Written by Laois PR Team
The very best of luck to our Senior Hurlers in the Joe McDonagh Cup Final vs Offaly at 3.30pm tomorrow, Saturday June 8th in Croke Park. As part of a double header with the Leinster SHC Final, Dublin vs Kilkenny at 6pm.
All support is greatly appreciated to get behind our lads in this important game.
Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following options below:
Tickets can be purchased online here: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/leinster-shc-final-kilkenny-v-dublin-dublin-08-06-2024/event/18006091EAF876B8
Tickets can be purchased in person via selected participating SuperValu stores:
SuperValu Stradbally
Breslin’s SuperValu Rathdowney
McConville’s SuperValu Mountmellick
McLoughlin’s SuperValu Portarlington
Mulhall’s SuperValu Portlaoise SuperValu Abbeyleix SuperValu Parkside Portlaoise
Watch the match live: on channel RTE2 or stream via RTE Player.
Follow live match scores and updates: on our official CLG Laois Twitter account,
@CLGLaois
Radio: The match will be broadcast live on Midlands Radio 103.
Manager Willie Maher has named the following side to face Offaly
Compared to the Laois side that lined out against Offaly back in Round 1, there are 2 changes to the Starting 15 from that day:
Fiachra C Fennell and James Duggan come in for John Lennon and Martin Phelan.
The Laois team lines out as follows:
Joe McDonagh Cup Final Permutations:
The winner gains promotion to the 2025 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, in place of Carlow. The runners up will remain in the 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup.
All Ireland SHC Preliminary Quarter-Finals:
Both Laois and Offaly will go through to the All Ireland Preliminary Quarter – Finals. The winner will have a home fixture vs Cork (3rd place finishers in Munster) and the runner up will have a home fixture vs Wexford (3rd place finishers in Leinster). These ties will take place on Saturday June 15th.
Recent Laois Stats:
Round 5 vs Westmeath on May 25th.
OVERALL APPS REACHED
Enda Rowland – 110th
Willie Dunphy – 100th
John Lennon – 50th
LGE & CSHIP APPS REACHED
Lee Cleere – 40th
Martin Phelan – 20th
Standout Players this 2024 Joe McDonagh Cup Campaign:
Laois:
Young players Tom Cuddy, David Dooley and Jer Quinlan have been very impressive and influential. Alongside seasoned players, Ryan Mullaney and Aidan Corby who have been outstanding.
The return of Picky Maher on the subs bench for the final, after an injury absence is a great boost.
Offaly:
Ben Conneely, Cillian Kiely, Ben Duignan, Dan Bourke and Adam Screeney have been the standouts for Offaly.
Previous Joe McDonagh Cup Final for Laois:
June 30th 2019
Laois: 3-26 (35)
Westmeath: 1-21 (24)
During this 2019 campaign where Laois won their first Joe McDonagh Cup title, Laois also went on to become the only Joe McDonagh side to date, to reach the All Ireland SHC quarter final stages after the preliminary quarter final format was introduced in 2018. Laois defeated Dublin by 2 pts in the 2019 preliminary quarter final.
Previous Joe McDonagh Cup Final for Offaly:
May 27th 2023
(After Extra-Time)
Carlow: 2-29 (35)
Offaly: 1-31 (34)
Laois vs Offaly Previous Meeting:
Joe McDonagh Round 1, in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday April 21st 2024.
Final score:
Laois: 2-21 (27)
Offaly: 0-24 (24)
Laois scorers: Paddy Purcell 2-1. Aaron Dunphy 0-5. Aidan Corby 0-4. Picky Maher 0-4. Jer Quinlan 0-3. Tom Cuddy 0-2. Liam O’Connell 0-1. John Lennon 0-
Offaly scorers: Adam Screeney 0-8. Brian Duignan 0-4. Sam Bourke 0-2. Killian Sampson 0-2. Eoghan Cahill 0-2. Dan Bourke 0-2. Dan Ravenhill 0-1. Cathal King 0-1. Charlie Mitchel 0-1. Leon Fox 0-1.
Round 1 produced a great battle between both sides.
The introduction of Offaly’s Adam Screeney as a 1st half substitute was a boost to his side and Screeney really impressed, scoring a total 0-8 by the end.
Offaly were dangerous in attack in the early stages, taking a 3 point lead at the mid way point in the 1st half. In defence for Offaly, Ben Connelly was solid in this period helping prevent Laois attacking opportunities.
But Laois’ Tom Cuddy’s immense defensive work rate at wing back vitally kept Laois in the game at those times when Offaly were on the front foot and Cuddy had also contributed a point to reduce the gap.
In midfield, Aidan Corby was a tower of strength in winning possession and got some lovely scores.
Offaly lead by 5 points at half time and then by 6 points in the early stages of the 2nd half, courtesy of great scores by Brian Duignan and Sam Bourke.
Then came the Laois comeback.
Goalkeeper Enda Rowland made some outstanding 1v1 saves to prevent Offaly extending their lead.
The addition of Picky Maher as a substitute at half time and his excellent 2nd half performance made a hugely positive impact on the game as he scored a total 0-4 and scored the equalizing point from a 65 with just 6 minutes remaining.
Two lovely finishes into the back of the net from Paddy Purcell, in which his 2nd goal came in the final moments of the game for Laois in injury time when the game was level, sealed the win by 3pts.
Laois’ Path to the Final:
Round 2:
Meath: 1-16
Laois: 7-29
Round 3:
Kerry: 0-18
Laois: 1-25
Round 4:
Laois: 4-31
Down: 0-17
Round 5:
Westmeath: 2-26
Laois: 0-16
Offaly’s Path to the Final:
Round 2:
Offaly: 2-23
Westmeath: 1-20
Round 3:
Offaly: 5-31
Meath: 3-16
Round 4:
Offaly: 3-24
Kerry: 0-15
Round 5:
Down: 3-25
Offaly: 5-23
