Laois 3-12 Dublin 3-4
Six minutes into the second half, a first-timed effort by Elaine Gallery hit the back of the Laois net to give Dublin the lead for first and only time in the game at Athy. Five minutes earlier Elaine had levelled matters when she batted home Emma Flanagan's well placed cross. A double blow for Laois but instead it was the midlanders who responded and in the remaining 28 minutes rattled over 2-5 to nil for Dublin.
Laois were the superior side from the throw-in and corner forward Olga Parkinson set up Sarah Ann Fitzgerald for a cracking goal after only 20 seconds. Fitzgerald did untold damage and finished with 1-10 to her name, had a hand in the other two goals and provided superb leadership for her side.
A point from the Camross girl and another from Claire Walsh put Laois 1-2 in front after two minutes.
Despite the set back Dublin recovered. Two frees from Siobhan Keogh settled the ship but Sarah Ann Fitzgerald, a Soaring Star in 2013, wreaked havoc every time she touched the ball. She was the Laois "go to" player albeit they have a number of very fine forwards whose teamwork was excellent and composed.
Dublin could make little headway upfront - the ball handling was poor and the inside line had to survive on scraps. Roisin Collins was the one player in the first half who was making some headway. A point from a free by Michelle Kelly was followed by an excellent free by Roisin to cut the gap to a goal before Sarah Ann Fitzgerald notched her fourth white flag.
Elaine Gallery who made a mad dash from Croatia to make the game won a good ball in the half forward line - her delivery was superbly fielded by Roisin Collins who broke through the Laois defence to fire a great shot low into the corner and out of the reach of the midlanders' excellent 'keeper Laura Dunne. But again it was Laois who responded with two Sarah Ann Fitzgerald points before the break to undo some of the Dublin gain. Laois led by 1-7 to 1-4 at the break and Dublin would have a slight advantage from the diagonal breeze in the second period.
The introduction of Grainne Free before half-time tightened the Dublin full-back line and the side looked like it had made a decisive move with the Gallery goals six minutes after the break. The opposite was the case. Three minutes later Laois got a break when Sarah Ann Fitzgerald's long range free hit the upright and Niamh Dollard poked the ball home. The sides were level now with 21 minutes of normal time remaining.
The Laois defence shut down Dublin with the likes of centre back Eimear Delaney commanding her position and ably supported by wing half Aishling Dunphy and full back Joan Dollard. Goalkeeper Laura Dunne was superb throughout and her quick skills and well placed puck outs started many an attack.
Sarah Ann Fitzgerald punished every Dublin indiscretion. It looked they were going the apply the coup de grace in the 38th minute when Olga Parkinson was clean through in a one-on-one with Stephanie Carthy. But the Leinster long poc champion who had travelled back from the Cooley Mountains only minutes before the game saved superbly.
Olga Parkinson wasn't to be denied however. Sarah Ann Fitzgerald had drifted deep to shore up her defence. She won possession - played a super ball to Niamh Dollard whose lay-off set up Parkinson and this time she handpassed to the Dublin net.
Dublin had given their all but on the day Laois had all the answers.
Dublin Scorers: Elaine Gallery (2-0); Roisin Collins (1-1), Siobhan Keogh (0-3)
Laois Scorers: Sarah Ann Fitzgerald (1-10); Niamh Dollard (1-1), Claire Walsh (0-1)
Referee: Ger O'Dowd (Limerick)