THE SKY-HI
AN opening that will provide some encouragement to the chasing pack was followed by a ruthless reminder of just how deadly Dublin can be.
This was another massive Dublin win at Croke Park, the only real change the sight of stand-in skipper Jonny Cooper lifting the Delaney Cup in place of the absent Stephen Cluxton.
Jim Gavin’s side hit the Super 8s and that mouth-watering opener in a few weeks time against Donegal at headquarters knowing that, despite the 18-point defeat of Laois, they still have a way to go to hit their summer peak.
Last night they celebrated another record-breaking display in Leinster – a 24th successive win in the province they made their own dominion long ago.
It all adds up to eight titles in a row and 13 out of the last 14.
But Gavin is a stickler for detail like all top coaches and will think about making changes to his starting line-up after nine first half wides were followed by only one in the second half. He won’t have been happy with the opening half-hour or that John Small was red-carded on his return off the bench for carelessly slapping Evan O’carroll on the face after tackling him.
It’s a decision by referee Barry Cassidy that the Dubs may appeal with that Donegal game in mind. Gavin will want all his experienced men back in harness for that one.
On the flip side, he will be able to start Jack Mccaffrey against Donegal after the Clontarf flyer made a very positive impact in his second game back as a sub.
Cluxton was named in the team but pulled out before throw-in as a result of the back and rib injuries he sustained in the semi-final win over Longford.
But he is likely to replace young Evan Comerford who made his full Subs: Subs: Championship debut yesterday.
Cian O’sullivan was surprisingly not risked off the bench. Without him, Mccaffrey and Small the backline did look vulnerable in the first half. Laois tried to exploit a weakness under the high ball with big Donie Kingston causing trouble.
And had Alan Farrell chose to pick out Kingston in a two on one in the 26th minute, the underdogs might have had a goal and the lead.
Farrell’s point instead got his side to within one.
But that was as good as it got for John Sugrue’s men, who wilted under the pressure generated by a predictably powerful second half reply from a side chasing a fourth All-ireland title in a row this summer.
Dublin did start in typical blitz fashion, creating three goal chances in the first six minutes. Only the classy Ciaran Kilkenny converted his turn and shot from Eric Lowndes’ pinpoint pass.
Graham Brody saved twice from Con O’callaghan either side of that and the O’moore men took encouragement as they came out swinging.
With Dubs’ midfield general Brian Fenton tied up for most of the first half by Kieran Lillis, the Midlanders pushed hard.
Farrell’s score forced Dublin to cut the sloppiness and, just as Laois’ accuracy deserted them, their opponents eased into a six-point lead at the break with O’callaghan again denied by Brody’s tip-over save.
In the second half it was Mccaffrey who found his route to goal blocked by Brody initially and then by his replacement Eoghan Keogh.
Cormac Costello will come into the selection frame on the back of his fine cameo, a fourpoint haul only tainted by a 72nd minute miss – Dublin’s only one in a top second half.