In a high-scoring shoot-out at Parnell Park, Dublin enjoyed a deserved 4-18 to 2-17 victory over Leinster rivals Laois.

This was a repeat of that infamous All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final from last summer, which the O’Moore County of course won, but today Mattie Kenny’s men were more determined, racing into a 1-4 to no score lead inside nine minutes, Eamon Dillon with the goal.

The hosts responded with points from Ciaran McEvoy, Aaron Dunphy, Ross King and Stephen Bergin and actually went ahead in the 22nd minute when Willie Dunphy netted on the rebound followed by a Paddy Purcell point.

But the Dubs bossed the closing stages of the first half and points from Oisin O'Rorke, Sean Moran and Donal Burke helped them lead by three at the break, 1-11 to 1-8, Laois goalkeeper Enda Rowland having executed three stunning saves.

The decisive burst came early in the second half as two goals in as many minutes from O'Rorke and David Keogh fired the Dubs eight points ahead with 38 minutes played. Ronan Hayes nailed the fourth Dublin major on 50 minutes and Dunphy’s second three-pointer would prove to be a mere consolation.

Dublin - S Brennan; P Smyth, E O'Donnell, J Madden; C Crummey, D Gray, C O’Callaghan; J Malone (0-1), S Moran (0-3, 1f); D Burke (0-2), D Sutcliffe, R Hayes (1-0); M Schutte, O O’Rorke (1-7, 0-6f), E Dillon (1-0). Subs: D Keogh (1-2) for E Dillon, J Hetherton (0-2) for M Schutte, A Dunphy for C O'Callaghan, F Whitely for J Madden, R McBride (0-1) for D Sutcliffe 

Laois - E Rowland (0-1f); L Senior, R Mullaney, D Hartnett; J Kelly (0-1), P Delaney, C McEvoy (0-2); F C Fennell, D Conway; A Dunphy (0-1), P Purcell (0-1), J Ryan (0-2); R King (0-6, 5f), W Dunphy (2-0), S Bergin (0-2). Subs: J Lennon for R Mullaney, R Broderick for L Senior, E Gaughan (0-1) for A Dunphy, J Keyes for P Purcell.

Referee - D Hughes.

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