Minor hurlers progress to semi-final

DUBLIN 1-18 LAOIS 0-12

Dublin's minor hurlers bounced back from last weekend's disappointment by overpowering Laois in Saturday's Electric Ireland Leinster MHC quarter-final at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

Manager Johnny McGuirk called on his troops to improve their conversion rate from their defeat to Wexford and they did that against the O'Moore County to book their place in a provincial semi-final in two weeks time.

Johnny McGuirk junior was to the fore as he hit eight first half points, including six frees and one '65' to inspire the Dubs to a 0-11 to 0-6 interval lead.

The only goal of the game came just inside the concluding ten minutes when Davy Keogh struck to the net to help the Dubs ease home - his score making it 1-16 to 0-10 with nine minutes to play.

Dublin settled well from the outset with two McGuirk frees before Colin Currie pointed from play to help Dublin to an early 0-3 to 0-0 lead.

Ciaran Dowling fired over a fine point from play to make it 0-5 to 0-2 by the tenth minute.

In a physical battle the boys in blue finished the half the better with McGuirk's freetaking pushing Dublin further in front while Daire Gray also converted from play from long-range.

With wind advantage Laois closed the gap with a James Keyes point but Conor Burke, McGuirk (free) and Daire Gray had Dublin 0-15 to 0-7 clear by the 41st minute.

The freetaking of Aaron Dunphy kept Laois hanging in there but the Dublin defence stood strong.

Keogh's goal in the 51st minute was quickly followed by McGuirk's 11th point of the clash to see Dublin home safely.

SCORERS - Dublin: J McGuirk 0-11 (0-9f, 0-1 '65'), D Keogh 1-1, D Gray 0-2, C Ryan, C Dowling, C Burke, C Currie 0-1 each. Laois: A Dunphy 0-7 (0-7f), S Dunphy 0-2, C Comerford, J Keyes, M Dowling 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: D de Poire; D Ryan, P Smyth, J O’Neill; J McVeigh, C O’Sullivan, E Foley; C Ryan, D Keogh; C Burke, J McGuirk, D Gray; R Hayes, C Currie, C Dowling. Subs: C Byrne for Smyth (ht), M O’Keefe for McVeigh (54), S Currie for Hayes (54), B Coffey for McGuirk (59), P Feeney for C Currie (59).

LAOIS: O Bennett; J Geaney, E Peters, B Quinlan; E Killeen, J Cranny, L Cleere; L Delaney, L McDonald; S Dunphy, J Walshe, C Comerford; B Corby, A Dunphy, M Dowling. Subs: J Keyes for Dowling (29), A Bergin for Corby (32), S Fitzpatrick for McDonald (43), C McEvoy for Walshe (54, inj).

REF: B Redmond (Wexford).