GAA: Dublin in 2-28 to 1-15 win over Laois

A forgettable day for Laois GAA was completed when their hurlers bowed out of the 2017 championship after going down by 2-28 to 1-15 to Dublin at Parnell Park.

Laois supporters who travelled to the north Dublin venue hoping for some solace after their footballers were dumped out of the title race by Clare earlier in the day, had little to cheer about as they were comprehensively beaten.

Dublin will now hope to build on this decent display but Ger Cunningham's side will be the first to appreciate that they will need a big improvement given that the opposition next weekend will either be last year's All-Ireland finalists Tipperary and Kilkenny, or Waterford.

Dublin did all that was required of them but Laois never really mounted a serious challenge and the prospect of a shock win never looked like materialising.

Eamon Dillon was the key figure for Dublin, shooting 2-4 from play in a big display which left a youthful Laois side floundering.

Laois were in trouble when they trailed by 0-12 to 0-11 at the interval having played with the breeze.

Paddy Purcell gave Laois hope with four points in a blistering start which saw them race into a 0-5 to 0-1 after less than six minutes.

But Dublin settled down to their task and the accuracy of David Treacy from frees cut the deficit.

Laois goalkeeper Enda Rowland used the wind to point a free from deep inside his own half but the goal they needed to pull away never looked like materialising.

Dillon's opening goal shortly after the restart helped Dublin pull away as the Laois challenge wilted.

Dublin picked off points from all angles with Dillon, Treacy and 'Dotsy' O'Callaghan all getting good scores.

Dillon blasted home Dublin's second goal after a good move from deep as they proceeded to outscore Laois by 2-16 to 1-4 in a one-sided second-half.

Laois never gave up but they were outclassed by a Dublin side who grew in confidence as the game progressed but whether are up to the tempo to get over next weekend's opponents remains to be seen.

Laois pulled back a goal in the closing stages when goalkeeper Rowland blasted a free to the net.

But it was just a blip in the dominance enjoyed by Dublin as they came in waves of attacks against their beleaguered visitors.

Laois' tale of woe was complete when they finished with 14 men when Cahir Healy was sent off in the closing stages when he picked up a second yellow card on a day that Laois fans will quickly want to forget.

Dublin's summer will now rest on how they perform against one of the All-Ireland contenders next weekend but a home draw will be the minimum required to have any chance of a shock win.

Dublin: C Dooley; C O'Callaghan, E O'Donnell, F Ó Riain Broin; S Moran, C Crummey, S Barrett (0-1); B Quinn (0-3), N McMorrow (0-1); D Burke (0-2), L Rushe, E Dillon (2-4); C O'Sullivan (0-3), R O'Dwyer, D Treacy (0-9, 0-6f).

Subs: F Whitely (0-2) for McMorrow (48); D O'Callaghan (0-2) for O'Sullivan (60); F McGibb for Burke (62); T Connolly for Moran (64); J Hetherton (0-1) for O'Dwyer (64).

Laois: E Rowland (1-1, 1-1f); D Palmer, L Bergin, L Cleere; E Killeen, M Whelan (0-1), R Mullaney; P Purcell (0-5), C Collier (0-1); C Healy, S Downey, J Kelly; N Foyle, A Dunphy, M Kavanagh (0-6, 0-2f).

Subs: C Taylor (0-1) for Kelly (HT); A Corby for A Dunphy (53); S Bergin for Downey (56); D Hartnett for Killeen (71); P Lawlor for Collier (71).

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).