Gaelic GamesMatch Report

Dublin see off spirited Laois side to reach semi-finals of Leinster minor hurling championship

First half goal from Callum Graham proved crucial for Dublin

O'Moore Park hosted the meeting of the Laois and Dublin minor hurlers on Monday night. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
O'Moore Park hosted the meeting of the Laois and Dublin minor hurlers on Monday night. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Mon Apr 24 2023 - 22:24

Leinster MHC quarter-final: Laois 0-17 Dublin 1-20

Dublin are through to the semi-finals of the Leinster minor hurling championship following a six point win over a spirited and determined Laois outfit in O’Moore Park.

A first half goal from Callum Graham proved crucial for Dublin as it brought them level in the game at the time and then allowed them to keep a cushion thereafter. Laois were left ruing a first half penalty miss too as captain Eoghan Murphy had the opportunity after Justin Duggan had been fouled but his shot went wide.

Laois started the better and were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead when Graham struck for that goal just after the midpoint of the first half. With David Purcell flawless on frees, Dublin edged their way in front and led 1-8 to 0-9 at half time despite Laois arguably being the better side.

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Purcell edged Dublin three ahead when play resumed and the sides went score for score after that with the next big incident coming in the 52nd minute when Dublin were reduced to 14 players after Daniel O’Kelly was sent off for something that happened off the ball.

Dublin continued to hold the lead though – despite Eoghan Murphy, Justin Duggan and substitute Shane Connolly pointing for Laois – Purcell and Micheal O’Tighearnaigh left Dublin three clear as we entered injury time. Laois needed a goal now to force extra time but instead Dublin got the final three points of the game via Callum Graham, Purcell and O’Tighearnaigh to reach the semi-finals.

LAOIS: Ethan Lafferty; Oran Gorman, Ryan Peters, Eli Quinn; Paddy Callaghan, Evan Cassin, Liam Whelan; Ruadhri Kavanagh, Jordan Downey (0-1); Caelum O’Brien (0-1), Eoghan Murphy (0-11, eight frees, two 65s), Ben O’Mara; Mark Downey, Cormac Byrne, Justin Duggan (0-3, two frees). Subs: Kyron Cuddy for Mark Downey (44 mins), Shane Connolly (0-1) for O’Mara (55), Cian Hill for Quinn and Eoin Bracken for Whelan (both 59).

DUBLIN: John Mooney; Fionn Murphy, Massimo Pappalardo, Luke Mooney; Ronan O’Neill, Joe Sheppard, William Wheatley; Tommy Costello, Daniel O’Kelly (0-1); Jack Kennedy, Ryan Murphy, Michael O’Tighearnaigh (0-3); Callum Graham (1-4), Conor Newton (0-1), David Purcell (0-11, eight frees, two 65s). Subs: Arin Gargan for Kennedy (HT), Darragh Kilduff for Murphy (47 mins), Liam Dargan for Murphy (55).

Referee: Gearoid McGrath (Wexford)