Sport

Brennan steals show as Laois find top gear

Leinster MFC Semi-final/Laois 3-7 Dublin 1-9: Dublin surrendered their Leinster minor crown last night in what has become the…

Gavin Cummiskey At Dr Cullen Park
Thu Jul 08 2004 - 01:00

Leinster MFC Semi-final/Laois 3-7 Dublin 1-9: Dublin surrendered their Leinster minor crown last night in what has become the dreaded Dr Cullen Park for metropolitan sides

Regardless of the age level, or code, Dublin can't get a break at the Carlow venue but superstitions had little to do with the result as Laois outclassed 14-man Dublin to progress to the provincial final against Kildare on July 18th.

Dublin simply had no response to the Laois full-forward line. Michael Tierney and David Conway took their scores well but it was Donie Brennan who really stole the show.

Dublin's only response in the opening quarter was a brace of scores from Blaine Kelly.

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Then in the 16th minute Laois moved up a gear. Brendan Quigley knocked down a Dublin clearance for Ian Fleming to race 30 yards before delivering a late pass to Brennan, who fired low to the far corner.

Dublin manager Tony Diamond made several changes before the second half, notably sending James Power in at full forward, to good effect, and unfit captain Kevin Moran into the midfield battle.

However, by the interval all hope appeared to have vanished when Michael Hallows was shown a straight red card after catching Kevin Smith (who had to retire) on the face with a shoulder charge. It was a late hit but was more down to height difference between the players than maliciousness.

To make matters worse, Tierney popped up with a goal a minute before the turn.

Dublin came more into the game in the second half and within 10 minutes Kelly posted three points and Darragh Pelly stole in for a goal, 2-6 to 1-7.

Laois replied like champions as Tierney landed two frees and then came the decisive blow. With 10 minutes left Laois were awarded a penalty when Enda Butler was adjudged to have been brought down by goalkeeper Michael Savage and Moran.

The two bewildered players were shown yellow cards before Tierney struck his second goal of the night from the spot.

LAOIS: E Culliton; C Healy, M Timmons, B Meredith; K Smith, C Begley, N Donagher; B Quigley, C Rogers; E Butler, I Fleming, S O'Leary; M Tierney (2-4, 0-4f), D Brennan (1-1), D Conway (0-2, one free). Subs: B Dunne for K Smith (25 mins), S O'Neill for S O'Leary (45 mins).

DUBLIN: M Savage; I Kavanagh, D Reilly, J McCaffrey; J O'Brien, R Fitzgerald, S O'Rourke; P Flynn, M McCauley; D Connolly, T Diamond, M Hallows; B Kelly (0-5, three frees), T Brady (0-1), R Cleere. Subs: J Power (0-2) for Begley (22 mins), K Moran for D Connolly, D Pelly (1-1) for R Cleere (both half-time), C Daly for M McCauley (46 mins).

Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).