Laois senior hurling team named for Wexford clash in the Walsh Cup

Laois senior hurling manager Tommy Fitzgerald has named his first Laois team of the 2026 campaign, with a mix of new and familiar faces included in the matchday panel for Sunday’s opening Walsh Cup clash against Wexford.

Portlaoise’s Ciaran McEvoy returns to the Laois inter-county fold after spending the past few years away from the panel, while Abbeyleix’s Fionan Mahony, a former Laois U-20 captain, also makes his return, having last been involved in 2023. Both players are named to start against Wexford. Another notable inclusion is Rathdowney-Errill’s Jack Kelly, who is back in the Laois starting 15.

Clonad’s Fionn Holland, fresh from being named Laois IHC Player of the Year for 2025, has been named in the starting team after committing to the Laois senior hurlers for 2026, having previously been part of the county’s senior football panel in recent seasons.

Goalkeeper Eoin Reilly from Abbeyleix has also returned to the Laois setup and has been named among the substitutes for Sunday’s game. Clough-Ballacolla’s Cathal Dunne retains the number one jersey after taking over from Enda Rowland, who recently announced his inter-county retirement. Cathal’s brother, Cillian, has also been rewarded for an outstanding club season, as Clough-Ballacolla claimed their fifth Laois SHC title in six years.

Several players on the bench could be in line to make their senior inter-county debuts, including Castletown’s Jack Breen, Camross’ Eoghan Cuddy and Rathdowney/Errill’s Padraig Rafter.

One notable absentee from Fitzgerald’s plans for 2026 is long-serving stalwart Willie Dunphy, who brought an end to his 14-year Laois senior inter-county career on New Year’s Eve.

See the full Laois team below.

LAOIS: Cathal Dunne (Clough/Ballacolla); Donnchadh Hartnett (Rosenallis), Ciaran McEvoy (Portlaoise), lan Shanahan (Ballinakill); Ryan Mullaney (Castletown), Padriag Delaney (The Harps), Fiachra C Fennell (Rosenallis); Fionan Mahony (St.Lazarian's Abbeyleix), David Dooley (Rosenallis); Martin Phelan (Castletown), Fionn Holland (Clonad), Jack Kelly (Rathdowney/Errill); Cillian Dunne (Clough/Ballacolla), James Keyes (Colt/Shanahoe), Cormac Byrne (St.Lazarian's Abbeyleix). SUBS: Eoin Reilly (St.Lazarian's Abbeyleix), Joseph Pearson (Clough/Ballacolla), Lee Cleere (Clough/Ballacolla), Cormac Hogan (Clough/Ballacolla), Padraic Dunne (The Harps), Eoin Gaughan (Camross), Eoghan Cuddy (Camross), Padraig Rafter (Rathdowney/Errill), Jack Breen (Castletown), Colin Byrne (St. Lazarian's Abbeyleix), Tomas Keyes (Camross).

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