Laois Ladies beaten by deadly Dubs in Leinster Championship opener

The Laois Ladies have been comprehensively beaten by Dublin in the first round of this year's Leinster Senior Championship in DCU this afternoon.

This was Laois' first game back playing in the Leinster Senior Championship since 2017 as Dublin showed how much of a gap there is between the Intermediate grade.

Dublin 3-14

Laois 0-3

Dublin had the wind in the first-half and they took advantage of that as they got the game’s first score courtesy of Hannah Tyrrell before the Dublin forward would soon get in for a goal.

A superb run from Tyrrell allowed her to bury the ball beyond Eimear Barry. The Dubs tacked on another two points as Orla Nolan and Orla Martin dissected the posts.

Dublin almost got in for a second goal as Tyrrell’s palmed effort hit the post when it looked easier to score. Carla Rowe and Sinead Wylde got two further points before Laois finally got off the mark.

Eva Galvin bore down on goal only to see her effort go over the bar and see a white flag raised rather than a green one. Dublin kicked another three scores without reply as Wylde, Rowe (free) and Caoimhe O’Connor raised white flags for The Dubs. Laois almost got in for goal only to see Ellen Healy’s effort saved by Abby Shiels.

Laois almost began the second period with the perfect start as Erone Fitzpatrick’s effort rattled off the Dublin post. Dublin substitute Kate Sullivan got the second-half’s first score. Rowe would get Dublin’s second goal as she rattled the back of the Laois net.

The Dublin forward added a further point to her goal as she spilt the posts. Tyrell and Sullivan pointed two more scores from Dublin before Sullivan took her tally to 1-2 after coming on as a half-time substitute. O’Connor got her second point of the game before Fitzpatrick almost got a goal for Laois only to see her effort saved by Shiels. 

Laois would get their second point of the game courtesy of captain Ellen Healy as she spilt the Dublin posts. Fitzpatrick got Laois’ third point with a lovely score from play. Dublin added another point to their tally as Annabelle Timothy pointed from play, which was the game's last score.

Donie Brennan's side will host All-Ireland champions Meath next weekend with the winner advancing to a Leinster final against Dublin.