Underage triumphs continue for Laois

A Laois side moulded around their successful minor team of the past two years deservedly captured the Leinster under-21 FC title for the sixth time with a 1-13 to 1-7 victory over Dublin in Tullamore.

The win was more decisive than the scoreline suggests, for they held the whiphand throughout the hour and it was only a good closing quarter which yielded the Dubs 1-3 that made the scoreboard look more respectable at the final whistle.

Laois dictated the pace of the game from the throw-in, the forwards responding to the promptings of a dominant Larry Keenan at midfield, with five of the six scoring. The odd man out was full forward Danny Doogue, but it was his shrewd distribution that paved the way for many of the winners' scores.

Laois were ahead 0-6 to 0-3 at half time and within a minute of the resumption, they consolidated their position when Kevin Fitzpatrick took a return pass from Niall Collins to bury the ball in the Dublin net.

Laois had the game wrapped up by the three-quarter stage when they led by 1-10 to 0-4. Although Dublin, who had four players booked, made a belated rally which yielded points by Paul Croft, Peadar Andrews and Darragh Maxwell and a 57th-minute goal by substitute Kieran Doyle, they never really threatened to pull the game out of the fire and Laois deservedly advanced to the All-Ireland series.

Laois: D O'Mahony; JP Kehoe, M Buggy, J Higgins; N Collins, M Delaney (0-1), C Parkinson; L Keenan, N Garvan; G Ramsbottom (0-1), I Fitzgerald (0-4), C Conway (0-4); B McDonald (0-3), D Doogue, K Fitzpatrick (1-0). Sub: G Burke for Garvan.

Dublin: K Gorman; A McNulty, D Cahilol, M Cahill; S Ryan, I Clarke, P Andrews (0-1); D Maxwell (0-1), J McGee; A L yons, D Stynes, P Croft (0-3); P Keogh, R Cosgrove (0-1), N Crossan (0-1). Subs: M Doran for Stynes, K Doyle (1-0) for Crossan.

Referee: P Casserly (Westmeath).

In the under 17 Compromise Rules game which served as a curtain-raiser to the under-21 final, a Leinster selection defeated Australia 4645.