Four-goal Dublin too clinical for battling Laois

Dublin 4-14 

Laois 1-17 

LAOiS welcomed Dublin to Park-Ratheniska GAA on a bright but biting Saturday afternoon, as a huge crowd packed into the ground to witness the opening game of the O’Byrne Cup which marked the commencement of the 2026 season.

The chill in the air did little to dampen the atmosphere, with both sets of supporters creating a vibrant backdrop as the sides took to the field. From the throw-in, the intensity was obvious, Laois showing real intent while Dublin, as ever, looked composed, clinical, and ready to punish any mistake.

The home side produced some excellent passages of play and kept the scoreboard ticking over, but Dublin’s firepower ultimately proved the difference. Goals were the key, the visitors striking four of them over the hour to tilt the balance firmly in their favour, and despite Laois battling bravely until the final whistle, Dublin’s greater ruthlessness saw them run out as six-point winners in the end.

Evan O’Carroll got the scoring underway pointing from play, and went on to converted five frees. Dublin then responded by raising a green flag when James McCormack squared the ball to Niall O’Callaghan setting up a straightforward finish. A second goal attempt came for Dublin, but Killian Roche was alert to deny Jack Lundy.

Laois went on to kick over six scores in a row including one two-pointer. O’Carroll struck three superb scores in a row with Ben O’Connor and Brian Byrne doing likewise while Killian Roche raised the first orange flag of the game when he pointed from a placed ball.

The Laois sharp shooting awoke the Dubs and within a six-minute period, they fired 2-3 past the Laois defence. Sean Guidan pointed a free while a fumbled ball allowed Robert Shaw to palm past Roche. Kevin Stevenson then pointed from play with Guidan pointing a second free before a third goal was fired to the back of the net by Tim Deering meaning Dublin then held a four-point lead.

Justin McNulty’s side fought hard and reduced this deficit to two before the break. Brian Byrne pointed his second of the contest while Roche pointed a 45’ bringing the opening half to a close.

Once again, O’Carroll landed the opening score of the second half but unfortunately for Laois, Dublin took control and added a further 1-6 to their tally. Eoin Kennedy got on the end of a high ball and found the back of Matthew Byron’s net while Guidan and Lundy raised a white flag each. Niall O’Callaghan then pointed two fine two-pointers one after the other.

That was the end of purple patches for the visitors while Laois replied with determination as Cian Doyle pointed a free quickly followed by a superb point from Paddy O’Sullivan. O’Carroll took his tally to six landing another fine score over the bar. O’Sullivan sent a mighty ball in over the top of the Dublin defence which found the fist of Cillian Byrne and made its way to the back of the net narrowing Dublin’s lead to four points with 15 minutes to play.

A two-point effort from Clyde Burke sailed between the posts while Colin Dunne found a pocket of space in the full forward line, but his effort was deflected over the bar. Burke raised a white flag for the visitors while Byron kicked a two-point free after their opponents breached the rule of three men back. Niall O’Callaghan kicked the final score of the game which saw him add a third orange flag to his name.

The result means that next Saturday Laois must travel to take on the winners of the Wexford v Carlow O’Byrne Cup Shield quarter-final which will be played on Wednesday. Justin McNulty will surely be happy with the few extra days to prepare for the semi-final.

SCORERS:

Dublin: Niall O’Callaghan 1-6 (3tp), Tim Deering, Eoin Kennedy, and Robert Shaw 1-0 each, Clyde Burke (1tp) and Sean Guiden (0-2fs) 0-3 each, Kevin Stephenson and Jack Lundy 0-1 each.

Laois: Evan O’Carroll 0-6 (0-5fs), Cillian Byrne 1-0, Killian Roche 0-3 (1tpf, 0-1f), Matthew Byron (1tpf) and Brian Byrne 0-2 each, Cian Doyle (f), Paddy O’Sullivan, Colin Dunne, and Ben O’Connor 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: Sam Moloney; Eoghan O’Callaghan, Finn Bruton, Josh Bannon; Páidí White, Tim Deering, Robert Shaw; Jack Feehan, Kevin Stephenson; James McCormack, Jack Lundy, Dylan Knight-Sands; Seán Guiden, Niall O’Callaghan, Conor Chawke.

Subs used: Rory O'Brien, Clyde Burke, Cillian Dunne, Dan Murphy, Eoin Kennedy, Dylan Kettle, Fiachra Potts, Jamie McCarville, and Liam Smith.

LAOIS: Killian Roche (Killeshin); Conaire Gee (Ballyroan Abbey), Trevor Collins (Graiguecullen), Ben O’Connor (Portlaoise); Jack Lacey (St Joseph’s), Kevin Swayne (Portlaoise), Aaron McEvoy (Ballyroan Abbey); Robert Tyrrell (Courtwood), Conor Heffernan (Killeshin); Killian Byrne (Ballyroan Abbey), Cian Doyle (Courtwood), Josh Hogan (Portlaoise); Niall Corbet (Clonaslee/St Manman’s), Brian Byrne (Graiguecullen), Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard).

Subs used: Matthew Byron (Courtwood), Dan Boland (Courtwood), Mikie Dempsey (St Joseph’s), Colin Dunne (Arles Killeen), Cathal Lee (Clonaslee/St Manman’s), Paddy O’Sullivan (Portarlington), and Joey Shelly (Rosenallis).

Referee: James Foley (Carlow)