Dublin crush Laois to reach Leinster decider aginst Meath

Annabelle Timothy scored a hat-trick of goals as Dublin recorded a comprehensive win over Laois in their second group game of the Leinster SFC to book their place in the TG4 Leinster final on 12 May at Croke Park against Meath.

The Dubs were clinical and ruthless. They scored 4-16 from play and Laois just couldn’t contain them.

Boosted by the return of Sinead Goldrick, Dublin started with a real purpose. With their first attack Nicole Owens brought a save out of Laois keeper Eimear Barry.

In the third minute Chloe Darby scored from the penalty spot to open the scoring for the Dubs. Barry saved from Caitlin Coffey minutes later before Owens kicked over her first point of the game.

Kate Sullivan, Annabelle Timothy and Darby all hit over points before Goldrick scored a neat point in the 15th minute to extend Dublin’s lead to eight points. Laois tried to muster up attacks but failed to trouble the Dublin defence. The home side were guilty of making mistakes which Dublin duly punished.

Darby, Coffey, Sullivan and Owens were on target to put 13 between the sides in the 26th minute. Dublin had been clinical in front of the posts and Sullivan kicked over their first point from a free in stoppage time.

Such was Dublin’s dominance in the opening half Laois failed to register a score in the opening half as they trailed by 14 points at the break.

Laois finally got off the mark in the 32nd minute when Mo Nerney kicked over a point. That score was cancelled out by a Niamh Hetherton point and by the 45th minute Dublin had stretched their advantage to 17 points. Barry had also saved an effort from Annabelle Timothy in the 41st minute.

Dublin got a second goal through Hetherton in the 51st minute and from the resulting kick-out the ball fell