Under 21 Hurling Championship

[laoisgaa]

Great start to the competition last night with a humbdinger of a quarter-final in Portlaoise between Laois and Dublin - report below. Pity about the final result but fair play to the lads for restoring some pride in Laois hurling again. Any of the Carlow/Offaly boys at yer game in DCP?

Leinster Under 21 Hurling Championship Quarter-Final
Dublin 0-18
Laois 1-12
By Cóilín Duffy

Dublin advanced to a home semi-final meeting with Kilkenny on June 18th, thanks to a hard fought win over Laois in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise last night.
The sides were level on eight occasions during the game, and it was only a late scoring flourish by Dublin at the finish, which ensured that last years beaten All-Ireland finalists are still involved in the 2008 Championship.
Despite having eight of last year's All-Ireland final starting 15, Dublin were firmly put to the pin of their collar by a youthful Laois side
There was very little to separate the sides during a keenly contested opening quarter, with the teams level on three occasions before Shane Durkin put the visitors in front at 0-5 to 0-4 after 15 minutes.
But Laois performed strongly and with Zane Keenan an inspirational figure as the Camross man took a brace of points in quick succession, the hosts took the lead for the first time after 19 minutes at 0-6 to 0-5.
Keenan had his match in Dublin free-taker Kevin O'Reilly who converted with ease, as Tom Fitzpatrick's charges regained the lead and thanks also to a well struck point from centre-half forward Declan O'Dwyer, held a 0-9 to 0-7 lead at the break.
Laois may have arrived late onto the field for the second half, but this failed to unsettle the visitors who opened the second half scoring with corner-forward Ross O'Carroll giving his side a four point lead in four minutes, thanks to two excellent scores.

A Simon Lambert point ensured Dublin broke five points clear by the 41st minute, but Laois weren't to give up as a 41st minute John Gaughan goal saw them within two points of Dublin once more.
The Castletown man rounded Peter Callaghan, left the injured Dublin defender in his wake and from 30 metres out blasted the ball to the back of the Dublin net.
Dublin weren't out of the water yet as points from Keenan and defender Daryl Dooley levelled the contest for the sixth time, with 13 minutes remaining.

However Dublin finished strongly as a point from O'Carroll and an O'Reilly brace ensured the visitors held out for victory.
DUBLIN: F McGarry; P Schutte, P Callaghan, R Drumgoole; P Kelly, T Brady, J McCaffrey; J Boland (0-1), S Lambert (0-1); S Durkin (0-1), D O'Dwyer (0-1), P Ryan; R O'Carroll (0-4), K O'Reilly (0-9, 5f, 2  65, 1 sl), J Maher (0-1). Subs: B O'Rorke for Maher (37); O Gough for Callaghan (43); P Garbutt for Durkin (51); S O'Rorke for Lambert (59).

LAOIS: P Carroll; J Prior, D Maher, A Kavanagh; D Dooley (0-1), T Burke, B Stapleton; C Delaney, M Bermingham; Z Keenan (0-9, 6f, 1 65), J Gaughan (1-0), W Hyland (0-1); S Burke, D Peacock (0-1), D O'Mahoney. Subs: N Delaney for O'Mahoney (43); R Delaney for N Delaney (45); N Delaney for R Delaney (60).

REFEREE: Alan Lagrue (Kildare)

[AZOffaly]

I wasn't up in Carlow laoisgaa, but the final score was Offaly 3-16 Carlow 1-08. Offaly led by just 2 points at half time. Young Coughlan scored 2-7 for Offaly, who should have a decent Under 21 team again this year. Good to reverse the result against a fairly confident Carlow side as well.

[AZOffaly]

Encouraging result from Birr tonight as Offaly beat Wexford by 2-16 to 1-11. I believe Wexford had two lads sent off, so the scoreline may flatter Offaly a bit.

It's great to see them reach another final, and we could really do with winning one. I believe the final is in Birr this year, now that we are there, after we played both Kilkenny and Dublin away last year.

Anyway, well done to the Under 21s.

Up the Faithful

[AZOffaly]

I see the second semi final is tonight. Any predictions? Offaly beat Kilkenny in Kilkenny last year, before being well beaten by Dublin in the final. We're back and waiting for the winners after taking care of Wexford last night.

Any word from the camps?

[INDIANA]

hard to call, weather is brutal and dublin lads probably a bit tired after the weekend. if dublin play to the level they are capable they can win but it depends how our lads have recovered. kk probably slight favourites.

[INDIANA]

kk 1-20 offaly 1-11.
hammered off the park, the worst dublin showing for years with allegedly our best team. Kilkenny are good to very good AZ but they won't win the all-ireland. i think you guys could go very close to beating them. For us its back to the abyss of the christy ring soon.

[INDIANA]

sorry dublin 1-11. not offaly

[AZOffaly]

I hope you're not prescient

[Bord na Mona man]

I had a feeling there would be a Kilkenny ambush here, though the margin surprises men.
One thing Kilkenny won't do is sit back and let Dublin nudge their way into the driving seat.
I'd imagine they were fairly fired up for this one.

The danger I feel with Dublin is that too many people are sitting back admiring their handy work done over the last few years.
Even when you aren't underdogs you have to go out and hurl savagely well every game.
There is no point when you can go out and win a game by just having good pedigree.

[INDIANA]

slowly turning into the laois footballers, we seem to think we owed something. but i've seen very average dublin teams nearly beat star studded kk teams over the last 5 years at this grade, so to be hockeyed to a good rather than great kk team with allegedly your best u21 side to date is gutting to be honest.