PREVIEW: New-look Laois GAA Senior Hurling Championship set to ignite as ten clubs chase glory

A new era begins in the Laois Shopping Centre Senior Hurling Championship this weekend as ten clubs set out on the road to the Bob O’Keefe Cup.

The championship has expanded from eight to ten teams this year, with Premier Intermediate champions Borris-Kilcotton and runners-up Ballinakill joining the senior ranks. That change has led to a major format shake-up, one that we hope will guarantee drama across the board.

The ten teams have been split into two groups of five.

Group A

Rosenallis

Portlaoise 

Clough Ballacolla

Ballinakill

Abbeyleix 

Group B

Camross

Castletown

Rathdowney-Errill

The Harps

Borris-Kilcotton

But unlike traditional formats, teams will not play against those in their own group. Instead, each team plays all five clubs from the opposite group, and the results of those matches determine the standings in their own section. So, for example, Rosenallis will play each of the five Group B sides, and their results in those games will dictate their position within Group A.

There’s plenty to play for once the round-robin phase wraps up. The top team in each group will progress directly to the semi-finals. The second and third-placed teams will meet in the quarter-finals. The bottom two teams in each group will drop into relegation semi-finals, which will also double up as Senior ‘B’ Championship semi-finals, a newly introduced competition offering a second-tier title to those who exit early.

Key knockout fixtures are scheduled as follows:

Quarter-finals & Senior B/Relegation semi-finals: September 19–21

Senior semi-finals, Senior B final & Relegation final: October 3–5

County Final: October 19

Reigning champions Clough-Ballacolla will have to do it the hard way this year. The dominant force in Laois hurling over the past half-decade, they’ve won four of the last five championships, but they'll line out this summer without one of their biggest names. Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher is ruled out for the season after suffering an ACL injury, a massive blow to their scoring power and leadership. While they still retain plenty of experience and firepower, Maher’s absence leaves a notable gap. Clough-Ballacolla open their title defence against Castletown on Sunday, July 13.

Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s will carry plenty of momentum into this championship. They claimed their first-ever ACHL Division 1 title on June 29, beating Borris-Kilcotton in the final. That historic victory has lifted expectations and belief around the club, and they’ll fancy making waves this summer. They've been in the semi-finals for the last two years and famously reached the decider in 2023, their first Senior County Final since 1949.

Camross, Laois champions in 2023, also bring serious form to the table. They captured the Leinster Hurling League Division 1 title earlier this month, edging Rathdowney-Errill in a tense final. With a strong spine and a proven pedigree, they look primed for another big championship run.

Borris-Kilcotton return to the senior ranks after a year in Premier Intermediate and do so with serious ambition. They’ll be joined by Ballinakill, who were beaten in last year’s second-tier final but also promoted as part of the restructuring.

Last year’s beaten finalists, Rathdowney-Errill, have come close in recent seasons and will hope 2025 is the year they go one step further. Their Leinster League final defeat to Camross will sting, but it may sharpen their edge. They'll be without Ross King and Eric Killeen, with both players out of the country.

Portlaoise, Rosenallis, The Harps and Castletown all remain dangerous on their day and capable of springing surprises.

Round 1

Abbeyleix vs The Harps on Friday, July 11

Rosenallis vs Rathdowney-Errill on Saturday, July 12

Ballinakill vs Borris-Kilcotton on Saturday, July 12

Clough-Ballacolla vs Castletown on Sunday, July 13

Portlaoise vs Camross on Sunday, July 13

Round 2

Ballinakill vs Rathdowney-Errill on Thursday, July 17

Portlaoise vs The Harps on Friday, July 18

Abbeyleix vs Castletown on Saturday, July 19

Rosenallis vs Camross on Saturday, July 19

Clough-Ballacolla vs Borris-Kilcotton on Saturday, July 19

Round 3

Abbeyleix vs Rathdowney-Errill on Friday, August 1

Rosenallis vs Castletown on Saturday, August 2

Ballinakill vs The Harps on Saturday, August 2

Clough-Ballacolla vs Camross on Sunday, August 3

Portlaoise vs Borris-Kilcotton on Sunday, August 3

Round 4

Portlaoise vs Castletown on Friday, August 15

Clough-Ballacolla vs Rathdowney-Errill on Saturday, August 16

Abbeyleix vs Borris-Kilcotton on Saturday, August 16

Rosenallis vs The Harps on Sunday, August 17

Ballinakill vs Camross on Sunday, August 17

Round 5

Clough-Ballacolla vs The Harps on Friday, September 5

Abbeyleix vs Camross on Saturday, September 6

Portlaoise vs Rathdowney-Errill on Saturday, September 6

Rosenallis vs Borris-Kilcotton on Sunday, September 7

Ballinakill vs Castletown on Sunday, September 7

The championship will get underway on Friday evening, July 11 at 7.30pm when Abbeyleix take on The Harps in Laois Hire O'Moore Park.

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