Rushe on the double as hurlers advance to face Cats

DUBLIN 3-23 LAOIS 1-7

Dublin hurlers totally outclassed Laois to set up a provincial semi-final meeting with Kilkenny following this facile Leinster SHC quarter-final victory at O’Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday evening.

First half goals from Liam Rushe (two) and David Treacy did the damage and by the interval the Dubs were out of sight leading 3-14 to 1-1.

The game went well for the three cruciate injury victims of last year – Conal Keaney, Stephen Hiney and Tomas Brady – with Keaney’s strength, vision and touch to the fore in the opening half.

Anthony Daly sited Rushe at full-forward and it was a positional switch that paid major dividends as the powerful St Pat’s of Palmerstown man caused havoc. Both his goals he despatched with clinical brilliance but he also created room and opportunities for his fellow forwards in a half that was practically all one-way.

Rushe’s first goal came in the eight minute as the Dubs set about taking the game to their opponents and despite the concession of a slack goal to Neil Foyle Daly’s men were quickly back in the driving seat as Laois disappeared from view.
From the 15th minute until half-time Dublin hit 2-10 without reply with Rushe raising the green flag for a second time and Treacy timing his flick to perfection to turn a long delivery from Paul Ryan into the O’Moore County’s net.
Laois, to their credit, keep trying to the finish but the Dublin defence and Gary Maguire offered them little consolation as the Dubs turn the focus on the All-Ireland champions, Kilkenny who they will face on Saturday, June 23 in O’Moore Park, Portaoise (5.0) with the Electric Ireland Leinster MHC semi-final between the Dubs and Kilkenny providing the curtain-raiser.
SCORERS – Dublin: P Ryan 0-9 (0-3f, 0-2 ‘65’), L Rushe 2-2, D Treacy 1-2, C Keaney, S Durkin, C McCormack 0-2 each, J Boland, J McCaffrey, D Sutcliffe, D O’Callaghan 0-1 each. Laois: W Hyland 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 sline), N Foyle 1-0, M Whelan 0-2 (0-2 ‘65’), C Murray, W Dunphy 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: G Maguire; N Corcoran, P Kelly, T Brady; S Hiney, J Boland, M Carton; J McCaffrey, S Durkin; D Sutcliffe, C McCormack, C Keaney; P Ryan, L Rushe, D Treacy. Subs: D O’Callaghan for Rushe (38), S Lambert for Sutcliffe (44), M O’Brien for McCaffrey (49), D Curtin for Keaney (56), O Gough for Corcoran (59).
LAOIS: E Reilly; C Coonan, D Maher, G Burke; C Dunne, M Whelan, M McEvoy; J Walshe, S Hanlon; S Maher, B Dunne, W Hyland; T Fitzgerald, N Foyle, D O’Mahoney. Subs: C Murray for Fitzgerald (24), C Healy for Foyle (ht), B Smith for Dunne (43), W Dunphy for Walsh.
REF: J Owens (Wexford).
ATTENDANCE: 7,315.