Laois hurling sides set for busy weekend of action

After a chaotic week of inter-county action where five out of the six Laois teams won, this weekend shifts to the small ball as hurling dominates the inter-county fixtures.

Laois v Down, Joe McDonagh Cup Round 2, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Sunday April 16 at 3pm

The Laois senior hurling team face Down in Laois Hire O'Moore Park in the second round of the Joe McDonagh Cup on Sunday afternoon. Laois come into the game having not yet won a competitive game in the 2023 season. Last week, they were defeated by Offaly in the opener of the competition in Tullamore. Their Division 1 status has also been taken from them after a dismal league campaign saw them relegated after Westmeath got the better of them in Semple Stadium on March 25. 

After last week's performance, Laois were in full control of the game in the first half as they racked up 0-14 on the scoreboard. However, they would only go in at half-time two points ahead as they shipped to sloppy goals to Offaly against the run of play. They had gone four points to no-score ahead as well as leading 0-9 to 1-1 before they began to slackening with Offaly taking full advantage.

Willie Maher will not have been happy with the performance in the second-half as Offaly scored eight of the first 11 scores of the second period. Laois did manage to fight back and leveled the game after 60 minutes before Offaly responded with a third goal as Laois failed to take any of their goal chances.

This Sunday, Maher and his Laois side will be confident that the Down game will be the chance to register that first win and hopefully instill confidence into this Laois team and give them a much needed boost as they aim to lift their second Joe McDonagh Cup.

Laois v Kerry, U-20 Leinster Championship Tier 2 Round 2 Group 3, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Saturday April 15 at 2pm

Ollie Hally and his Laois' U-20 hurling side will be looking to make it three wins from three in this year's Leinster Championship following wins over Kildare and Carlow in the first two rounds. Apart from the first-half against Kildare, Laois have sailed through the group stages at ease as they had nine points to spare over Kildare before firing in 3-27 against Carlow to ensure a top-2 finish in the group. Kerry have one win under their belt after a six-point victory over Carlow before losing out to Kildare on Easter Monday. The emergence of last year's minor team onto the u-20 team has been refreshing to say the least. Jer Quinlan was on form against Carlow as he fired over five points from play.

Laois v Kildare, Minor Leinster Championship Preliminary Quarter Final, Clane GAA, Sunday April 16 at 12pm

Good Friday saw the Laois minor hurling squad travel up the M7 as they faced Antrim in Abbottstown with the winner to face a preliminary quarter-final. Laois had stole a march on the Saffrons as they raced into an early four-point lead. Damien Carter's side leading by seven points at the break having fired in 12 scores, 2-10. Antrim made sure it wouldn't be a landslide victory for the O'Moore County as they got seven of the first 9 points in the second period. Laois had raised their third green flag as Justin Duggan got his second before Antrim kicked on again and took the lead after 1-2 without reply. Duggan ensured Laois would live to fight another day as The Harps man rattled the net in the closing stages to seal his hatrick and a four-point win to tee up a clash with Kildare.