Good evening one and all and welcome to our live coverage of the All-Ireland champions’ opening championship game of the summer.

For the first time in a decade, Jim Gavin’s men are on the road in the championship with Nowlan Park the venue for the first hurdle in their Leinster defence.

The atmosphere in Kilkenny has been building all day with throw-in fast approaching at 7pm.

It’s a sea of blue in Kilkenny with Dublin fans travelling in large numbers.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Lets take a look at the teams, as named by the respective managers earlier in the week.

Jim Gavin has made just two changes from the side that defeated Kerry so emphatically in the Division 1 league final.

Michael Darragh Macauley replaces Denis Bastick in midfield where he will start alongside Raheny’s Brian Fenton.

The only other change in the line-up comes at corner forward where Kevin McManamon is handed a starting role in place of Paul Mannion.

Laois

1. Graham Brody (Portlaoise)

2. Damien O’Connor (Timahoe)
3. Mark Timmons (Graiguecullen)
4. Paul Cotter (Portlaoise)

5. Stephen Attride (Killeshin)
6. Darren Strong (Emo)
7. Colm Begley (Stradbally)

8. Conor Meredith (O’Dempsey’s)
9. Brendan Quigley (Timahoe)

10. Paul Cahillane (Portlaoise)
11. John O’Loughlin (St Brigid’s)
12. Gareth Dillon (Portlaoise)

13. Donal Kingston (Arles Killeen)
14. Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard)
15. Gary Walsh (Ballylinan)

Dublin

1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)

2. Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)
3. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
4. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)

5. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
6. Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes)
7. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)

8. Michael Darragh Macauley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
9. Brian Fenton (Raheny)

10. Paul Flynn (Fingallians)
11. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
12. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)

13. Kevin McManamon (St Jude’s)
14. Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s)
15. Bernard Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh)

This evening’s game is live on Sky Sports 3, the broadcaster’s first offering of the summer. Alternatively, there is commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 and live updates right here.

Laois, who beat Wicklow in the preliminary round, come into this ‘home’ fixture as rank outsiders with Dublin 1/100 to emerge victorious.

Any slip-up from Gavin’s side is inconceivable as they begin their campaign for a 56th provincial crown.

Which way do you see this one going? Do Mick Lillis’ side have any chance tonight or will this be the formality everyone is predicting?

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail ryan@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

Brian Fenton and the Dublin team arrive a little earlier.

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Speaking to Sky Sports, Jim Gavin says playing in Nowlan Park is a ‘great opportunity’ for his side and this is a game his players are ‘really looking forward to.’

Most notably, there are no late changes to his XV.

On that note, here are the substitutes at Nowlan Park.

Laois subs: James McDonald, Gearoid Hanrahan, Shane Murphy, Alan Farrell, Kieran Lillis, Jamie Farrell, Kevin Meaney, Matthew Campion, Niall Donoher, Ross Munnelly, Ruairi O’Connor.

Dublin subs: Michael Savage, Denis Bastick, Tomas Brady, Cormac Costello, Darren Daly, Michael Fitzsimons, Eric Lowndes, Paul Mannion, Robert McDaid, Con O’Callaghan, Eoghan O’Gara.

If you are on Snapchat and fancy a look behind the scenes at Nowlan Park, our man Fintan O’Toole is in position in the press box.

We’re ‘The42.ie’ on Snapchat.

Late change for Dublin! Paul Flynn has suffered an injury in the warm-up – Sky Sports are reporting a knee problem – and Paul Mannion comes into the Dubs attack.

Electric atmosphere in Nowlan Park already. We’re just about all set, as Dublin go into their pre-match huddle.

Throw-in! Dublin will defend the City End terrace in this first half. Nowlan Park is rocking and we’re underway!

GOAL! Laois 0-0 Dublin 1-0 (Dean Rock)

Dublin go long straight away, the ball bounces over the Laois defender and Dean Rock cuts inside to fire home from close range. Nightmare start for Laois.

Far, far too easy for Dublin. Laois are cut open from the off and already it’s looking ominous for Lillis’ side.

It took the All-Ireland champions just 15 seconds to get up and running in 2016. Philly McMahon looks to extend their advantage but his long-range effort sails well wide.

GOAL! Laois 0-1 Dublin 2-1 (Diarmuid Connolly)

Oh no! After Laois register their first point, Dublin go straight down the other end, scythe through the home defence for Connolly to slot under the goalkeeper.

From the restart, Rock adds to his early goal with the Dubs’ first point.

Laois 0-1 Dublin 2-2

John O’Loughlin looks to respond immediately but his radar is off before Ciaran Kilkenny shows him how it’s done. He becomes the third Dublin forward to score in the opening seven minutes.

Laois 0-1 Dublin 2-3

Dublin rampant already. Rock already has 1-2 to his name as he slots over a free. Gavin’s men in cruise control even inside the opening 10 minutes.

Laois 0-1 Dublin 2-4

Dean Rock again makes no mistake before Connolly just pushes his effort right and wide.

Laois 0-1 Dublin 2-4

Another poor miss from Connolly, although you feel it’s unlikely to make any difference today. The Dubs are turning defence into attack so quickly and are finding acres of space to exploit.

Laois 0-2 Dublin 2-4

Donal Kingston opens his account and Laois have stemmed the flow, for now. The deficit after 17 mins is eight points.

Laois 0-3 Dublin 2-5

Paul Cahillane slots over to make it two successive scores for Laois but Dublin are quickly back into their groove with a well-worked move for Connolly to finish off.

Laois 0-4 Dublin 2-6

After that nightmare start, Laois are just settling into the game now but Dublin look like scoring every time they venture forward. 54% possession for the visitors and they’re full value for their eight point lead after 23 minutes.

Diarmuid Connolly scores Dublin’s second goal.

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Laois 0-4 Dublin 2-7

Davey Byrne bombs forward and pops it over the bar. Meanwhile, the Dublin fans on this near side are off their seats after an incident between John O’Loughlin and Michael Darragh Macauley.

Red card! And O’Loughlin is given his marching orders for striking out at Macauley, who is left with a bloodied nose.

Laois 0-5 Dublin 2-8

Paul Cahillane with his second of the evening before Ciaran Kilkenny doubles his tally. Five minutes until the break.

Laois 0-5 Dublin 2-8

If it wasn’t game over already, it certainly is now. And Nowlan Park has gone very, very flat.

Laois 0-6 Dublin 2-9

Dublin’s lead is stretched to ten points as Rock dissects the posts. At the other end, Kingston converts a free for 14-man Laois.

Laois 0-6 Dublin 2-11

Dean Rock hasn’t put a foot wrong in this opening half as he strokes over another free. Moments later, Kilkenny charges forward and Dublin’s lead is 11. Three minutes of added time.

Laois 0-7 Dublin 2-12

Connolly on the mark again after Kevin Meaney registered his first point since coming off the bench.

Half-time! Laois 0-7 Dublin 2-12

It’s been a comfortable evening so far for the Dubs.

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The teams are back out for the second half. Dublin restart proceedings.

A little over 16,000 is the attendance here at Nowlan Park, with the majority of those having made the journey down from the capital.

Laois 0-7 Dublin 2-13

First point of the second half comes from Kevin McManamon’s left boot. A fine, running score.

Laois 0-7 Dublin 2-14

And another one, this time from Ciaran Kilkenny. That’s four from play now for the Castleknock man.

Penalty! Damien O’Connor is taken down in the square by Cooper and the referee has no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Yellow card for the Dublin defender.

GOAL! Laois 1-7 Dublin 2-14 (Paul Cahillane)

Emphatically dispatched by Cahillane, who sent Cluxton the wrong way.

Laois 1-7 Dublin 2-14

Couple of changes for Dublin. Macauley back on for Bastick and Michael Fitzsimons is on for Philly McMahon.

John O’Loughlin is shown red.

Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

GOAL! Laois 2-7 Dublin 2-14 (Stephen Attride)

Dublin caught in possession and Laois counter-attack to great effect. Stephen Attride breaks from defence with pace and after fending off a couple of sky blue shirts, he fires past Cluxton.

Laois 2-7 Dublin 2-14

That was a fine score and suddenly Dublin’s lead is just seven points. Jim Gavin’s side still in complete control but they’ve been poor since the restart.

Laois 2-8 Dublin 2-14

Laois are asking a couple of questions of Dublin now. Substitute Ross Munnelly sends one over with his first touch and the deficit is now six.

Laois 2-8 Dublin 2-16

But Connolly hits back to ensure this Laois comeback is stopped in its tracks. He scores two points in quick succession.

Laois 2-8 Dublin 2-17

You’ve got to give 14-man Laois great credit for the way they’ve come out in this second half and taken the game to Dublin. It’s probably too little, too late but they’ve restored some pride here.

It was a quiet afternoon for Bernard Brogan, who has just gone off.

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Laois 2-8 Dublin 2-18

Another Dean Rock free and Dublin have just settled down again and regained complete control of proceedings.

Paul Mannion is replaced by Con O’Callaghan, who makes his senior championship debut.

Laois 2-8 Dublin 2-19

Rock now has 1-8 to his name with Laois unable to contain him today.

Another sub for the Dubs.

Laois 2-8 Dublin 2-20

Another from Rock as Gavin introduces Eric Lowndes for Cooper and Eoghan O’Gara receives a huge ovation as he comes on. Six points for Dublin without a reply.

Laois 2-9 Dublin 2-20

First of the game for Darren Strong and he becomes the eighth different scorer for Laois.

Penalty! Con O’Callaghan is hauled down as he bears down on goal. Attride with the foul and Connolly puts the ball on the spot.

Saved! Great stop from Graham Brody to deny Connolly, as he sprawls away to his left.

Into added time now, and we’ll have four extra minutes.

Laois 2-9 Dublin 2-21 

O’Callaghan comes to the party with a fine score.

Full-time! Laois 2-10 Dublin 2-21 

So Dublin coast into the Leinster SFC semi-finals, with Meath or Louth providing their next opposition later this month.

That’s it from Nowlan Park, thanks for joining us and be sure to stick around for all the reaction from Dublin’s 11-point victory over Laois.