Freewheelin’ Dillon blowing in wind

TWO Eamon Dillon goals set Dublin on their way to a crushing second half victory over Laois.

Patrick Purcell got his side off to a flying start, firing over four points within the first six minutes as the visitors to Parnell Park tried to take full advantage of the wind.

Dublin fought back from the three point deficit, eventually levelling the game at six points apiece after 12 minutes thanks, in part, to David Treacy’s frees.

Cian O’Sullivan’s excellent shooting from angles and Treacy adding two further frees saw the Dubs build a three point lead heading for the break.

But Mark Kavanagh’s point and a long range free from goalkeeper Enda Rowland cut the margin to a point – 0-12 to 0-11 at half-time.

While both sides exchanged points in the opening stages of the second half, Eamon Dillon found the net on 41 minutes.

Dillon the caught the high ball just in front of the 13 metre line and spun to shoot across Rowland and into the bottom corner of the net.

The goal set Dublin in motion and by 55 minutes they had a nine-point lead thanks to Ben Dillon adding a further three.

He also blasted home Dublin’s second goal with four minutes remaining as Healy saw red in the final minute for a clash with Dillon.

Rowland fired into the net to put some gloss on the Laois score but this was Dublin’s day. Dublin: C Dooley, C O’Callaghan, E O’Donnell, F O Riain Broin, S Moran (T Connolly 65), C Crummey, S Barrett, B Quinn, N McMorrow (F Whitely 49), D Burke (F McGibb 62), L Rushe, E Dillon, C O’Sullivan (D O’Callaghan 60), R O’Dwyer (J Hetherton 65), D Treacy Scorers: E Dillon 2-4; D Treay 0-9 (6f); C O’Sullivan, B Quinn 0-3 each; D Burke, D O’Callaghan, F Whitely 0-2 each; S Barrett, J Hertherton, N McMorrow 0-1 each. laoiS: E Rowland, D Palmer, L Bergin, L Cleere, E Killeen, M Whelan, C Collier, P Purcell, J Kelly (C Taylor HT), R Mullaney, C Healy, S Downey (S Downey 57), M Kavanagh, N Foyle, A Dunphy (A Corby 53) Scorers: E Rowland 1-1f; M Kavanagh 0-6 (2f); P Purcell 0-5; C Collier, C Taylor, M Whelan 0-1 each. Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow).