U20 Hurlers secure late win against Laois

DUBLIN 1-22 

LAOIS 1-14

Dublin delivered a dominant final-quarter display as they overcame Laois by eight points in their Fulfil Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship Phase 2 encounter in Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Having got the better of Meath a week previously, the Dubs trailed by 1-9 to 0-10 at the break with the dismissal of Massimo Pappalardo keenly felt as Eoghan Murphy fired home the resultant penalty for Laois. 

The visitors maintained that buffer for the duration of the third period but Dublin finished impressively with a goal by Aron Gargan in injury time leaving them deserving winners by the final whistle. 

It was the hosts that seized the early initiative thanks to a Mícheál Tierney point in the opening minute and they pushed three points ahead by the 4th minute following frees by Finnian Donohoe and Darragh Kilduff. 

Laois replied through Cormac Byrne (free) and Hugh Whelan with Callum Graham and Eoin Delaney trading points in what was a lively start to proceedings. 

A cracking Kilduff point restored Dublin’s two-point lead but Laois were deservedly level by the end of the first quarter thanks to scores by Ross Deegan and Dónal Deegan. 

Cathal O’Flynn pointed from distance to edge the hosts back in front and points in quick succession by Conor Dillon and Aron Gargan appeared to hand the momentum back to the Dubs before Pappalardo saw red in the 24th minute for an off-the-ball challenge. 

Murphy converted the penalty and while Kilduff popped over two frees by way of riposte, Laois ensured a two-point interval lead through scores from Byrne, Delaney and Murphy. 

Dublin gained a foothold at midfield with the introduction of Joe Sheppard and their dominant half-back line saw them take control of matters in the second-half. 

That control didn’t manifest itself on the scoreboard initially despite points by James Norris, Kilduff and Gargan by the end of the third quarter. 

However, Daniel O’Kelly clipped over two superb points when brought in from the bench with Sheppard’s 53rd minute point pushing the hosts two points clear. 

Scores by Graham and Kilduff ensured that Laois were kept at arm’s length and Gargan put the result beyond doubt when racing clear and firing home to put the icing on the Dublin cake.  

Scorers – Dublin: D Kilduff 0-9 (7f); A Gargan 1-2; M Tierney, C Graham, D O’Kelly 0-2 each; F Donohoe (f), C O’Flynn, C Dillon, J Norris, J Sheppard 0-1 apiece. Laois: E Murphy 1-1 (1-0pen, 0-1f); C Byrne 0-4 (2f); H Whelan, E Delaney, T Mahony 0-2 each; R Deegan (sideline), D Deegan, J Duggan 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: S O’Neill; M Pappalardo, W Wheatley, C Quinn; C O’Flynn, H Curley, T Cullen; F Donohoe, M Tierney; G O’Toole, C Dillon, J Norris; C Graham, A Gargan, D Kilduff. Subs: L Mooney for Donohoe (24), J Sheppard for Dillon (half-time), K Costello for Tierney (Temp, 38-41), Costello for O’Toole (42), D O’Kelly for Norris (49), S Bolger for Tierney (51). 

Laois: D O’Connor; C Mortimer, E Cassin, D Carroll; J Kennedy, E Murphy, H Whelan; D Deegan, R Kavanagh; J Duggan, R Deegan, T Mahony; C Byrne, M Downey, E Delaney. Subs: C Headen for D Deegan (44), C Hand for Cassin (48), L Conroy for Downey (57). 

Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford).