First-half goals from Fiontan McGibb and Paul Ryan helped Dublin advance to the knock-out stages of the Walsh Cup with a 2-20 to 1-09 win over Laois at O’Moore Park.
The home side led by 0-03 to 0-02 after five minutes, but never led after this, with McGibb’s seventh-minute goal putting Dublin in front.
Laois levelled on 18 minutes thanks to a Tadhg Dowling goal to make it 1-05 apiece.
However, a 25th-minute penalty from Ryan helped Dublin to a 2-12 to 1-07 interval lead.
Dublin were strong on the restart and finished with 12 different scorers, including Eamon Dillon who bagged four points from play, and was unlucky not to add four goals to his tally, having been denied by the posts, and also the brilliance of Laois goalkeeper Eoin Reilly.
Seamus Plunkett's men were wasteful in the second half and amassed 17 wides in total, with two points from PJ Scully their only scores in the closing 35 minutes.
Offaly advanced to the semi-finals with victory in Birr over All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, who once again fielded an Under-21 side, with the hosts claiming a 3-09 to 1-09 win.
The Faithful County led by 1-05 to 1-02 at half-time with James Mulrooney netting their goal, and Billy Ryan claiming the Cats goal.
Kilkenny worked hard on the restart but two second-half goals from James Gorman (above) helped the home side to a six-point win, with Shane Dooley also impressing with seven points.
Wexford were always in control as they claimed a 1-21 to 0-07 victory over Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park.
The visitors impressed early on and blazed to a 0-07 to 0-00 lead after 22 minutes, with Aidan Nolan, Andrew Shore, Shane Tompkins, Paul Morris and Harry Kehoe on target.
Wexford led by 0-10 to 0-04 at half-time, with Kevin McDonald (2), James O'Hara and Seanie Whelan taking Carlow’s scores.
The sides were well balanced in the third quarter, but Wexford kicked on, with a David Dunne goal helping them on the way to a 17-point win.
A hat-trick of first-half goals paved the way for Galway to claim a 3-18 to 0-17 win over Westmeath at St Loman’s GAA Club in Mullingar.
Jason Flynn fired the Westerners first goal after five minutes, and followed up with an 11th-minute penalty strike, with Richie Cummins completing the hat-trick after 18 minutes.
Westmeath were rocked during this spell which saw Galway bag an unanswered 2-05. The hosts kept in touch, but Galway led 3-10 to 0-08 at the break.
Westmeath outscored Galway by three points to one inside 10 minutes of the restart, but Micheal Donoghue’s charges had done enough, with the Tribesmen finishing with points from Shane Moloney and Éanna Burke on the way to a 10-point win.
Elsewhere, Fitzgibbon Cup hopefuls DCU and NUI Galway drew 1-20 apiece at St Claire’s Sportsground in DCU.
NUIG made a strong start by 1-11 to 0-09 at half-time, with Clare’s Stephen Ward netting the visitors goal.
Next weeks semi-finals will see Dublin host Galway, while Offaly face Wexford.
