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06 Sept 2025

'It’s essentially a semi-final for us'- Laois' Tommy Fitzgerald looks ahead to Kildare clash

Laois steamrolled Kerry in Portlaoise on Sunday

'It’s essentially a semi-final for us'- Laois' Tommy Fitzgerald looks ahead to Kildare clash

Pictured are Andrew Kavanagh, Niall Corcoran and Laois manager Tommy Fitzgerald. Photo Denis Byrne

Reporter:

Barry McEvoy

12 May 2025 4:33 PM

Email:

sport@leinsterexpress.ie

Despite seeing his side maintain their 100% start to the Joe McDonagh Cup with a victory over Kerry on Sunday, Tommy Fitzgerald still felt his side were sloppy at times.
Reflecting on the contest after the game, the Laois boss said, "Three from three, and it’s job done. Some good stuff there, a lot of sloppy stuff though as well and the last 20 minutes in particular was a hard watch for everyone in the stand, but I suppose these things happen when you’re well up. We’re aware that we probably have our two biggest competitors and the two best teams in the competition in the next two weeks, so a type of mini competition starts now. There are three teams left, and we have those other two over the next two weeks, so it’s about getting ready for those big matches now."
The main talking point after the game was James Duggan scoring five goals, equalling the record set by Billy Delaney in 1939.
On Duggan’s performance, Fitzgerald claimed, "He took his chance, Ben and Mossy laid on a few for him, and he has to be thankful that he was on the end of a few moves. We do have serious competition, especially in the inside forward line, and when lads get their chance, they have to stand up and take it and fair play to James, that’s what he did. We have genuine competition and to pick a matchday squad of 26 is very difficult, and we had lads left off it there today that wouldn’t weaken it if they were involved," he added.
"We feel it helps to drive standards because everybody wants to play, but you can only pick 15, and when lads get their opportunity, they have to make the most of it. There were a few more that could’ve come on there today, and there’ll be lads disappointed that they didn’t come on. If we were allowed to bring on more than five, we would bring on more than five, but that’s the limit you have," Fitzgerald said.
A home contest against Kildare now awaits Fitzgerald’s men, and after Kildare beat Carlow surprisingly on Saturday, this weekend’s clash is now a huge fixture for both sides, and Fitzgerald is wary of the threat that Kildare could pose.
"I’ve seen Kildare a few times so far this year, and I was over in Carlow yesterday, and I was very impressed with them. Anyone who’s been following Kildare hurling the last couple of years and looking at Naas in particular, who had eight starters, they came here and beat Camross two years ago. I don’t know if Carlow were a little bit off it or Kildare didn’t let them hurl, but Kildare were good. They got brilliant scores and left a lot of chances behind them as well. They were full value for their win, so they’re after beating Westmeath and Carlow now, so they’ll be full of confidence coming here," he said.
He concluded by saying, "It’s essentially a semi-final for us, if we win it, we’re in a Joe McDonagh final, and they’re after losing one, so they have to win it as well, so it’s a big game for both teams."

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