LAOIS 0-09 DUBLIN 1-08
WHAT a game. Laois were up at half-time and led by 3 points after having a player sin-binned.
A Dublin goal in the 52nd minute sent the Dubs into the lead and a one stage a draw beckoned before Dublin eventually broke away and took a 2 point victory. It certainly wasn’t a game for the faint hearted in Dr. Cullen Park on Saturday evening.
Laois came within reaching distance of an All-Ireland final spot for the first time in 9 years only to see it disappear with just over 4 minutes to go in the match. Laois’s defence were outstanding.
The added advantage of the wind in the first half didn’t have much of an impact though as Laois left their forward lines almost empty with no one to kick a long ball into.Laois playing with the breeze in the first half saw Aileen O’Loughlin put their first score on the board.
Amy McGuinness responded for Dublin with a pointed free but Laois’s defence kept the Dublin scores at bay as sisters Martha and Nóirín Kirwan sent Laois into the lead with a point each.
Lyndsey Davey pointed for Dublin, when she managed to find a gap through the middle but Aileen O’Loughlin was on hand once again for Laois with a solo run through the middle and a point. With more than 12 minutes to be played in the half that was to be the tally of scores.
The score at half-time was Laois 0-4 Dublin 0-2.
Laois struggled in the forwards, they fumbled a goal chance and left themselves with no room as the ball came in. On several occasions throughout the match, only one if any forwards could be seen inside the 45 metre line.
The great work of Aisling Quigley, Alison Taylor and Patricia Fogarty in defence, helped by Angela Casey from midfield kept Dublin out, blocks and constant hassling caused Dublin to travel and Laois to win ball but for all their possession there were just too few points on the board.
Dublin came out refreshed after half-time. Elaine Kelly and Amy McGuinness (2 frees) raised the white flag to send Dublin into the lead. Laois went down a player when the sides had levelled and this seemed to drive them on. Many followers questioned the sin-binning of Laois wing back, Mags McEvoy, but with a referee sponsored by Specsavers it was hard to question the decision.
Laois went onto play what was some of their best football in these 10 minutes. Martha Kirwan kicked a point from the right of the semi-circle, while Nóirín Kirwan and Tracey Lawlor also kicked points. This put Laois 3 points ahead before they went back to their full compliment of 15 players.
After a scoring drought of almost 13 minutes Dublin registered a score, this time from the boot of Bernie Finlay. The Dubs next score put them a point ahead with Lyndsey Davey netting a goal.
Laois were not going to give up though and Gemma O’Connor levelled matters. Dublin pushed on however. One of their star players, Sinéad Aherne, who had been kept quiet for most of the match converted a free and added a point from play. Laois’s late attack was to come to no avail as the Dublin players quiet happily held onto possession until the final hooter.