Dublin Under-21 hurlers cruise past Laois after second half blitz

Dublin 1-17, Laois 1-10: A 12th minute Colm Cronin goal helped Dublin register a seven-point victory over Laois in their Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21 Hurling Championship quarter-final at Parnell Park last night.

Stephen Maher opened the scoring for Laois inside two minutes and his third-minute free soon after made it a positive start for the visitors.

Although Paul Winters replied for Dublin in the 4th minute, Laois were enjoying a greater degree of control and they restored their two-point advantage after an excellent point from play by PJ Scully.

However, the game turned in the 13th minute as the hosts produced a superb team move that ended in Colm Cronin firing a precise finish past Enda Rowland from 10 metres.

Winters and Oisín O’Rorke added points as the Dubs benefited from the increasingly influential defensive play of Seán McClelland and Chris Crummey.

Laois battled back impressively as the half evolved, with Ciarán Collier and Ben Conroy trimming their arrears as they gradually came to terms with Dublin’s attack.

The hosts were indebted to Winters as they kept their noses in front, but three successive scores by Charles Dwyer, substitute Pádraig Lawlor and Joe Campion restored parity approaching the break.

An injury to Crummey hindered Dublin’s aerial ability, but they entered the break ahead as Conor Robinson pointed from distance for a 1-7 to 0-9 l lead.

The second half contrasted hugely with the opening period as Dublin assumed complete control with Cronin embellishing a fine performance with three glorious scores.

Laois' struggled were reflected in their opening score of the half arriving as late as the 54th minute through substitute Tadhg Dowling, but his goal proved in vain as Dublin cruised into the last four.