Laois GAA hurlers face tricky Down test in Ballycran as Joe McDonagh campaign continues

The Laois senior hurlers hit the road this weekend as they travel to Ballycran to face Down in Round 2 of the Joe McDonagh Cup, aiming to back up their opening-round win over Westmeath with another crucial result.

Tommy Fitzgerald’s Laois side made a strong start to the competition with a convincing 3-25 to 1-20 victory in Portlaoise, but their manager knows a much tougher challenge awaits in Ulster.

"It’ll be a tough trip. Down at home are a different team to the Down team that plays away. It’s a really tricky, tricky game in seven days’ time, so we just have to be ready physically and mentally for that. We know what we're facing next week up in Ballycran in a tight field," Fitzgerald said after Laois' win over Westmeath.

A second win from two games would put Laois in the driving seat to reach the Joe McDonagh Cup final, with their next two fixtures, against Kerry and Kildare, both set for Laois Hire O’Moore Park. They’ll round off the competition away to Carlow, and will be hoping that their place in the decider is already secured by the time that clash comes around.

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Down, meanwhile, will be desperate to respond after a heavy loss to Carlow (6-23 to 0-20) in Round 1. But they have proven time and again that they’re a far stronger outfit on home soil, and Ballycran is never an easy venue for visiting teams. It’s all set up for a battle, and Tommy Fitzgerald's Laois team know they’ll need to be ready for it.

Laois v Down throws-in at 1.30pm in Ballycran on Saturday, April 26. Tickets for the game can be purchased in person at the following stores; SuperValu Stradbally, Breslin’s SuperValu Rathdowney, McConville’s SuperValu Mountmellick, McLoughlin’s SuperValu Portarlington, Mulhall’s SuperValu Portlaoise, SuperValu Abbeyleix and SuperValu Parkside Portlaoise while they can also be bought online here.