Dublin 2-21 Laois 2-10: The Nowlan Park day trip as it happened

The only regret for Dublin on Saturday night was that there were not more people in Nowlan Park to witness this Championship bow.

The reigning Leinster and All-Ireland champions looked ominously good as they opened their defence with an 11-point victory over a Laois side, who will be cursing a slow start and poor first half, as they left themselves with a mountain to climb in a more spirited second half display. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739137116345667586 Kilkenny City was a sea of blue before this 7pm throw-in but Laois anger at the fixture not being set for Portlaoise, coupled with a dearth of accommodation, meant less than 17,000 witnessed this Leinster SFC quarter-final. The GAA had predicted 20,000 on Friday, but the Dublin fans who made the journey were singing to their hearts content by the end. Dublin suffered one of those blows before throw-in that only serves to highlight their strength in depth. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739154098017185792 It didn't take long to realise that pre-match sense of foreboding was well placed. Dean Rock capitalising on an opening moments slip in the Laois defence. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739155452546691072 Laois were beginning to get a foothold in the game after the worst possible start when they made the mistake of pushing up on a Stephen Cluxton kick-out. The Dublin keeper went long. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739156706840678400 https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739158424433217536 If the game was already over as a contest, Laois centre-forward John O'Loughlin put the tin hat on things near the half-hour mark. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739162143698919425 https://twitter.com/dbates13/status/739162252629151744 https://twitter.com/dbates13/status/739162995478134784 Time for the Dubs to enjoy themselves, with Ciaran Kilkenny and Diarmuid Connolly in particular putting on a show. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739163259325034496 https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739164961927233538 https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739165519593504768 Dublin opened the second half with points from Kevin McManamon and Kilkenny but Laois were soon handed a lifeline. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739171369385132032 Cian O'Sullivan was enjoying another stellar game sweeping in Dublin defence but when Jonny Cooper was caught forward Laois pounced again. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739170447036669953 https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739172462248775687 https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739173656077668353 https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739176395184693248 Laois were finally applying themselves but Dublin just had too much quality, on the pitch and from the bench. Paul Mannion and Bernard Brogan, both scoreless, made way at the midway point of half. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739174776418279424 The replacements made a difference. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739178201558192128 https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/739179600744488960

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