed but another sublime Sweeney pass in the 51st minute to substitute Gerry Seaver led to an equally emphatic finish, with Dublin's second gaol confirming the gulf in class and application between the sides.
DUBLIN:J Carthy; M Concar, K O'Brien, J Smith (0-1); L Fletcher, J Kelly, J McCaffrey (0-1); E Ó Conghaile (0-2), C Walsh; M Schutte (0-1), G Sweeney (0-2), C Reddin (0-1); P Ryan (1-2, one free), H Dawson, C Kilkenny (0-7, three frees). Subs: P Hudson (0-3, one free) for Dawson (7 mins), B Quinn for Ryan (39 mins), G Seaver (1-1) for Quinn (46 mins), P O'Higgins for Walsh (48 mins), A Carr for Concar (52 mins), E Keogh for Sweeney (53 mins)
LAOIS:D Kelly; S Murphy, C Booth, S Murphy Kerry; D Seale, P McEvoy, A Ryan; S Nerney, J Finn (0-1, one free); D O'Connor (0-2), K Delaney, B Kelly; R O'Connor, D Hayden, E Costello. Subs: J Farrell (0-1) for Costello (22 mins), D Dunne for Murphy Kerry and D Aylsbury for Kelly (half-time), K McGrath for R O'Connor (41 mins), M Campion for Nerney (47 mins).
Referee:Niall Ward (Westmeath)
