Rushe eases Dublin through

Dublin had three points on the board before the Laois attack offered any suggestion that it could trouble the opposition. But Peter Kelly had to pull off a superb save to deny Neil Foyle, after he had been sent clear by Brian Dunne’s neat pass.

Conor McCormack, Liam Rushe and Paul Ryan, from a ’65, had already pushed the Dubs in front, and a moment of magic from Rushe in the eighth minute netted them their first goal. He skipped round Darren Maher to let off a rocket, beating Eoin Reilly from 12 metres, thanks to Joey Boland’s direct delivery from deep.

But Laois plundered a goal in the 15th minute. Goalkeeper Reilly went for a point from more than 100 metres, but his free dropped short, and an almighty goalmouth scramble ended with Neil Foyle forcing the ball over the line.

But Dublin, with Stephen Hiney and Boland dominant along the half back line, had their opponents under intense pressure, breaking at speed and varying the long ball option with an accurate and controlled passing game. Newcomer Danny Sutcliffe slalomed through for a point, and David Treacy made it a six-point game after Reilly had pulled off a fine save from Ryan.

Rushe took his game to new heights with another wonder goal in the 24th minute, an unstoppable angled finish, with the returning Conal Keaney credited with the clever assist.

Dublin oozed confidence and class, but it was the route one strategy which caused most panic in the Laois defensive ranks, and Ryan’s delivery was first-timed to the net by David Treacy for the third goal 28 minutes.

Laois offered little resistance as their opponents rattled off half a dozen points in the closing five minutes of the half, two of them long range efforts from midfielders Johnny McCaffrey and Shane Durkin.

Dublin led by 3-14 to 1-1 at the break, and Daly allowed himself to substitute the outstanding Rushe just after he had brought his tally to 2-2 early in the second half.

David O’Callaghan looked lively when he joined the action, slotting over a tidy score and setting up points for Ryan and Keaney. Keaney, one of three players making their return from cruciate ligament injuries, sent a screamer just wide, before Laois managed a revival of sorts.

They had failed to score from play before substitutes Chris Murray and Willie Dunphy hooked over points, and by that time the game had slipped into its final quarter. Murray had a go, firing in a shot which Maguire did well to keep out, and Matthew Whelan converted a couple of 65s, Willie Hyland steered a sideline cut between the posts to ease the Laois pain.

Dublin contributed little to the closing stages, a Joey Boland point their only score of the final 20 minutes.

It ended as it started, with barely more than a whimper, as Dublin took their foot off the gas. For them, their first competitive win of the season provided little in the way of preparation for what awaits.

Star man: Liam Rushe (Dublin)

Referee: J Owens (Wexford)

Dublin: G Maguire, N Corcoran (O Gough 59min), P Kelly, T Brady, S Hiney, J Boland (0-1), M Carton, J McCaffrey (0-1, M O’Brien 49min), S Durkin (0-2), D Sutcliffe (0-1, S Lambert 44min), L Rushe (2-2, D O’Callaghan 0-1, 38min), C Keaney (0-2, D Curtin 56min), P Ryan (0-9, 3f, 2 ’65), C McCormack (0-2), D Treacy (1-2).

Laois: E Reilly, C Coonan, D Maher, G Burke, C Dunne (B Smith 43min), M Whelan (0-2, 2 ’65), M McEvoy, J Walsh (W Dunphy 0-1), S Hanlon, S Maher, B Dunne, W Hyland (0-3, 2f, 1 s/l), T Fitzgerald (C Murray 0-1), N Foyle (1-0, C Healy ht), D O’Mahoney.