Despite O’Carroll halving that margin through a 35th minute free, Dublin completely dominated the third quarter and it was of scant surprise to see them add a fourth goal soon after with Lundy once again providing the assist as substitute Kennedy fisted home at the back post. 

Guiden and Lundy added to the away lead before O’Callaghan showcased his threat from distance as he added a brace of two pointed scores to leave Dublin ten points clear by the 42ndminute. 

Understandably, a degree of fluency was lost as Brennan introduced a plethora of substitutes and the hosts began to claw their way back into contention through successive points from Cian Doyle, O’Carroll and Killian Byrne. 

Another fisted goal, this time from Laois’ Killian Byrne in the 47th minute, was just reward for the home efforts but with another substitute Clyde Burke responding with a two-pointer, Dublin progressed to a meeting with Kildare next weekend as O’Callaghan completed the scoring with another red flag in added time. 

Scorers – Dublin: N O’Callaghan 1-6 (3 P2); S Guiden (2f), C Burke (1 P2) 0-3 each; R Shaw, T Deering, E Kennedy 1-0 each; K Stephenson, J Lundy 0-1 apiece. Laois: E O’Carroll 0-6 (1f); K Byrne 1-0; K Roche 0-3 (1 F2, 1 ’45); B Byrne, M Byron (F2) 0-2 each; B O’Connor, C Doyle (f), P O’Sullivan, C Dunne 0-1 apiece. 

Dublin: S Moloney; E O’Callaghan, F Bruton, J Bannon; P White, T Deering, R Shaw; J Feehan, K Stephenson; J McCormack, J Lundy, D Knight-Sands; S Guiden, N O’Callaghan, C Chawke. Subs: L Smith for Bruton (half-time), E Kennedy for Knight-Sands (half-time), C McCarville for Chawke (half-time), R O’Brien for Moloney (40), D Murphy for E O’Callaghan (40), D Kettle for Lundy (40), C Burke for Feehan (40), F Potts for Bannon (46), C Dunne for McCormack (46).

Laois: K Roche; C Gee, T Collins, B O’Connor; J Lacey, K Swayne, A McEvoy; R Tyrrell, C Heffernan; K Byrne, C Doyle, J Hogan; N Corbet, B Byrne, E O’Carroll. Subs: M Dempsey for Heffernan (half-time), M Byron for Roche (half-time), C Lee for Lacey (40), P O’Sullivan for Corbet (40), D Boland for Gee (46), C Dunne for O’Carroll (46), J Shelly for Hogan (56).

Referee: James Foley (Carlow).