Pundit Arena Because Sport Is Everything
Dublin maintained their stranglehold on the Leinster Senior Football Championship with victory over Laois at Croke Park on Sunday.
Jim Gavin’s side, with young goalkeeper Evan Comerford starting in place of the injured Stephen Cluxton, came flying out of the traps early on and had the ball in the net with a goal after just three minutes of play, courtesy of a low strike from Ciaran Kilkenny. Indeed, Dublin could have been two goals up just two minutes later only for Laois keeper Graham Brody to deny Con O’Callaghan.
GOAL for Dublin’s Ciarán Kilkenny! pic.twitter.com/jK04QS2p63
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 24, 2018
From there, both teams kept the scores ticking over by putting the ball over the bar – Laois remained in touching distance but Jim Gavin’s side never really lost their control of proceedings (and could even afford for Paul Mannion to send a penalty wide of the post), going in at the break with a six-point lead, 1-08 to 0-05.
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Dublin pulled away that bit more after the restart as those points began to tot up and put some significant daylight between the two sides. They did, however, have to play the last fifteen minutes or so with only fourteen men as John Small was sent off for a high challenge just minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The numerical disadvantage did not have much of an effect, however, and the reigning All-Ireland champions come away from Croke Park with a comfortable win by a margin of 1-25 to 0-10, the eighth year in a row that the Leinster title has remained in the capital.
Leinster SFC Final:
Full time score –
Dublin: 1-25(28)
Laois : 0-10(10)Dublin are Leinster champions! ? #UpTheDubs
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) June 24, 2018
A fine performance from the lads today ? Commiserations to @CLGLaois who fought their hardest ? pic.twitter.com/lr4c0xMoNe
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) June 24, 2018
Dublin sail through to next month’s inaugural ‘Super 8’ All-Ireland quarter-finals, while Laois will be in the Round 4 qualifier draw alongside fellow beaten provincial finalists Cork, Fermanagh and Roscommon.
Jonny Cooper lifts the cup as Dublin are crowned Leinster football champions! pic.twitter.com/mR1T2mb475
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 24, 2018
