Experimental Dublin edge Laois in O'Byrne Cup as first-half goals prove decisive in Ratheniska

Laois' opening game in this year's O'Byrne Cup ended in defeat as an experimental Dublin side left Ratheniska with a six-point victory, with three first-half goals proving crucial for new Dublin manager Ger Brennan.

There was a massive crowd in Ratheniska, and credit must go to the club and its volunteers for having the pitch and the surroundings in such good condition, considering the sub-zero temperatures overnight. 

For Laois, they started the game with many of their starting 15 from last year watching on from the sidelines. Manager Justin McNulty confirmed after the game that the Portarlington contingent only returned to the Laois panel after Christmas.

It was Laois who got the first score of the afternoon as the returning Evan O'Carroll kicked a great score off his right from the right side of the scoreboard end in Ratheniska. Dublin's only score in the first 20 minutes came after six minutes as Niall O'Callaghan palmed the ball past Killian Roche after James McCormack put the ball across the square. A second Dublin goal almost followed, but Roche made a save one-on-one from Jack Lundy.

Laois took over for the next 10 minutes and kicked seven points without reply. O'Carroll was the scorer of three more points and was denied the chance to solo and go, which saw Killian Roche come forward to nail a two-point free. Laois captain Brian Byrne also opened his account with a point from full-forward. Ben O'Connor, making his Laois senior debut, went on a run from corner-back, and it ended with the Portlaoise youngster splitting the posts.

The next six minutes belonged to The Dubs as they fired in 2-3 to go ahead for the second time. Sean Guiden pointed two frees, while Kevin Stephenson scored from play. The two goals were sloppy ones to concede from a Laois point of view, as Robert Shaw and Tim Deering raised a green flag each.

Byrne got his second point of the first half-hour before Roche added a 45' to his name just before the half-time whistle. Dublin led by two points, 3-3 to 0-10.

O'Carroll, as he had done in the first-half, got the first score of the second period when he pointed a free. A fourth Dublin goal followed this time through substitute Eoin Kennedy, before the away side kicked six points on the trot. Guiden and Lundy added a point each from play, with O'Callaghan raising two orange flags to push Dublin 10 points ahead.

The game would swing back in Laois' favour again as they scored a goal and three points unanswered. Cian Doyle (free), Paddy O'Sullivan and O'Carroll got the points, while the Laois goal came from an O'Sullivan shot that dropped short, and Killian Byrne was on hand to palm the ball past Dublin number 16 Rory O'Brien. 

Scores were traded late on as Colin Dunne came off the bench for Laois to score a point, with Courtwood goalkeeper Matthew Byron doing likewise from a two-point free after Dublin were penalised for not having the required number of players in their own half. Two more two-pointers followed for The Dubs as O'Callaghan got his third of the game, while Clyde Burke scored one from the bench.

Defeat for Laois sees them drop into the O'Byrne Shield semi-finals. They'll face the winners of Carlow and Wexford away from home next Saturday, January 10.

Final Score

Dublin 4-14

Laois 1-17

SCORERS- Dublin: Niall O'Callaghan 1-6 (three two-pointers), Tim Deering, Robert Shaw and Eoin Kennedy 1-0 each, Clyde Burke (one two-pointer) and Sean Guiden (0-2 frees) 0-3 each, Kevin Stephenson and Jack Lundy 0-1 each. Laois: Evan O’Carroll 0-6 (0-5 frees), Cillian Byrne 1-0, Killian Roche 0-3 (one two-point free, 0-1 free), Matthew Byron (two-point free) and Brian Byrne 0-2 each, Cian Doyle (free), Paddy O’Sullivan, Colin Dunne, and Ben O’Connor 0-1 each. 

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: 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), Joey Shelly (Rosenallis).

REFEREE: James Foley (Carlow)