Joe McDonagh Cup Final Preview: Laois v Kildare

Written by Laois PR Team 

The Laois senior hurlers will play Kildare in the Joe McDonagh Cup Final on Sunday June 8th, throw in at 1.45 in Croke Park.

Permutations: The winner qualify for the Leinster SHC 2026. The defeated team remains in the Joe McDonagh Cup 2026. Both teams have an all ireland shc preliminary quarter final next weekend June 14th/15th. Winners play Dublin (3rd in Leinster) and defeated team play Tipperary (3rd in Munster)

Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following options below.

Tickets can be purchased online here:

https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/buy/25NW2405

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 Live: RTE

Follow live match scores and updates on our official CLG Laois Twitter account: @CLGLaois.

Manager Tommy Fitzgerald has named the following side to face Kildare

Recent Laois Stats (vs Carlow Round 5)

Courtesy of Eoin Culliton: @LeixGaelicStats on Twitter

Mossy Keyes reached 75 championship points after just 18 games, making him the joint-4th quickest to do so:

13 David Cuddy

16 Zane Keenan

17 James Young

18 Paddy Lalor & Tomas Keyes

Congrats to Donnchadh Hartnett and Aidan Corby who both made their 30th SHC appearances, becoming the 19th and 20th Laois hurlers to do so.

The Laois team against Carlow had 14 starters with 10+ SHC apps each.

It’s the first time that this has ever happened on a Laois team.

13 happened twice in 2015 (vs Galway & Dublin), twice in 2019 (vs Dublin & Tipp) and in 2023 vs Down.

Round 5 Recap: 

Laois: 2-17

Carlow: 1-20

In Attack:

Mossy Keyes:

For the second week running (also against Kildare in Round 4), Keyes produced another man of the match performance. He combined a trio of skills in single plays and executed them all brilliantly: his ball handling, goal threat, and accuracy from dead balls.

Keyes had 2 goal chances saved by the Carlow keeper (1 shot from play and 1 shot from a 20m free), Keyes had massive distribution to the scoreboard throughout the game, scoring four points in a row in the first half and seven in a row in the second.

Impact of the strong subs bench: Aaron Dunphy (on in the 50th minute) scored a monster free from well inside his own half. James Duggan (on in the 66th minute) flicked the ball to Mark Dowling for the winning goal and scored a fine point from play from a tight angle himself. Mark Dowling (on in the 58th minute) scored the winning goal and won a free with his first possession, which Keyes converted.

The Laois goal in the final seconds:

It came from a long range, high in the air ball from a 65 that was struck exquisitely by Podge Delaney. James Duggan got a flick on the ball in the air, which then landed to Mark Dowling, who finished with a precise touch on his hurl, sending the ball into the back of the net.

Defensive Contributions:

Diarmaid Conway, Donnacha Hartnett & Podge Delaney:

Conway and Hartnett were solid defensively all game and also contributed to the scoring. Conway created a turnover from a Carlow puckout, which led to a Jer Quinlan point from play. Hartnett intercepted the ball from Carlow’s Paddy Boland on a puckout, with his clearance finding Mossy Keyes, who then scored a point from play. Hartnett also won possession from another Carlow puckout, resulting in a Laois free.

Conway’s man marking and defensive pressure prevented a Carlow goal from Chris Nolan as Nolan’s shot went wide. Immediately following, Conway turned over the ball and won a free out.

In the second half, Conway’s excellent man marking again prevented another Carlow goal chance from Nolan. When Nolan was bearing down on goal, Conway blocked his path, forcing Nolan to lay the ball back to James Doyle, resulting in a wide. This was a massive defensive moment.

On the very next Carlow attack, Hartnett made a brilliant turnover from Paddy Boland, clearing the danger and resulting in Paddy Purcell winning a free out. Conway also intercepted the ball from Boland and made two interceptions and turnovers in quick succession from Jon Nolan, crucial moments contributing to Laois’s draw result.

Finally, Podge Delaney made a superb block with his hurl on Chris Nolan in the 63rd minute, denying a certain Carlow goal. Crucially prevented as this goal attempt staying out meant Laois were able to go on and equalise in the dying seconds. Podge Delaney both prevented Carlow from scoring and played a major role in the goal scored by Mark Dowling.

Kildare:

After defeating Laois away by 11 points in Round 4. Kildare sealed their place in their 1st ever Joe McDonagh Cup with their 12 point win over Down at home in Round 5.

Standout Players: Forwards David Qualter (Total 2-41) and Jack Sheridan (Total 4-3) are both in firing form in front of goal.

Midfielder James Burke has great aerial ball winning ability and effectively links up play to attack whilst also scoring himself (1-11).

Defenders: Cian Boran has a massive long range shooting ability to score points from play and his physical strength is vital for making excellent tackles and dispossessing opponents to create turnovers.

Rian Boran wins a mountain of possession and intercepts to clear danger at the back.

Previous meeting result:

Round 4 on May 18th 2025

In Laois Hire O’Moore Park

Laois: 1-18

Kildare: 4-20