Diligent Kildare U20 hurlers come up short against brilliant Laois

Leinster U20 Hurling Championship 2024  Knockouts Round 2

Laois 2-19

Kildare 0-16

The Kildare U20 hurlers campaign came to an end at the hands of a fine Laois side. The home side were big underdogs and kept pace early on. They went in at the break just four points adrift after being level for a good portion of the opening half.

Laois would kick on with second half goals from Jer Quinlan and Conor Fitzpatrick, the former of which is playing for the Laois senior side.

The Lilies acquitted themselves superbly and manager Eoin Stapleton praised his players’ both quality and character after the final whistle as their season came to a close.

Laois, Ben Deegan 0-6 (0-5 frees, 0-1 Penalty), Jer Quinlan 1-2, Conor Fitzpatrick 1-1, James Cuddy 0-3 (0-3 frees), Cody Comerford 0-2, Jack Breen 0-1, Colin Byrne 0-1, Cormac Byrne 0-1, Aaron Phelan 0-1, Brian Duggan 0-1.

Kildare, Fionn Maher 0-10 (0-8 frees), Killian Harrington 0-2, Finnán Ó Dulaing 0-1, Tim Ryan 0-1, Conor O'Grady 0-1, Scott Cramer 0-1.

LAOIS: Brochan O'Reilly; Diarmuid Dooley, Cathal Cuddy, Ciaran Flynn; Cormac Hogan, Eoghan Cuddy, Tom Cuddy; Cody Comerford, Conor Fitzpatrick; Ben Deegan, Jer Quinlan, Tommy Brennan; Jack Breen, Colin Byrne, Cormac Byrne. Subs: James Cuddy for Ben Deegan (43 minutes), Aaron Phelan for Tommy Brennan (44 minutes), Mark Downey for Jack Breen (55 minutes), Brian Duggan for  Colin Byrne (56 minutes).

KILDARE: Cormac Doolan; Evan O'Briain, Liam O'Reilly, Conor O'Grady; Finnán Ó Dulaing, Daniel O'Meara, Bill Hennessy; Oisin Lynam, Enda Keane; Cian Boran, Cian O'Reilly, Ciaran Kirwan; James Dolan, Killian Harrington, Fionn Maher. Subs: Tim Ryan for Cian O'Reilly (Half-time), Charlie Carroll for Oisin Lynam (39 minutes), Theo Frisby for Ciaran Kirwan (39 minutes), Alex Bell for James Dolan (45 minutes), Scott Cramer for Evan O'Briain (55 minutes), Dylan Doherty for Bill Hennessy (59 minutes).

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly)