Written by Laois PR Team
We look back on the latest games from our minor hurlers and minor footballers, plus our u20 hurlers and u20 footballers. All 4 teams were in Leinster Championship action the past week.
Celtic Challenge Cup (U17 Development Hurling):
Well done to our Celtic Challenge Hurling team who defeated Wicklow away on Friday April 11th in Round 2:
Result:
Laois: 6-26
Wicklow: 2-11
After their win over Offaly in Round 1 also, our Celtic Challenge hurlers now have 2 wins from 2. Next they will face Kerry at home on Saturday April 19th as they seek their 3rd win in a row.
U20 Footballers:
What’s next: After Laois’ draw with Carlow in Round 3: they now exit the Leinster Championship and will compete in the Andrew Corden Cup. The Andrew Cordon Cup is a competition for all the teams that didn’t qualify for the Leinster knockout stages. The competition starts with Leinster teams facing each other before running into an All Ireland ‘B’ Series. Laois have a bye to the Andrew Cordon Cup semi finals and will play this game on Tuesday April 22nd. Fixture details TBC.
Round 3 Recap:
Laois: 2-10
Carlow: 1-13
Laois: Darren Brennan (one two-pointer) and Ennae Byrne (one two-point free, one free) 0-4 each, Ryan Little and Conor Raggett 1-0 each, David Donohue, Sam Ryan.
Carlow: Liam Gavin 0-7 (two frees, one ’45, one two-pointer), Jack Nolan 1-1, Brandon Cassidy 0-3, John Phiri 0-1, Ian Craddock 0-1
Standout Players (Laois)
It was the Laois defensive effort that really shined in this game.
Full back Conor Raggett was super solid defensively throughout, never putting a foot wrong and worked really hard for the entirety.
His standout moment in the back line was: a superb block on Carlow’s Ian Craddock’s great shot to prevent a certain goal.
Alongside using his physical strength to win possession with some really impressive and perfectly timed tackles/ interceptions, Raggett was equally as effective in creating turnovers and using his electric pace to carry the ball forward with speed: to set up Laois attacks, providing an ideal link from defence to attack, as he was heavily involved in the set up play of many teammates scores.
Raggett was highly alert in using his spatial awareness skills when he positioned himself in front of goal and got out in front ahead of the Carlow defence.
This led to Raggett scoring a stunning volley kick goal, accurately getting his foot on the ball with his first touch, after a fine delivery in. David Donohue kicked a long and low ball accurately into the box from out wide, in which Raggett was first to react with brilliance.
Centre back Darragh Loughman was also very important to the Laois defence also as he made some vital tackles and interceptions to prevent a Carlow win and earn Laois their hard fought draw.
Loughman firstly made a goal saving block on a great shot to prevent Carlow’s Jake Nolan a certain goal.
Darragh Loughman was highly impressive in winning the short laois kickouts as he got around his markers quickly with sharp turns, then carried possession forward effectively with pace, he then drew fouls to win frees out and create Laois turnovers.
He made a goal saving interception on Carlow’s Jake Nolan again to prevent him going one v one vs the Laois goalkeeper, Luke O’Reilly.
Minor Footballers:
What’s next: If Laois beat Offaly on Tuesday night in Round 3 they will qualify for a Leinster Championship preliminary quarter final. Best of luck to all involved.
Round 2 Recap:
Laois: 1-7
Dublin: 1-9
Laois: Ultan Dunne 1-2, Sean Rowan 0-2 (one free), Bobby Rowan 0-1, Sean Michael Ward 0-1
Dublin: Mubarak Salami 1-3 (0-2 frees), Ciaran Clifford 0-2, Ryan Ennis 0-1, Finn McGinnis 0-1, Caoilinn O’Connell 0-1, Jamie Heavey 0-1 (45),
Standout Players Laois:
In defence:
Right half back Finn Dawson was very strong defensively and massive credit to him for a brilliant performance produced up against a strong Dublin attack.
Finn Dawson was excellent at winning 50/50 ball, being first to intercept passes and cut out dangerous ball meant for opposition, to prevent Dublin scoring opportunities.
Finn Dawson also set up an early Laois goal chance as a result of an incredible run forward and he ran into the right pockets of space at the right times, his accurate handpassing of the ball and movement in possession, set up Laois scores.
When Finn Dawson came out from defence after winning turnover ball, he ran into midfield and there he operated very effectively out in the wing alongside Laois midfielders Mark O’Connor and Joe Larkin beside him in the middle, as the 3 linked their hand/kick passes and runs into attacking play.
Finn Dawson created timely interceptions and his vital turnovers: a highly effective skill in use to link the Laois defence perfectly to the Laois attack, coming through midfield as a result of his brilliant ball carrying and pace.
Joe Larkin was superb in midfield: his precise and long kick passes were perfectly accurate throughout.
Joe Larkin also displayed great high catching ability as he jumped high to win both kickouts and difficult high balls kicked into midfield.
Joe Larkin made a difference defensively too with a superb tackle on Dublin’ James Heavy to prevent a Dublin scoring opportunity, instead Joe Larkin’s man marking pressure resulted in a wide ball.
Ultan Dunne’s quick reaction was brilliant as got his fist on the end of the ball and into the right top corner of net for a wonderfully worked goal, after a beautiful curling, accurate high ball was kicked in from the outside of Joe Larkin’s right boot, on the 45m line.
U20 Hurlers:
What’s next: Laois, despite 2 defeats to Offaly and Galway, still qualify for a Leinster Championship U20 Hurling Preliminary Quarter Final. Versus Kildare on Wednesday April 23rd. Details tbc. After Kildare topped Tier 2 Group 1, with a 6 point victory over Kerry.
Round 2 Recap:
Laois: 0-14
Offaly: 1-25
Laois: Jer Quinlan 0-6 (four frees, one 65), Rick Bannon and Justin Duggan 0-2 each, Cian Hill, Cormac Byrne, Jack Breen and Ben Deegan 0-1 each.
Offaly: Adam Screeney (five frees, one 65) and Patrick Lyons (one free) 0-7 each, Shane Rigney 0-5, Conor Egan 1-0, Donal Shirley, Brecon Kavanagh, Niall Furlong, Leigh Kavanagh, Darragh Scully and Eoin Bailey-O’Brien 0-1 each.
Standout Players Laois:
Centre half forward Jer Quinlan was outstanding in attack due to his talented long range striking ability and accuracy everytime he hit the ball.
Jer Quinlan finished with a total score of 0-6 (four frees, one 65 and one great point from play). Quinlan’s first score of the day was a superbly struck long range free.
His next score was a finely worked point from play, as he was successfully on target despite being marked by 2 Offaly defenders, just inside the 65 m line. He squeezed his shot through the tight gap of space available in the Offaly defence and struck between the posts.
Next Quinlan combined to both win his free in and convert it.
Quinlan then directly set up a Cormac Byrne point from play with a great long and high ball that found Byrne’s excellent grip as he caught the ball.
Quinlan scored a massive long range point from a free in the 2nd half, struck the whole way from the midfield line.
Centre half back Tom Cuddy produced a very effective defensive performance throughout.
Tom Cuddy cut out a dangerous Offaly attack as he made a brilliant interception from Offaly target man Adam Screeney and next he made an equally as good an interception from Offaly’s Eoin Bailey-O’Brien.
Cuddy won the ball vitally in a 2v1 battle in possession, as he came up against both Adam Screeney and Eoin Bailey-O’Brien in the race for the ball in a dangerous area in the Offaly attack: but Cuddy came out on top as he was first to the ball, then carried it out to prevent a score.
Cuddy worked very hard to win the next Offaly puckout.
Cuddy’s standout defensive moment however was an incredibly strong double tackle and blocks on both Offaly’s Cathal Robinson and Conor Doyle. The pressure applied by Cuddy put the ball out for an Offaly 65 from Robinson’s effort on goal, as opposed to a certain Offaly goal.
Minor Hurlers:
What’s next: If Laois beat Kerry in Round 3, they will top the group and qualify for a Leinster MHC: preliminary quarter final vs a 2nd place team from a group of: Antrim, Meath, Westmeath, Offaly, Wicklow. If Kerry defeat Laois, Laois will still qualify for a preliminary quarter final, vs the 1st place group finishers of the teams listed above.
Round 2 Recap:
Laois: 2-19
Carlow: 1-9
Laois: Daniel Jones 2-1, Tom Og Phelan 0-5 (two frees, one ’65), Eoin Delaney and Daniel Whelan 0-3 each, Oisin Gilligan and Tony Mahony (one free) each Conor Headen 0-1, Conor McDonagh 0-1, Luke Hynes 0-1,
Carlow: Ciaran Kavanagh 1-1, Thomas Sheehan 0-4 (two frees), James Brennan, Ben Kelly, Adam Joyce and John Lillis (free) 0-1 each
Tom Og Phelan opened the scoring with a brilliant point from play. Daniel Jones’ short puck passes and long striking skills on display were excellent throughout. Jones set a lovely long and low ball across midfield to Eoin Delaney. Delaney was out in front of his marker to claim possession and proceeded to score an incredible point from play: from a super angle, all the way out from the sideline.
Daniel Jones again won a high ball in midfield and with a flick of his hurl to push the ball forward, this excellent 1st touch: found the alert Eoin Delaney and Delaney’s hand pass across the face of goal: set up a Tom Og Phelan strike saved from point blank range by the Carlow keeper. Conor McDonagh scored a point from play.
Tom Og Phelan got his 2nd point, then Conor Headen also got on the scoreboard. Dan Downey worked really hard in possession to pass to Daniel Jones: Jones with a wonderful puck pass across the pitch again to set up Eoin Delaney with his 2nd point.
Tony Mahony made a vital interception at the perfect time to cut out a Carlow goal chance from Peter Lynch. Although he played in attack, CJ Brennan contributed massively in defence: as he tracked back to the Laois defence and midfield: he made 2 interceptions to create 2 turnovers and sent 2 lovely long and low balls into Daniel Jones, who won 2 frees.
Tom Og Phelan had another goal chance again made by the great work of Eoin Delaney in the set up, denied only by a Carlow keeper point blank save for the 2nd time. Phelan won and converted a free, in the last play of the 1st half.
In the 2nd half, Eoin Delaney had a goal chance saved by the keeper. Tom Og Phelan converted the resulting 65 and he scored a massive long distance free from midfield.
Daniel Jones capped off his already man of the match display: with 2 superb goals and a point from play, to seal the win.
Oisin Gilligan was a very impressive impact sub: scoring 2 points from play in just 5 minutes. Both excellent scores as he was on target despite being under Carlow defensive pressure.
By Laois PRO Mon 14th Apr
