Cronin goal helps Dublin advance to last four

Dublin 1-17 Laois 1-10

The visitors started well with Stephen Maher landing two frees from distance in the opening three minutes before Paul Winters opened Dublin’s account through a free a minute later.

Laois were enjoying a greater degree of control in the early stages and they restored their two-point advantage after an excellent point from play by PJ Scully.

However, the early momentum turned on 13 minutes as the hosts produced a superb team move that culminated in Colm Cronin firing a precise finish beyond Enda Rowland from 10 yards.

Dublin gained confidence from that score as they built on their lead through points by Winters and Óisín O’Rorke but the visitors responded admirably through the efforts of Ciarán Collier and Paddy Whelan.

Winters was proving Dublin’s main scoring threat but their forward line flattered to deceive on occasions, allowing Laois to stay in touch through points from the lively Collier and Charles Dwyer.

Leading by 1-7 to 0-9 at the break, the hosts assumed complete control for the third quarter with O’Rorke denied a goal in the opening minute after rattling the Laois crossbar.

That miss failed to puncture Dublin’s momentum however as they enjoyed a scoring spree through efforts by O’Rorke, Winters, Cian Boland and the prominent Cronin.

Laois took 24 minutes to score through substitute Tadhg Dowling but the goal proved as mere consolation as Dublin advanced comfortably to the semi-finals.

Scorers for Dublin: P Winters 0-8 (8f), C Cronin 1-3, O O’Rorke 0-3, C Robinson, C Boland, T Devlin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Laois: S Maher 0-4 (3f), T Dowling 1-0, C Collier, J Campion, C Dwyer, B Conroy, PJ Scully, P Lawlor 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: C Dooley; M McCaffrey, C O’Callaghan, S McClelland; E O’Donnell, R Murphy, C Crummey; G Whelan, C Robinson; P Winters, K O’Flynn, C Cronin; C Conway, A Clabby, O O’Rorke.

Subs: D Gormley for Murphy (35), C Boland for Conway (41), T Devlin for Clabby (42), AJ Murphy for Crummey (51), C Mac Gabhann for O’Donnell (61).

LAOIS: E Rowland; M Collier, G Burke, C Dunne; D Palmer, W Young, P Whelan; C Collier, J Campion; C Dwyer, R Peacock, PJ Scully; S Maher, R King, B Conroy.

Subs: P Lawlor for Palmer (22), A Moore for Scully (37), T Dowling for Conroy (53).

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).