PROFILED: The eight Laois GAA clubs chasing Intermediate Hurling Championship glory

The third tier of the Laois GAA Club Hurling Championships gets underway on Wednesday, July 15, with The Harps taking on Borris-Kilcotton in Durrow before the other six teams play on Thursday evening, July 16, in the Intermediate Hurling Championship.

GROUP A

​The Harps

Manager – Joe Deegan

Selectors – Sean Conroy, Sean Cahill

Captain – Conor Dunne

New Players- None

Any retirements, long-term absentees through injury, emigration or other reasons- None

Last Year- Quarter-Finalists

Prospects- The Harps’ second team should be competitive once again in the third tier. Reached a quarter-final in 2025 and will want to do the same again this year.

Borris-Kilcotton

Manager - Red Murray

Selectors – Cathal Moynan, Chris Jones, Eoghan Whelan

Captain – Eoin Daly

New Players- A few young lads that came up, Ryan Fitzgerald, Conor Kirby

Any retirements, long-term absentees through injury, emigration or other reasons- None

Last Year- Quarter-Finalists

Prospects- Borris-Kilcotton were beaten by Slieve Bloom in the quarter-finals in 2025. Will be hoping they don’t lose any players to their senior side. Likely to reach at least a quarter-final again.

Clough/Ballacolla

Management - Enda Cassin, Seamus Brennan and Graham Kavanagh

Captain – John A. Delaney

New Players- Again benefiting from a good cohort of lads who stepped up from minor last year, players like Fergal Brennan, younger brother of Colm Brennan, Caylum Hawkes and Conor Whelan, who has returned from ACL injury early in the minor campaign last year.

Any retirements, long-term absentees through injury, emigration or other reasons- There have been no retirements as such, with the likes of Brendan McEvoy, Mick McEvoy, Willie Hyland, Tom Delaney and Damien Bergin all potentially featuring at some stage during the year. The ever-reliable John A. Delaney remains the stalwart of the team. John Doyle is away with the army and won't feature at the moment. No injury concerns.

Last Year- Junior champions

Prospects- The elder statesmen are still flying the flag for Clough/Ballacolla’s third time. They come into the championship as Junior champions having beaten Portlaoise in the final. Will be hoping to stay up in the grade for 2027.

Abbeyleix

Manager - Conor Bergin

Selectors – Tom Carroll, Robbie Quinn

Selectors/ Kitmen- Saab Whelan, Mog Fitzpatrick

S and C Coach- Enda Rowland

Physio- Aishling Bruen

Captain - JJ Murphy

Vice Captain- David Walsh

New Players- A lot of underage players after coming up from minor last year who will be looking to advance into senior setup this year

Any retirements, long-term absentees through injury, emigration or other reasons- Lawson Obulor is travelling for the early rounds of the championship and will be hoping to step back up to senior. Liam Kavanagh has been carrying an injury throughout the year but will be hoping to feature at both codes. A couple of lads have regraded from last year's senior team and would be hoping to add massive experience to the group.

Last Year- Relegated from Premier Intermediate

Prospects- Lost out to Clough/Ballacolla in last year’s relegation final. Will be hoping their regraded players can get them back up to the Premier Intermediate grade for 2027. JJ Murphy, David Walsh, Alan Lynch, Mark Cahill, Stephen Thompson and Cillian McEvoy bring massive experience and then the youth of Liam O’Keeffe, Sean O’Donnell, Dara Ryan will look to try and break into the team.

Round 1 Fixtures:

The Harps v Borris-Kilcotton at 7.30pm in The Harps GAA on Wednesday, July 15

Clough/Ballacolla v Abbeyleix at 7.30pm in Ballacolla on Thursday, July 16

READ NEXT: PROFILED: Laois GAA Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship club-by-club guide

GROUP B

Trumera

​Manager – Conor Delaney, Ballyragget.

Selectors- Micky Callaghan and Keith Cullen

Captain- Dylan Lalor

New Players- Jack Mulhall, our only addition coming up from minor

Any retirements, long-term absentees through injury, emigration or other reasons- No one is allowed to retire in Trumera; that would be unheard of. Long-term absentees through injury: Jamie Lewis recovering from an ACL injury last year. Hard to see him back this year. Gearoid O'Neill has been out all year and is just back from a shoulder injury. Rhys Murphy has recently returned from Australia for the summer.

Last Year- Quarter-Finalists

Prospects- Trumera are always competitive at this level and lost out to neighbours Mountrath in the semi-final in 2025 and quarter-final in 2024. They were beaten by Colt-Shanahoe in the final after a replay in 2023. A semi-final could be on the cards this year.

​Mountrath

Manager- Brendan Carroll

Selectors – Dan Phelan and Matty Rice

Captain – Paul Rice

New Players- Four lads up from minor. Donnacha Carroll, Ben Meade, Zach McGuinness and Josh Dempsey. Paddy Williams is back from Australia. Jake Walsh is back after a year away.

Any retirements, long-term absentees through injury, emigration or other reasons- Eoin Brennan is recovering from a broken leg suffered against Slieve Bloom in the league. Josh Holmes has transferred to Slieve Bloom.

Last Year- Beaten Finalists

Prospects- Mountrath were superb in last year’s championship and were beaten by Clonad in the Intermediate final. They’ll be hoping for a similar run this year, but with the added prize of walking up the steps of O’Moore Park to collect the IHC trophy.

​Slieve Bloom

Manager – Damien Keenan

Selectors- Mick Boyhan, Brendan Wall, Ger Dowling and Lorcan Phelan

Captain- Sean Nolan

New Players- No new underage players up but 2 transfers in: Josh Holmes and Connor Madden

Any retirements, long-term absentees through injury, emigration or other reasons- None.

Last Year- Semi-Finalists

Prospects- They come into the championship as ACHL Division 3 champions. They lost out to eventual champions Clonad in the last four. They’ll likely be favourites to lift the title.

​Ballypickas

​Manager – Mark Rooney

Selectors- Thomas Whelan, Noel Concannon

S&C: Mick McKeough

Captain- MJ Lalor

New Players- Billy O’ Sullivan (transfer), Conor Headen, Christian Concannon, Kevin Hennessy.

Any retirements, long-term absentees through injury, emigration or other reasons- Mick McKeough retired

Last Year- Relegation Finalists

Prospects- Ballypickas relegated Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe in 2025 and come into the championship having lost to the same side in the ACHL Division 4 final. They’ll be wanting to steer clear of the relegation final this year and push for a quarter-final place.

Round 1 Fixtures:

Trumera v Mountrath at 7.30pm in Trumera on Thursday, July 16

Slieve Bloom v Ballypickas at 7.30pm in Slieve Bloom GAA on Thursday, July 16